How to Fold Clothes to Save Space and Avoid Wrinkles
Learn the best ways to fold everything — from bulky sweaters to baby clothes — with this comprehensive guide.
Between disappearing socks and overflowing baskets of dirty duds, staying on top of laundry can be an overwhelming aspect of home organization. Folding clothes with smart storage in mind won’t just help your home look tidy, it will also help you reclaim space, keep clothes less wrinkled and make getting dressed much easier. With a few simple folding techniques and some solid storage hacks, you can keep dresser drawers organized and free of clutter.
Jennie Andrews
The File-Folding Method
The queen of organization, Marie Kondo, introduced the file-folding method for drawer storage. Instead of the traditional method of folding clothes and stacking them on top of one another, Marie encourages folding each item into tidy rectangles that stand on their own, so that each item is lined up like file folders, making everything visible within a drawer. (No more rummaging through stacks of clothing, leaving a jumbled — and wrinkly — mess in your wake!)
This method really shines for wardrobe basics that are worn frequently, such as t-shirts, jeans, intimates and workout gear. To level up the organization even more, add drawer dividers or soft bins to keep items separated.
How to Fold Tops
To file-fold T-shirts (either long- or short-sleeved), you'll want to start with a wrinkle-free shirt. Pro tip: Pull shirts from the dryer when still slightly warm. Grab the shoulders and “snap” the shirt in the air a couple of times to remove wrinkles. Lay items flat until you're ready to fold.
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Place the shirt face down on a flat surface. Fold one side in past the center, then fold the sleeve back to form a straight edge.
- Repeat on the opposite side to form a long rectangle.
- Starting at the bottom hem, fold the shirt in half.
- Then fold it one or two more times, depending on the shirt’s length. You should be left with a tight rectangle that stands on its own. If it falls over, adjust the folds tighter.
- “File” them into your drawer.
Tank tops and camisoles are folded nearly the same way. Fold each side across the center just short of the opposite edge, then fold the straps down before folding into a tight rectangle.
How to Fold Bottoms
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- To file-fold jeans, pants or leggings, fold them in half with the fly in.
- Tuck in the seat seams if they stick out, creating one long rectangle.
- Fold the rectangle length-wise from the ankle hem to the waistband.
- Fold from the knees two or three times to create a smaller rectangle.
- File them into a drawer or onto a shelf so every wash and color are visible.
How to Fold Underwear
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Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Lay underwear flat (with the front side facing up), and smooth out any wrinkles.
- Fold the bottom edge up toward the waistband.
- Fold in both sides to form a rectangle.
- Roll up from the bottom to create a neat log.
Bras are don’t require much folding. Simply snap the bra closed, and tuck in the straps before stacking them in the drawer.
How to Fold and Hang Sweaters
The bulkiness of sweaters makes traditional folding feel like a losing game. Whether you are squishing them into drawers or trying to stack them into piles, they often wind up in a lumpy mess that steals valuable space. Traditional hanging methods are also a big no; the hangers stretch the shoulders and leave hanger marks on delicate knits. Since sweaters are seasonal items, alternative storage and folding methods including file-folding, bins, vacuum bags and even hangers (with the right technique) can help wrangle the wool.
File-fold sweaters just like other long-sleeve shirts, folding in at the arms and then folding into a compact rectangle.
Hanging sweaters the right way (read: supporting its weight without stretching the shoulders) not only keeps them neat, easily accessible and visible. Pro tip: Wooden hangers are best for sweaters. They provide a rounded wooden surface that is gentle on the woven fabric.
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Lay the sweater down on a flat surface. Fold the sweater in half lengthwise, joining the side seams. Rotate the sweater so the body and the arms make a V shape.
- Place the hanger in the middle of that V.
- Fold the body and then the sleeves down over the hanger and hang.
For offseason storage, vacuum-sealed bags can be helpful for saving space. Vacuum-sealing clothing has the added benefit of protecting it from mildew and moths.
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Fold one side of the sweater in towards the center, and straighten the arm.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Roll up from the bottom, smoothing wrinkles as you go.
- Slide the sweaters into the bag
- Vacuum to remove the air.
How to Fold Baby Clothes
Baby clothes are especially wily when it comes to organization. They are tiny, seemingly always dirty and often need to be grabbed from the drawer in a hurry. The same file-folding method for adults works amazingly for baby clothes, making quick outfit changes easier and preventing your teeny favorites from getting buried at the bottom of a drawer. Adding some clear bins, labeled by size, can bring more order to the chaos. Use the file-folding method for soft items like onesies, pjs, soft sets (pants and shirts), and leave the hanging space for items like coats, sweaters and dresses.
How to Fold a Onesie
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Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Lay it face up, and snap the bottom closed so it holds its shape.
- Just like with adult-sized items, fold in each side across the center line to form one long rectangle,
- Starting at the snaps, fold up two or three times (depending on the length of the onesie) to create a rectangle.
How to Fold a Matching Sets
Keep matching sets together (and salvage your sanity) with this easy technique.
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Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Fold the pants in half lengthwise, and lay them on top of the matching shirt with the waistband at the neckline.
- Fold the arms across the center over the pants.
- Fold the pants from ankle to waistband before folding up the entire bundle into a rectangle.
How to Fold Clothes for Packing
Then it comes to travel, folding takes a back seat to rolling. Rolled clothes can be compressed to maximize space while keeping wrinkles to a minimum.
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
Jennie Andrews
- Lay each item flat, and fold in shirt sleeves (or fold pants in half).
- Starting from the bottom, roll each item, smoothing creases and wrinkles as you go.
- Line items up in your suitcase or duffle bag so everything is visible, or place rolled clothes into packing cubes.
The Best Packing Cubes for Traveling
Use these top-rated organizers to shore up suitcase space and keep your essentials easily within reach.
