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Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Security Screening
  4. What Can I Bring?
  5. Household and Tools

Household and Tools

Planning ahead and packing properly can facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport.

Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. Read about civil penalties for prohibited items.

For items not listed here, our AskTSA team looks forward to answering your questions 365 days a year; live assistance is available from 8 am - 6 pm (ET).

Item Carry on bags Checked bags
Turpentine and Paint Thinner
No No
Utensils

Knives, except for plastic or round-bladed butter knives, are not allowed in carry-on bags.

Yes Yes
Vacuum Robots
Yes Yes
Vacuum-sealed bags

Vacuum-sealed clothes bags are allowed but not encouraged. If they alarm, the TSA officer may need to open them for inspection.

Yes (Special Instructions) Yes (Special Instructions)
Waffle Iron

You may transport this item in carry-on or checked baggage. For items you wish to carry on, you should check with the airline to ensure that the item will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane.

Yes Yes
Wedding Dress

You can bring a wedding dress through the security checkpoint for screening, but we strongly recommend that it is packed safely in a garment-style bag or other packaging to protect it during the screening process. We also recommend that you contact your airline to determine their policy for bringing and stowing the dress on the airplane, as well as how it fits into their carry-on bag limitations.

If for some reason your dress cannot fit through the checkpoint x-ray machine for screening, alternate screening procedures will be taken to clear the dress and your garment bag will need to be opened.

Yes (Special Instructions) Yes (Special Instructions)
Wrenches/Pliers

Tools longer than 7 inches (measured from end to end when assembled) are prohibited in carry-on baggage; these items must be packed in your checked bags.

Yes (Special Instructions) Yes
 

The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

 

Officers may ask you to power up your electronic device, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. TSA does not read or copy information from your device.