Since the rise of visual media, there seems to be new pressure to fold things “properly.” Many feel compelled to make their closet and drawers look like spaces in an upscale store. This is unnecessary, as in most cases, you are the only person who sees your closet and drawers. That said, order is still important. Order makes it easier to access and use your belongings. However, there are both important and irrelevant aspects of folding.
Folding Considerations
People have different priorities surrounding their clothing and linens. Some people care deeply about how items are folded and stored, while others simply want them clean and put away.
A variety of factors impact the way people fold, including:
- Size of the items (children’s vs. adult clothing)
- Size and shape of storage locations (e.g., narrow vs. wide shelves)
- Materials of the garments being folded (i.e., do they wrinkle? Are they slippery and hard to fold?)
- Ratio of shelf/drawer space to hanging space (i.e. what will be folded vs. hung up)
- Financial value of the items being folded (e.g., investment pieces vs. daily wear items)
- Age and skill level of the person folding (e.g., child vs. adult)
While professional organizers can talk about things like folding for days, the only thing that truly matters is whether you can reliably find and access your items in a way that works for you. What “experts say,” or how folding is portrayed on social media, is irrelevant if your system works for you.
In fact, some people do minimal folding. I’ve had clients who hang almost everything. Hooks, bars, and different types of hangers make this a practical option. In addition, some people (like me!), who don’t enjoy folding sheets, simply remove them, wash them, and put them right back on, avoiding the folding issue altogether.
I’ve also worked with families who prefer to skip folding and instead place clean items, unfolded, into designated locations. This may result in more wrinkled clothing. However, to a family where time is in short supply, and for clothing that is mostly casual, this may be of little importance.
Important Aspects of Folding
If you feel unsure about folding or are dissatisfied with the way your textiles are being folded and stored (either by you or by others), here are a few guidelines that may help.
In general, your goal should be to customize a folding technique to meet your needs for:
1. Fit of your items into your storage spaces.
2. Condition of your folded items.
3. Accessibility of your folded items.
4. Visual impact of your folded things.
Fit
On a strictly functional basis, this is perhaps the most important consideration.
When I got married, I discovered that my husband had been taught to fold his shirts into thirds. By this I mean that after folding the sleeves toward the back, he then folded the rectangle into thirds. I had always been taught to fold the rectangle in half. Which was correct?
The answer: it depends. It turns out that my husband’s furniture growing up had shallower drawers than mine. In a small drawer, folding in thirds allowed his shirts to fit into his drawer. I apparently had deeper drawers, and therefore folding in thirds would have taken up unnecessary vertical space (since tri-folded garments are taller).
The same principle applies to the other dimensions of your space. For instance, if you have a narrow linen closet, folding your towels into thirds may work better than folding them in half. If you store your towels in a basket, your best approach may be to roll them up and insert them vertically.
The goal is to have the folded items fit into your storage space with a minimum of crowding and stacking. Over the course of a lifetime, and as you move through different living accommodations, you may find that the optimal folding approach changes. If your folded items seem crushed, squished, or are tumbling out, step back and think about whether the way you’ve always done things is still working. A new folding approach may suit your current space better.
[Note: no folding technique replaces the need to declutter. This should always be the first step in organizing a storage space.]
Condition
One of the primary goals of folding is to prepare clothing to help clothing remain in good condition until it is needed. Folding a garment well improves the way it will look–and perhaps function– when you pull it out. In contrast, poor folding can leave visible signs. A sweater that is shoved into a drawer unfolded may get stretched out of shape. An unfolded pair of pants will likely wrinkle.
The same is true for hanging. Have you ever hung a sweater only to discover little “bumps” in the shoulders from the edges of the shoulders?
If a textile sits in a holding pattern for a long time, the distortions can become permanent. While folding takes a bit of time, it is the gift to your future self of being able to reliably grab and use or wear your textiles with confidence.
Accessibility
Another benefit of good folding is improved accessibility. This means the ability to locate and remove the textile of choice without upsetting the items around it.
For example:
- File folding t-shirts in a drawer so you can remove one t-shirt without disrupting a stack of shirts.
- Tri-folding towels so that you can see a monogram on the front when you pull them out and hang them up.
- Grouping folded items in a way that makes them easy to find, such as sport socks in one drawer and dress socks in another.
Visual Impact
People differ in how important appearance is. There is no moral value attached to how things are folded and stored. At the same time, if you want to improve the visual appeal of your folded pieces, here are some ways to up your game.
- Place the folded edge of your garments facing forward. When a garment’s edges face forward, your space will look more cluttered.
- Consider grouping folded items by color. Color order tends to enhance a space’s appeal. Plus, we tend to dress by color, so having clothing grouped in this manner makes it easier to select matching garments.
- Use a consistent approach when folding like items. Aim for neat rectangles or squares of similar size for each category of clothing. This stabilizes stacks, maximizes drawer/shelf space, and reduces shifting that causes wrinkles. Inconsistent sizes lead to piles that look messy, topple, and crease more.
- Use labels when folded items are hard to distinguish. For instance, one shelf for queen-sized sheets and another for king-sized sheets.
Things That Make Folding Easier
Folding takes time. There is no way to get around this other than not to do it. Nevertheless, folding doesn’t have to be unpleasant. Some people actually find the repetitive nature of folding to be calming, and a nice way to decompress and reduce stress. Here are a couple of ways to make folding easier:
- Fold as quickly as possible after the dryer cycle ends. Warm fabric is more pliable, so you spend less time fighting wrinkles and creases. Letting clothes sit in a pile for hours (or days) almost guarantees deeper wrinkles that require ironing or steaming later.
- Fold on a large, firm, empty surface at waist height. A dining room table, the top of a washing machine, or a counter in a laundry room work well. A made bed can also work. The goal is to avoid bending over or working in an uncomfortable space.
- Smooth before and during folding. Always lay the garment flat on a clean, hard surface and smooth out wrinkles, align seams, and pull the fabric taut as you fold. This prevents new creases from setting in and keeps folds crisp. Skipping this step is one of the biggest causes of sloppy results.
- If you like, use a folding board to ensure consistent results that stack well.
- Skip folding anything that isn’t worth the effort for you. Many people don’t fold bathing suits, bras, delicate or silky items, etc.
Folding Fun
If reading this has piqued your interest in folding, here are some video links you can explore. One caution: remember that there is no “right” or “wrong” to folding. These are just options that some people like using.
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How you fold your clothes is not a statement on your personal worth or capability. You’re free to choose the folding approach that meets your needs. The most important thing is getting the laundry done and moved to a reliable storage location, so it is ready to be used.
Do you have any favorite folding tricks?
The big question is whether you fold underwear. Yes for some and no for some. It usually fits well into the space assigned, but it is an aesthetic. I love all the ways you have assessed this!
I do fold underwear, but mine is just in half. I do file fold my husband’s underwear, but I have the time and enjoy doing it.
I don’t fold bathing suits, though. TOO HARD!
I’m geeking out here, Seana. I love how you described the various considerations and techniques for folding clothes.
While I do love folding things (clothes, linens, towels, blankets), I also understand that not everyone does. As you so beautifully articulated, do what works for you. So if you prefer to hang, hang. If you prefer to wash the sheets and put them right back on the bed (I do that, too), do it! Why not?
There are two aspects to folding that I enjoy. The first is that I consider it a mindfulness practice. I focus on smoothing the fabric, making the folds, and returning the item to its home. Secondly, I enjoy the aesthetic visual of neatly stacked piles. Again, this is my preference for my own space. But I appreciate that everyone doesn’t feel the same way and that’s OK.
This is definitely about getting it right for each situation. And, preferences may morph on this over time. These days, I also enjoy having nicely stacked clothing, but back when my kids were little, I couldn’t have cared less!
I noticed that you avoided the issue of folding fitted sheets! I’ve seen so many videos of this, but none of the tricks actually work. We’re happy if the sheet is somewhat folded and fits on the shelf along with the flat sheet that goes with it. I do enjoy folding my clothes though, including my underwear.
I personally avoid folding sheets as much as possible. However, there is a link to a post I did on this early in this piece. I think sheets being roughly folded on a shelf is perfectly sufficient!!
Folding is such a personal preference. I, like Linda, enjoy the folding process – smoothing out the fabric and then folding it, just so.
I love all the ways you describe it and the reasons for folding. Your tips about folding clothes as soon as the come out of the dryer and on a hard surface are spot on. I also shake out clothes before I put them in the dryer. This is another thing that helps to minimize wrinkles.
I love this tip about shaking the clothes. I’m going to try this!
For me two things matter when folding – the space or shape of where the items go and the ease of identifying what is folded.
For my shirts that are folded, I pull them out of the drier before completely dry and hang them on hangers. When they are dry – usually the next morning – I give them the old Marie Condo fold, so they sit in my dresser drawer easily and visibly.
I, too, wash bedding and put it right back on the same bed, thus skipping the folding bother all together. I do the same thing with my bath linens.
Such a practical take on something people overthink. The point about fit being the real driver, not some universal “right” way, is exactly what our clients need to hear. So many feel judged by the Pinterest version, when what matters is whether they can find their socks on a Tuesday morning.
The sheet trick is a favourite in our house too. Wash, dry, straight back on the bed. Done.
I’m discovering that I’m not the only one who doesn’t enjoy folding sheets!!
And exactly, Cathy, do what fits and works best for you.
First of all, “There is no moral value attached to how things are folded and stored” is something that should be imparted to everyone. There’s no wrong way to fold, there are just ways that are more convenient (for one’s space or oneself), easier to accomplish, or a better option for particular items.
I have a small dresser and a huge walk-in closet, so I hang most things rather than fold them. The only things in my dresser are thick sweaters, workout clothes, lingerie, socks, and underwear. (And yes, I fold underwear — vertically in thirds toward the back, like with a shirt, and then in half.) When I pack and *do* fold sweaters or shirts, I usually fold like your husband — sleeves and outer third of the clothes to the back, then in thirds. However, when I pack for Europe, I’m using a different suitcase (with different compression cubes), and I use the plastic Flip & Fold device (which equally delights and frustrates me, as I find it introduces wrinkles into thinner shirts).
And yes, of course, folding warm clothes at a convenient height, right after the dryer buzzes, is a whole zen experience. If I do it right away, there’s no mental energy wasted on the process.
I once had a client, probably in her 70s. She’d grown up with “servants” (her words) and until she was in her late 60s had never done laundry nor folded anything, and she literally had no idea how. When she ran out of hangers (and, frankly, space in her closet) she’d a shirt it over the entire hanger-filled rod, as if it were a tablecloth, and then lay other items atop it so it was almost impossible to get at the hanging items. While having a conversation one day, she watched me hang some of her items, fold others, and get months’ worth of clothes back into proper shape in about ten minutes, and she was mystified. She asked me to show her how to fold items, and then she practiced; I hold shirts by the shoulders and fold the sides inward in mid-air with my pinkies, but she couldn’t master that, so we tried laying the shirts face-down and folding the sides back. She did it meticulously but slowly, as though she were deactivating a bomb!
I love that you took a topic too rarely discussed and made it compelling!
What a great story about your 70 year-old client. It just shows how different our “growing up” experiences can be. My client today was expressing a similar feeling about managing calendars, task lists, and paperwork. “Why don’t they teach this in school?” she asked, as worked on figuring out to use one of her apps. I guess the answer is because there are many points of view, and technology is always changing. That said, a little basic instruction can go a long way in so many disciplines.
Great post, Seana! I’m a fan of folding towels in thirds. We have lots of narrow places in our smaller house.
I also found that folding pants is done in different ways. I fold women’s pants in half with the zipper out. But my husband folds his pants with the pockets facing out. If I fold my pants the way my husband does, they get wrinkled. So we have two different ways in one household. It works, and we don’t argue about it.
As with my husband, we learned different ways and have different preferences!