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Tired of messy drawers and overflowing closets? Whether you’re short on storage or just want a tidier space, the way you fold your clothes can make a huge difference.
Crumpled piles and bulky stacks waste room, but a few smart folding tricks can help you fit more while keeping everything easy to see and grab.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn simple folding methods that save space, keep your clothes neat, and help you stay organized for good.
Step 1: Declutter Before You Fold
Before you start folding, go through your clothes and set aside anything you don’t wear or need. Folding takes time, and there’s no point wasting energy on items you rarely use.
Keep what fits your lifestyle and donate or repurpose the rest. This first step gives you a clean slate and makes it easier to stay organized long-term.
Step 2: Use the Vertical Fold (a.k.a. the File Fold)
Instead of stacking clothes flat on top of each other, fold them into rectangles that can stand upright. This is the trick behind the “file fold” — you store clothes vertically, like files in a drawer.
It saves space, prevents clothes from getting buried, and makes it easy to see everything at once. Great for shirts, pants, and even kids’ clothes.
Step 3: Fold by Category and Size
Group similar items together before folding — like all T-shirts in one pile, pants in another. Then, fold each category using the same method so everything stacks or stands evenly. This helps your drawers and shelves look neat and gives you a quicker way to find what you’re looking for.
Step 4: Use Drawer Dividers or Bins
After folding, place your clothes into bins or use drawer dividers to keep everything in place. These help separate items by type and stop things from shifting around. Even a few simple organizers can make a big difference in keeping your folded clothes tidy and easy to access.
Step 5: Keep It Up With a Simple Routine
The key to staying organized is consistency. Make folding the right way part of your laundry routine. It only takes a few extra seconds per item, and it saves you time later when everything’s in order.
Once it becomes a habit, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
