5 Clothes Folding Hacks You Need To Know

Whether you’re dealing with kids learning to tidy up after themselves or haven’t had the time between finishing work and heading to bed, seeing a pile of clean and half worn clothes strewn about your bedroom is hardly a recipe for peaceful and restorative sleep. But how can you make organising your clothes that little bit easier? Well, luckily for you, we have delved into the world of clothes folding hacks so you can have your space looking tidier in no time. 

Aimed at making clothes easier to find, saving space and keeping everything neat and tidy, clothes folding hacks are techniques which could be the answer to your prayers. Knowing the right method to fold your clothes can boost your efficiency – no one wants to be folding laundry in their bedroom for hours on end! These hacks can help you organise your space quickly and effectively, freeing up more of your free time and headspace for hobbies, relaxation or sleep. 

In this blog, we take a look at the top clothing folding hacks you need to know to make your life easier and to keep your clothes looking sharp and wrinkle-free. 

Fold Methods and Techniques

Certain folding techniques apply to specific types of garment. So whether you're looking at a smart shirt for work or one of your cosy winter jumpers, it’s best to consider the right technique for your particular clothing item rather than applying a one-style fits all approach. 
For a more holistic approach to clothes folding hacks, look no further than Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo whose famous KonMari method took Netflix by storm during lockdown and continues to be a go-to clothes folding hack to this very day. 

The KonMari folding method may seem complex at first, but once you have the hang of it, you’ll be hooked! Rather than laying folded items in drawers, Marie’s method ensures your garments stand upright instead. This involves a series of extra folds than usual, which also means your clothes are less creased and easier to find and pull out from your drawers as a result. In true Kondo style however, while folding your clothes she also instructs you to respect and thank each item of clothing by touching, appreciating and properly storing along the way.

Or, if speed is what you are looking for, then using the folding board method for t-shirts and shirts can be a real time-saver. Folding boards are often flat pieces of plastic with different side pieces which can be lifted and folded on top of one another to fold your clothes which lay flush on the centrepiece of the folding board. Great for t-shirts and if you’re working against the clock, a folding board can help you get a nice, uniform fold for your clothes. However, lots of folding boards might not be the best option for certain garments which might require a specific technique to achieve the best results. 

Folding Specific Clothing Items

Your go-to clothes folding hack will often depend on what you're dealing with. From t-shirts to jeans, boxers, briefs and everything in between, different types of clothes can be tackled in different ways to make sure they use space as effectively as possible. Below we have set out some hints and tips when it comes to folding 5 specific clothing items. 

5 Clothes Folding Hacks You Need to Know

1. T-shirts

Spread the T-shirt out on a flat surface with the back facing you
Choose one side of the T-shirt and fold one arm in at the armpit seam
On the same side, fold the whole length side of the T-shirt toward the centre of the garment
Repeat in the opposite side of the T-shirt, you should now be left with a rectangle shape
Fold the T-shirt in half by bridging the bottom edge up to meet the top
Now in a neat square, smooth out the T-shirt to ensure no wrinkles and store away

TOP TIP: to minimise wrinkles, ensure you are smoothing out the fabric of theT-shirt at each stage of the process. 

2. Shirts

1. Ensure the shirt is buttoned from top to bottom
2. Place the shirt button side down on a flat, clean surface
3. Choosing one side first, fold the sleeve along the armpit seam and bring toward the centre
4. Fold the same sleeve at a 45 degree angle at the elbow so the cuff is in the direction of the collar
5. Repeat the sleeve folding process on the opposite side
6. Now rectangular, fold the bottom shirt hem and fold the bottom third of the shirt up
7. 7Make another third fold up so the folded edge now reaches the collar line
8. Turn your shirt over, smooth out and store

TOP TIP: utilise collar stays to maintain the shape of your collars while storing, it will save you from having to iron them back into shape at a later date.

3. Jumpers

1. Place the jumper face down on a flat surface
2. Fold the sleeve into the centre of the jumper
3. Repeat on the other side
4. Fold the bottom of the jumper up to fold the jumper in half
5. Turn over, smooth and store

TOP TIP: heavy jumpers should never be hung up in a wardrobe on a hanger as the sheer weight of them can cause the garment to lose its shape and droop.

4.  Trousers and Jeans

1. Shake out the trousers and pat them flat to prevent creasing, ensure pockets are flat too
2. Lay the trousers out flat, facing up
3. Fold the trousers in half lengthways along the crotch seam so the legs are over one another
4. From the bottom of the legs, fold the jeans up in thirds until you reach the waistband
5. Pat flat and store upright, this is the KonMari method

TOP TIP: if you have shallow drawers, some recommend tightly rolling jeans and trousers after folding the legs in half to save more space and reduce wrinkle potential.

5. Underwear

Men’s Underwear

1. Lay out the underwear on a flat surface
2. Fold into thirds by bring each outer side into the centre, overlapping one another
3. Fold the underwear in half from top to bottom, turning the rectangle into a square
4. Pat flat and store

Women’s Underwear

1. Lay out the underwear on a flat surface
2. Fold the bottom of the crotch area up to meet the top of the waistband
3. Fold both sides of the underwear into the centre of the underwear, overlapping each other
4. Fold this rectangle in half to make a square
5. Pat flat and store

TOP TIP: like trousers, some swear by rolling their underwear to save space in their drawers and especially when packing. You could do this at the stage your underwear has been folded to resemble a rectangle.

Organising Folded Clothes

If you’ve made it this far, you’re hopefully looking at a lovely pile of expertly folded clothes. But where to put them? We’ve all been guilty of leaving some clean clothes to lay idle in a washing basket, begging to be put away, but what happens if you just don’t have the space?

Well, never fear our clothes folding friend, that’s where we come in. Organising folded clothes starts with trusty pieces of furniture in your bedroom, which can help make a daunting task a super easy one! Our range of Ottoman Beds are extremely comfortable bed frames, where your mattress is placed on top of a sturdy base which easily lifts up to reveal a perfect, secluded spot for storing your folded clothes. 

Simple and effective, Ottoman beds come in handy for tucking away clothes you might not use everyday but want to access easily. For more regular access, look no further than our fabulous range of chests of drawers. Built with top quality materials, our chests of drawers will work wonders and provide you with enough storage to keep your bedroom neat and tidy. 

You can also get a little savvy with your storage options when organising folded clothes. Sorting and categorising your folded clothes can help to make the most of what you have. As well as separating your trousers from your T-shirts, you could consider having a drawer of your everyday favourites and tucking your less worn garments in any storage spots which are a little harder to get to. Ensuring you have good accessibility to your storage areas and regularly worn clothes will make it a much easier task to keep your space clean. 

Using shelving to make use of space higher up in your bedroom, or investing in some clothes storage boxes or drawer dividers to give everything its own designated spot, are also good options if floor space is at a premium. Get creative!

Conclusion

Among the many benefits of folding clothes, the key takeaways here are that clothes folding hacks will save you space, prevent unnecessary wrinkles, keep you organised and maintain the correct shape and aesthetic of your clothes. And what’s more, folding clothes can be rather therapeutic and meditative when you put your mind to it – especially if you employ the KonMari method!

If you’re searching for more hints and tips for space-saving solutions or other bedroom-related queries, be sure to check out our Time4Sleep blog. We have so much information and advice for you to discover.