Is It Better to Fold or Hang The Clothes in Your Closet?
There’s always one question that seems to arise, despite how many times you think you’ve come to an answer – is it better to fold or hang up the clothes in your
custom closets? As you know, this question is not as simple as it seems.
Here are some steps to answer the age-old question of what to fold and what to hang up:
- Sort Your Clothes By Category
- Assess Your Storage Situation
- Fold Properly
- Get The Right Hangers
Read on to figure out which clothes go where!
Sort Clothes By Category
Now that you finally decided to organize your closets, you need to determine where each clothing item is being stored. Are you folding things in drawers or hanging them up in your closet? Well, that depends on quite a few things.
The general rule is to fold anything that stretches easily (like sweaters or t-shirts) and hang anything that wrinkles (like dresses or dress shirts and suits). As you know, not every piece of clothing is that black and white. While the general rule works quickly, MarthaStewart.com provides a more detailed description.
Clothing to Hang:
- Flowy Fabrics: Chiffon & silk dresses or blouses
- Linen Materials: Any clothing made from linen is known to wrinkle quickly.
- Dress Pants & Slacks: Dress pants and slacks should either get hung up by folding over a hanger with the crease or on a proper pants hanger to avoid wrinkling.
- Blouses: Blouses are oftentimes made of materials that can get wrinkled or lose their shape if not properly hung up.
- Jackets & Outerwear: Blazers, jackets, etc.
- Dresses: Except for sweater dresses
Clothing to Fold:
- Sweaters
- Workout attire
- Shorts
Items to Hang Up or Fold:
- T-Shirts, Jeans, Scarves: There’s no preference for t-shirts, jeans, or scarves as they can usually hold their shape on their own. This will be based on personal preference and available space.
If organizing is not your forte, don't worry! The experts at Optimal Garage & Closets Inc. include a detailed guide on this very topic in- 6 Steps for Organizing Your Custom Closets.
Assess Storage Space
Once you’ve sorted your clothes into categories, assess the storage situation. Is it realistic for you to hang up all the clothes in each category? Is it feasible to fit that many folded pieces in drawers? The amount of storage you have available will determine how you prioritize each category as well. For example, jeans can be hung up or folded. Perhaps you don’t have enough closet space but have leftover drawer space. If that's the case, then try folding your jeans.
There are also accessories that you can purchase to accommodate your space specifically. While sweaters are to be folded so the hangers don’t damage their structure, you may still want to organize them next to your winter coats. If so, bring in the adjustable shelves or storage racks. Either option will essentially provide additional space where you can stack your folded clothes.
Perhaps you appear to have ample drawer space available, but as you’re putting your clothes away, you realize things are getting a little cramped. In this situation, you can accessorize your drawers with space-saving tools like drawer dividers.
Fold Properly
Some people get frustrated when it comes to folding their clothes in drawers because they feel like they lose sight of what they have. It’s annoying to have to seemingly dig to find that one item you’re looking for just to find out it got stuck in the back corner of a drawer. Therefore, you must fold your clothes properly and in a way that makes the most sense.
TheSpruce.com offers suggestions for folding clothing based on type. While they touch on traditional folding methods to stack clothes in drawers; there are other options to try as well.
To get a more detailed view of your items, fold your clothes to stand upright, instead of stacking them. In some cases, this can also save space. Another method, which you may have heard of when it comes to packing a suitcase, is to roll up folded clothes. Just be careful as certain items definitely should not be stored in this manner.
Get The Right Hangers
When it’s time to hang up your clothes, investing in the proper hangers can make all the difference. Below is a short list of types to consider:
- Wooden Hangers: These are heavyweight and last quite a while.
- Velvet or Satin Hangers: Perfect for delicate items and effectively hold slippery fabrics. With velvet hangers especially, it's important to make sure clothing is completely dry before hanging, as color from the hanger can sometimes be transferred if wet.
- Metal Hangers: Great for heavier items and do not warp over time.
- Bamboo Hangers: These create a pleasing aesthetic and support lightweight clothing items. Bonus for those who are eco-conscious!
Conclusion
As you can see, there isn’t a simple answer to whether you should fold or hang your clothes. It all boils down to the type of clothing item you’re talking about, the space available, and ultimately what you feel most comfortable with after exploring all possibilities.