The Art of Folding Laundry

While not as delicate a process as Origami, folding laundry is still an art form that requires precision and skill.

Have you ever admired the neat stacks of folded clothes in a store and wished your own wardrobe looked like that? To make your closet run more efficiently, it’s time to ditch the ’90s vacuum-sealed space bags and embrace the folded laundry technique.

In addition to the obvious benefit of ironed or wrinkle-free garments, perfectly folded clothes are a great way of storing off-season or rarely used items.

So, how do you get that “folded” look? Let's start with learning to fold the ultimate wardrobe staple – a basic t-shirt.

1. Lay the t-shirt out in front of you, on a flat surface (table) and on a slight angle.
2. Draw an imaginary line across the middle of the t-shirt.
3. Pinch the fabric with your right thumb and index finger at a point on the line a couple of centimetres in from the edge. Make sure you’ve grabbed both the front and back of the t-shirt.
4. Draw an imaginary line from the pinch point to the shoulder seam. It should go straight up, parallel to the sides of the shirt.
5. Pinch the t-shirt with your left hand at the point on the shoulder seam (while still keeping your first pinch in place).
6. Fold the shirt by crossing your left hand over your right hand. Using your left fingers, keep the hem and the shoulder together.
7. Use your left hand (the one pinching the shoulder seam) to pinch the fabric at the bottom of the t-shirt so that both the shoulder seam and the point on the bottom are pinched between the thumb and index finger.
8. Uncross your hands and raise the shirt. The T-shirt should be hanging down from your hands with a loose sleeve dangling at the bottom.
9. Fold the loose sleeve under and lower back onto the table. Fold the rest of the t-shirt back toward you and over the sleeve to create a fold that is symmetrical with the fold on the other side.
10. Stand back and admire your handiwork!

If you’re overwhelmed by all the steps involved – or just don’t have the time to master them – enlist the experts to take care of your laundry or ironing.