The members of the folding school know that folded laundry:
Has fewer wrinkles Fits more easily into drawers and closet shelvesIs easier to find
The members of the never-folding school know:
Everything is in one place (the big heap)
The members of the school of rolling laundry know:
Rolled clothes save space Tightly rolled laundry is best for a carry-on when traveling
The members of the hanging school:
Have fewer wrinklesOnly fold undies, knitted sweaters, and towelsHave access to lots of closet space
Whatever school you choose (and you can change in mid-term with no penalties), you still need to know some simple steps on folding different types of clothes and household linens. Even if you are in the hanging school, this information will come in handy when packing a suitcase. Here, learn how to fold clothes like professionals in retail and department stores—and make your wardrobe look perfect every time.
Make It Easy
The key to more painless folding is using a flat, non-back-breaking height surface. It can be a clean kitchen or laundry room counter, or even a kitchen table if you like to sit and fold. Even the bed is a nice flat surface. By using a flat surface, you’ll get cleaner, sharper folds and have a space to stack clothes so they won’t fall over. As with any other task, folding clothes is a lot less scary if you aren’t facing a mountain each time. If you don’t have time to handle all of your freshly dried clothes at once, hang or fold the ones that will be worn on the outside like shirts, trousers, dresses, or skirts. If you don’t have time to fold or hang, lay these pieces out flat on a counter or bed. Leave the undies and socks for later. Taking care of freshly dried clothes promptly saves you time in the long run because you reduce ironing needs and avoid rewashing just to remove wrinkles. If you forget a load in the dryer, wet a clean hand or dish towel and place it in the dryer drum with the wrinkled load. Set the dryer to medium heat and run for about 15 minutes. Remove the clothes immediately and fold them. When rolling clothes, simply follow the standard beginning steps for folding each item, then roll the item tightly from one end to the other instead of finishing the final fold. Rolling clothes saves space, and it’s an excellent packing method for traveling or fitting a large variety of clothing into your dresser. (Bonus: It also helps stop creases). When it comes to linens, fold pillowcases right away to prevent wrinkling, especially when storing fresh laundry. If the sheets wrinkle, they are easier to smooth out while you make the bed. Most towels and washcloths don’t wrinkle and can wait until the rest of your linens are finished. Laundry folding time is also a perfect opportunity to interact with young children. They want to do what you’re doing, and this task is safe and easy. Use the time to talk together while teaching colors and shapes.
