How to fold clothes to save space in a laundry room

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Introduction

Is your laundry room overflowing with clean clothes that take up more space than they should? The way you fold your laundry can make a huge difference in how organized—and spacious—your laundry area feels. This guide will show you how to fold clothes to save space in a laundry room, using efficient folding methods that keep garments neat, compact, and easy to store. Whether you have a small laundry area or just want to make room for other essentials, these techniques will help you maximize every inch.

Why Folding Clothes for Space Matters in Your Laundry Room

Folding clothes isn’t just about making them look tidy—it’s also about function. Poorly folded laundry can lead to:

  • Cluttered Surfaces: Piles of clothes spilling over onto your washer, dryer, or folding station.
  • Wrinkles: Overstuffed drawers and messy stacks cause clothes to crease.
  • Wasted Space: Folding incorrectly often means fewer garments fit into drawers, shelves, or bins.

By learning smart folding techniques, you can:

  • Fit more clothes into small storage spaces.
  • Keep your laundry room clean and uncluttered.
  • Make it easier to find and grab what you need without disturbing the rest of the pile.
  • Reduce ironing time by preventing deep wrinkles.

Whether you store folded laundry in baskets, drawers, or open shelves, space-saving folds will make your laundry area look neater and more functional.

Step-by-Step Guide to Folding Clothes to Save Space

1. Sort Your Laundry Before Folding

Before you start folding, separate clothes into categories: t-shirts, pants, sweaters, underwear, towels, and linens. This prevents you from wasting time switching between folding styles and ensures each category is stored efficiently.

2. Use the Vertical (File) Folding Method

Popularized by the KonMari method, vertical folding allows clothes to stand upright instead of stacking flat. This makes them easier to see, saves space, and prevents piles from toppling.

How to do it:

  1. Lay the garment flat and smooth out wrinkles.
  2. Fold in each side so the sleeves and edges form a rectangle.
  3. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise.
  4. Fold into thirds or quarters so it stands upright on its own.

This works best for t-shirts, leggings, workout clothes, and even pajamas.

3. Master the Ranger Roll for Bulky Items

The “Ranger Roll” is a military-style folding technique that compresses clothing for maximum space efficiency—perfect for hoodies, sweaters, and jackets.

How to do it:

  1. Lay the garment flat.
  2. Fold the bottom hem inside out to form a small pocket.
  3. Fold sleeves inward.
  4. Fold the garment lengthwise into a long strip.
  5. Roll tightly from the top down, then tuck the roll into the pocket you made at the bottom.

This method not only saves space but also prevents garments from unrolling.

4. Fold Pants and Jeans the Slim Way

Bulky jeans can take up unnecessary room if not folded correctly.

How to do it:

  1. Lay pants flat with the legs together.
  2. Fold in half lengthwise.
  3. Fold in thirds for vertical storage or roll tightly for even more space.

5. Stack Towels and Linens Efficiently

Instead of bulky towel stacks, use a tri-fold and roll method.

How to do it:

  1. Fold the towel in thirds lengthwise.
  2. Roll tightly from one end to the other.
  3. Store rolls upright in a basket or on a shelf.

This frees up shelf space and keeps towels easy to grab.

6. Use Folding Boards for Consistency

A folding board ensures that every item is the same size, making stacks neat and compact. You can purchase one cheaply or make your own from cardboard.

Tip: Uniform stacks are easier to store and look much tidier in open shelves or baskets.

7. Store Folded Clothes in Baskets or Bins

Instead of piling clothes directly on shelves, use baskets to contain them. This prevents piles from toppling and makes it easy to move items around.

Bonus: Label baskets by category—shirts, pants, workout clothes—for quick retrieval.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Folding Too Casually
    • Mistake: Tossing clothes into piles without precision.
    • Solution: Use consistent folding techniques for a neater look and better fit.
  2. Overstuffing Drawers or Baskets
    • Mistake: Packing so many clothes in one space that they wrinkle or topple.
    • Solution: Leave some breathing room to make items easier to remove.
  3. Ignoring Vertical Storage
    • Mistake: Stacking clothes flat when vertical folding could save more space.
    • Solution: Switch to upright folding for smaller garments.
  4. Not Sorting Before Folding
    • Mistake: Folding items randomly, leading to mismatched stacks.
    • Solution: Group clothes by type before folding to make the process faster and storage easier.
  5. Skipping Maintenance
    • Mistake: Letting folded piles mix with unfolded laundry.
    • Solution: Dedicate a space just for folded laundry to keep the system intact.

Extra Laundry Tips & Hacks

  • Roll for Travel, Fold for Storage: Use rolling for items you’ll store temporarily in baskets and folding for items going into drawers or shelves.
  • Dry Clothes Completely Before Folding: Damp fabric not only wrinkles more but can cause mildew.
  • Use Drawer Dividers: Simple cardboard or plastic dividers keep folded stacks upright and prevent shifting.

If you liked this guide, you might also enjoy our “How to Create More Storage in a Laundry Room Without Cabinets” article for additional space-saving inspiration.

Conclusion

Learning how to fold clothes to save space in a laundry room is about more than neat stacks—it’s about creating a functional, clutter-free space where laundry feels less like a chore. By using vertical folding, ranger rolls, and uniform folds, you’ll fit more into your storage areas and keep your laundry room looking organized.

Pro Tip: Consistency is key—choose a folding method that works for you and stick with it to maintain order.

Bookmark this guide to keep your laundry room space-efficient and organized year-round.