Master the Art of Folding Clothes with My Quick Air Folding Technique
After six years in retail, I regularly tackled a chaotic pile of clothing at the end of every shift. This repetitive task taught me how to fold various garments like an expert.
Seeing a table full of neatly folded sweaters or a wall of perfectly stacked jeans gave me immense satisfaction. My 'air folding' method is a technique I still apply daily at home, and it's easy for anyone to master in just four steps.
Folding Clothes Like a Professional
Neatly folded clothes optimize closet space and simplify finding items.
Folding Tops and Sweaters
During my early days in retail, learning to fold clothes for displays was a challenge. However, I observed more skilled colleagues and soon perfected the art myself.
Professional organizer Ben Soreff emphasizes that proper folding is essential for certain items. He notes that shelves and cubes are ideal for folded clothes, while drawers are better for items like socks or underwear.
Here are the steps I still use today. Check out the gallery for visual guidance:
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- Hold the garment at the shoulders, shake to align the neck and hem. With arms extended and thumbs at the neck, curl your fingers back to fold the sleeves.
- Keeping your fingers in place, lower the bottom half of the garment onto a surface, allowing the front hem to touch the table.
- Instead of letting the top half touch the table, fold it back over itself to secure the sleeves.
- If space is tight, fold it back again for a compact finish.
This method ensures that all tops, regardless of size, end up in a uniform stack. For wider necklines, fold at two central points to align with other tops.
My air folding technique minimizes visual clutter in open storage areas, making it easier to maintain an organized space.
This approach is effective because it mimics a folding board, but you do it mostly in the air. It may take practice, but once you master it, you won't go back to traditional methods.
Folding Jeans and Trousers
Maximize hanging space by using my air folding technique for jeans and trousers.
Ben Soreff reminds us that retrieving items from a stack can be tricky, so consider this when organizing your clothes.
Check the gallery for my air folding steps for trousers:
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- Shake the garment to position the seams evenly, then fold one side over the other at the waistband.
- Reach into the middle area and pull out the pointy bit of fabric on the left.
- With one hand holding the waistbands, use the other to pull the hems up to the waistband.
- Bring the knee up to the waistband for a final fold, adjusting the seam as needed.
This method is quick once you're familiar with it. While traditional folding often requires a surface, my air folding method allows you to fold without one.
Ben mentions that folding boards can help, but proper folding takes practice. The advantage of this technique is that it allows clothing of different sizes to stack uniformly, reducing clutter.
Benefits of My Air Folding Method
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AFTER
AFTER
BEFORE
I folded seven pairs of jeans, two of which needed turning right side out. This took just 1 minute and 58 seconds, as shown above.
Additionally, I folded five tops of various styles in 1 minute and 18 seconds, resulting in a satisfying stack.
Recommended Products
If you're struggling with folding techniques, consider these handy products. Folding boards, like the Box Legend V3 folding board, can assist, but may take longer per item compared to my air folding method.
Pack of six
These clear shelf dividers keep your clothes organized and prevent items from tumbling over.
Expandable
Bamboo drawer dividers help create sections in your storage for easy access and organization.
Window for ease
These storage boxes help keep items neatly folded, preventing disarray when retrieving clothes.
When Not to Fold
I increased hanging space in my daughter's closet by adding tension rods at her height. This saved me from folding her clothes and helped me track her fast-growing wardrobe.
I often avoid folding in my daughter's closet, instead opting to hang her clothes. Ben notes that for children, folding can be counterproductive. Even a messy fold can fall apart when they pull out an item.
By installing tension rods for lower hanging rails, I've effectively utilized vertical space in her wardrobe.
If you prefer an orderly look, I recommend trying a simple sorting method. I found a sock sorting hack that has kept my sock drawer organized for months.