How to Fold Laundry

Who doesn’t love the feeling of fresh, warm laundry right out of the dryer? Yay, your clothes are clean! But for many of us, it’s all downhill from there. Let’s be honest, when it comes to how to fold laundry, quite often we still end up with lumpy messes instead of neatly folded clothes and linens.

Here’s the good news. With a few easy tips on how to fold laundry more efficiently and effectively, your drawers and closets will be Zen-worthy and store-shelf neat in no time. Multi-task by throwing on some favorite tunes or a fun podcast to keep you company. Who knows, you might even start to look forward to folding your laundry!

Expert Tips:

• Use a plant-based Fabric Softener Sheet for softer clothes, reduced static, and fresher smelling laundry.
• Fold right away! It’s tempting to put it off, but the longer your fresh clothes sit, the more likely they are to wrinkle and need ironing.
  • If you don’t have time to fold right away, lay shirts and pants flat.
• Before folding, sort your clothes into categories (shirts, pants, linens, underwear) for a more fluid folding groove.
• Stand up while folding and use a waist high surface to spare your back from constant bending and grabbing.
• Fold with your kids! Not only will this help lighten the workload, you’ll sneak in some good bonding time and impart a lifelong skill.

Tidying guru Marie Kondo’s methods for folding clothes have become wildly popular for good reason. They make the most of drawer and closet space by folding garments into neat bundles that get laid side-by-side instead of in wrinkly stacks. And who knew your pants and t-shirts would ever look so adorable all lined up in your drawer?

Let’s break down some fun and easy folding methods.

How to Fold T-Shirts

1. Lay the shirt face-down on a flat surface.
2. Fold one side toward the center.
3. Fold the sleeve away from the shirt’s center.
4. Repeat on the opposite side.
5. Fold the shirt’s collar all the way down to the hem, making a rectangle.
6. Fold in half again, making the shirt into a pouch that can be stored upright.

How to Fold Pants

1. Fold your pants in half, one leg atop the other, pocket-side facing out.
2. Fold in half lengthwise, making a rectangle with the hem just below the waistline.
3. Fold upward into thirds.

How to Fold Sweaters

1. Lay the sweater face-down, then fold arms across, making them parallel to the hemline.
2. Fold each of the sides in part way.
3. Fold in half lengthwise.

How to Fold Socks

1. Form a + sign with your socks.
2. Bring one of the toes across and sneak it under the other sock.
3. Using the same sock, fold across the top.
4. Repeat with the second sock.
5. Tuck in the two ends, forming into a square-shaped bundle.

How to Fold Towels and Washcloths

1. For bath and hand towels, simply fold in half, and then in half again. For washcloths, fold in half just once.

Bonus Round

• Practice makes perfect. Learning anything new takes a little time. Practice each method several times or watch video tutorials to help you get it right.
• Streamline your wardrobe. Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method™ of organizing encourages us to reduce clutter by parting ways with objects that don’t spark joy. Ask the same questions of your clothing. If you haven’t worn a garment in the past year, maybe it’s time to say goodbye and free up some space.

Give yourself a well-earned pat on the back because you just learned how to fold laundry! Doesn’t that feel better? Give these methods a try and say goodbye to folding frustration and hello to laundry bliss.