Is It Better to Fold or Hang My Clothes?

Reasons to Hang

A simple rule to determine what should perch on a hanger is if it easily wrinkles, has pleats, or is a lightweight or delicate fabric.  Dry clean only items normally require a hanger too, although some sweaters do fall better into the “fold” format.

There are a few additional methods to know about when using the hanger treatment:

• Hanging your clothing makes it easier to find pieces when you want them especially if you hang like items with like items and/or group by color. 
• Hanging apparel helps prevent creases, wrinkles, and the rumpled effect.
• If you have ample closet space, hanging apparel can be more of a space saver, especially with pieces where you can hang several (ie. pants) on one specialty hanger. 

Items to Hang

There is no hard and fast rule about what to hang, however, specific types of fabrics fare better being hung up versus folded.

• Rayon/Nylon
• Velvet
• Silk
• Chiffon
• Taffeta
• Satin 
• Lace
• Linen

Particular categories of clothing that should be hung:

• Jackets, blazers, coats
• Suits
• Dress pants
• Button-down shirts
• Blouses
• Skirts
• Dresses
• Belts and ties
• Scarves
• Delicates

At the same time, consider other ideas for getting your closets organized, such as the tips mentioned in this article by Closet Solutions & Organizers, 6 Tips for Organizing Your Custom Closets.

The Type of Hanger Matters

There is an abundance of hanger options that come in a rainbow of colors, materials, and sizes. Use matching hanger sets to create a streamlined and aesthetically pleasing visual display in your closet.

Use coordinated hangers for dresses and blouses/tops, padded hangers for delicates and wrinkle-prone fabrics, and specialty hangers for items like suits, belts, ties, and scarves or those requiring to be hung by clips such as skirts.  Using tiered pants hangers allows you to double or triple up by hanging several pairs on one hanger.  Heavy-duty hangers should be used for bulky coats and jackets. The slimmer plastic ones tend to bend and break under the additional weight. 

Be sure to follow these helpful recommendations when using hangers:

• Line up the seams of tops, sweaters, and jackets with the edge of the hanger to prevent bunching and stretching.
  
• Insert hangers from underneath not from the top so that you don’t distort collars or necklines.
  
• Don’t jam hanging items together; attempt to provide a bit of space between articles of clothing so the fabrics can breathe.

Reasons to Fold

There are a few additional considerations when choosing to fold to help you further channel your inner laundress.

• Folding your garments can save space especially if you use shelf dividers or are placing items in dressers or cubbies.
• Taking time to fold your clothes can lengthen their lifespan. Folding ensures that there is no snagging, pulling, stretching, or unnecessary wear on your clothes. 
• Folding clothes helps to reduce items from getting “lost” by being stuffed into the back of drawers.

Items to Fold

Different fabrics and materials require different storage practices. Hanging an item that should be folded can ruin its shape by stretching it out or leaving hanger indentations.  Materials best folded are:

• Wool
• Lycra
• Cotton
• Denim
• Twill
• Cashmere

Particular categories of clothing that should be folded include:

• Sweaters
• Jeans/casual pants
• Lightweight knitwear
• Socks
• Workout pieces
• T-shirts
• Pajamas
• Fleeces/sweatshirts
• Undergarments
• Items with sequins or other embellishments

The 411 on Folding Styles

Folding styles are aplenty and finding what works for you is the most important part. When folding in general, neatly stacking similar items together reduces their overall closet or shelving footprint and makes finding what you need when you need it a breeze.

There are advantages that come with folding your laundry properly, and there are many ways to fold different types of clothing. Check out this Insider article and infographic to learn a handful of them. A to Zen Life also summarizes their view of Marie Kondo’s file folding or vertical folding technique.

Landing on a dedicated folding system can certainly minimize the time spent ironing or steaming. Same goes when you fold clothing into your suitcase when you have the need to travel. 

Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that you need to consider the size and layout of your home’s closet(s) and your preferred type of maintenance when deciding what gets to “hang” out and what gets to snuggle in a fold.  Be sure you consider the daily sustainability of keeping a closet tidy and whether you are more of a hanger versus folder.

Sources

• https://atozenlife.com/konmari-folding-method-how-to/
• https://www.closetsolutionsandorganizers.com/custom-closet-organizatio
• https://www.insider.com/how-to-fold-clothes-2017-4