Have you opened your drawers to find nothing but a cluttered mess? It makes it hard to find clothing to wear. If you know the techniques for folding clothes correctly, you’ll never struggle to keep your clothing organized in your drawers.
So today, we’re discussing how to fold clothes to save space.
Key Takeaways
- Fold T-shirts and dress shirts by laying them flat, folding the arms, and folding the shirt in thirds.
- Fold pants with and without creases by laying them flat, folding them in half, and then folding them in thirds or in half again.
- Fold sweaters by laying them face down, folding the arms, folding the sides, and folding the sweater in half.
- Fold socks, towels, and underwear by laying them flat and folding them into thirds or halves for easy storage.
T-Shirts
1. Lay Flat
Lay your T-shirt down on a flat surface.
2. Fold Arms
Fold one arm in at the armpit seam and then fold the shirt lengthwise towards the center. Do not pass the center.
Repeat on the other side so you now have a long rectangle.
3. Fold Shirt in Thirds
Take the bottom of the shirt and fold it up a third and then fold it once more bringing the bottom fold to the top. Smooth your T-shirt. Now it’s ready to place in the dresser.
Dress Shirts
1. Fasten the Buttons
The first step to folding a dress shirt is to fasten all the buttons from top to bottom.
2. Lay Flat
Lay your dress shirt down on a flat surface so that you’re able to easily fold your shirt without causing wrinkles.
3. Fold Arms
Fold the right sleeve to the center about an inch past the armpit seam. You’ll end up with an inch or two folded along the side of the shirt. You’ll notice that the right sleeve sticks out over the center, so you’ll now need to fold the sleeve at a 45-degree angle towards the hem at the bottom of the shirt.
Now repeat with the same fold on the left sleeve. You will now have a long rectangle.
4. Fold Shirt in Thirds
Grab the bottom of the shirt and bring it about ⅓ of the way up the shirt. The buttons should be on the inside of the folds. Now you will fold the shirt again. You want the folded part of the shirt to reach the shoulder.
Turn the shirt over. It’s ready to be gently placed in your drawers.
Pants
The trick to knowing how to fold pants to save space is to be aware that there are two types of pants that you will need to fold. Some pants such as jeans do not have a crease, while other pants do have a crease running down the front of the leg.
Pants without Crease or Jeans
1. Lay Flat
Make sure that the fly is zipped, buttons are buttoned, and pockets are flat before you begin folding. Lay the pants flat on a large flat surface.
2. Fold in Half
Fold the pants in half lengthwise. You want the front pockets or the back pockets to meet. Ensure that the seams are lined up, as this will make for a neater fold.
3. Fold in Thirds
Now fold the bottom hem of the legs up to the back pocket. Then fold once more so that the pants are folded into thirds.
Pants with a Crease
Pants that have a crease line on the front need to be folded on the crease. This ensures that the pants don’t wrinkle and that the crease stays defined and neat for when you want to wear it.
1. Lay Flat
Lay your pants down on a flat surface. Zip the fly, fasten any button or hooks, and push the pockets flat.
2. Fold in Half
Start by pulling up on the crease of one leg until the leg folds in half. The fold should be on the crease. Lay the leg neatly on the table. Now pull up on the other leg’s crease until it also folds in half. Lay it neatly on top of the first leg.
You should have an accordion-like fold in your pants. Make sure that the creases, seams, and hems line up smoothly.
3. Fold in Half
Fold the pants in half by bringing the bottom of the legs up to the top of the pants, as one fold will help prevent horizontal creases in your pants. Put the clothes in your drawers.
Sweaters
1. Lay Sweater Face Down
Lay the sweater face down on a large flat surface.
2. Fold Arms
Fold one sleeve towards the center across the body. Repeat for the other side.
3. Fold Sides
Fold the right side to the center of the sweater, then repeat it on the left side.
4. Fold Sweater in Half
Bring the bottom hem up to the top of the sweater so that the sweater is folded in half. Now turn the sweater over. It’s ready to be stored.
Socks
1. Form T
Lay one sock vertically before you. Place the other sock horizontally over the top. It should form a cross.
2. Fold Bottom Sock
Take the right edge of the bottom sock. Fold it over the top of the top sock. Repeat on the left side of the bottom sock. Insert the toe of the sock into the hole.
3. Fold Top Sock
Turn the socks over. Repeat with the other sock, fold it up and over, and insert the toe into the hole.
Now you have folded socks to place in your drawer.
Towels
1. Lay towel Flat
Lay the towel on a flat surface and position yourself towards the middle of the towel.
2. Fold Into Thirds
Fold the towel in thirds lengthways. To do this take the far side and fold it towards you, slightly across the middle. Now take the near side and fold it over.
The towel should be folded into thirds like a piece of paper.
3. Fold in Half
Fold the towel in half and then in half again. Flip the towel over. It’s now ready to place on a shelf with the folded edges out.
Underwear
Cluttered and messy underwear takes up extra room. So let’s discuss how to fold underwear to save space in your drawers.
1. Fold Underwear into Thirds
Fold the underwear to the width of the crotch by folding the right side in about an inch and then folding it over the crotch. Do the same for the left side.
2. Fold Underwear into Thirds Again
Fold the underwear into thirds by folding the bottom up to about a third and then folding it once more. Your underwear is now ready to place in your drawer.
FAQs About Folding Clothes
Is It Better To Roll Or Fold Clothes For Storage?
Rolling thin clothing such as T-shirts, pants, casual dresses, swimsuits, and PJs will save space. However, rolling bulky clothing like sweaters and sweatpants takes up more room in a wardrobe than it would if they were folded.
Does Rolling Clothes Save Space In Drawers?
It’s recommended that you roll thin clothing to save space in drawers. Thin items are clothes such as T-shirts, underwear, and leggings. Bulky items such as sweaters, sweatshirts, and jeans should be folded as rolling them will not save space in drawers.
How Does Marie Kondo Fold Clothes?
Marie Kondo folds clothing in the most efficient way to ensure that it will stand upright in a drawer. This way it is easy to see and access all of the clothing items, without having to dig through your drawer.
How Do I Organize My Closet?
The best way to organize your closet is to clear it out, clean it, discard, sell, or recycle any items that you don’t wear, and group everything in categories of your choice.
What Saves More Space: Folding or Hanging?
Knowing what saves more space between folding and hanging is vital if you have limited storage. Folding saves more space, but hanging reduces the chances of wrinkles.
How Do You Fold Bras?
The best way to fold bras is to invert one of the cups and insert it into the other. This doesn’t cause any damage to the bra or challenge structural integrity. Once folded, you can then stack them.
