Is It Better to Fold or Hang Your Clothes?

If you are looking in your closet and see clothes spread out everywhere, you might be wondering how to best organize it to reduce the chaos. Whether or not you have a custom closet already installed, you can get your closets in tip-top shape in no time at all!

The key? Understanding which clothes to fold and which clothes to hang. And once you start cleaning everything out, you might ask yourself:

• Is it better to hang or fold your clothes?
• How do you know when to fold and when to hang clothes?
• Does climate or weather affect clothes?
• Is there a proper way to fold clothes?
• What kinds of hangers are best?

Don’t let that messy closet get the best of you. With these simple tips, you can figure out which clothes to fold, which clothes to hang, how to keep your clothes looking new longer, and more! 

If Shakespeare had pantaloons getting stretched out from hanging wrong, he would ask, “When to fold or when not to fold, that is the question.” Depending on the type of clothing and the fabric, certain items need to be hung while others should be folded and tucked away in drawers.

But, how do you know when to fold and when to hang clothes? MarthaStewart.com offers several suggestions, including:

When to Fold Clothes

• Clothing that can stretch out on hangers, such as sweaters, knit items, certain t-shirts, and sweatpants, or activewear.
• Items that don’t crease much when folded including, denim jeans and some types of khaki pants.
• Small items that lay flat or fold easily, such as socks, legwear, and gloves.

When to Hang Clothes

• Fabrics that wrinkle easily, such as suits, dresses, blouses, dress shirts, slacks, sport coats, work jackets, and linen items.
• Certain pieces benefit from being hung up, including ties & scarves.
• Clothing that you need to iron before wearing to make it look its best.

Yes, climate can affect your clothes. Think about how stretched-out and misshapen clothes look after they get rained on. No matter what climate you live in, you want to make sure your clothes stay looking new and fresh.

Humidity can cause clothing to stretch out, and closets typically do not have the best airflow. To decrease the likelihood of that problem occurring, place moisture-absorbent products, like DampRid, within those specific spaces.

You could also consider investing in a dehumidifier for your bedroom and leaving the closet door cracked. Reducing humidity also reduces the chances for unpleasant smells to occur from mildew or mold.

Are you guilty of sometimes tossing your clothes in drawers because you are too overwhelmed by the sight of what’s inside? You don’t have to let unsightly drawers or closets cause you any more embarrassment. Simply folding your clothes properly and having a place to store them will give you more space in your closet, help you find what you want faster, and make it easier to keep everything organized.

Justagirlandherblog.com notes the success of folding, Marie Kondo style! It’s a simple, easy way of folding clothing, and it allows you to see exactly what you have. Here’s how it works in 3 simple steps:

• Step 1: Fold the ends of each piece of clothing towards the center. This will form a rectangle.
• Step 2: Fold the rectangle in half or in thirds, depending on the length of the clothing, until it feels like it can stand up like a little tent on its own.
• Step 3: Place items in drawers standing next to each other or stack items inside of your closet, so they are easy to see and access.

Following this method of folding will help keep your clothes looking new longer. You will be able to easily find exactly what you want to wear and have a tidy closet.

First things first, no wire hangers! They will make the shoulders of your favorite items have strange creases and marks. There are a wide variety of hangers available, such as padded hangers, wooden hangers, plastic hangers, suit hangers, and clip hangers.

Padded hangers are great for delicate items that tend to get snagged on other things easily, such as silk. Choose plastic hangers for t-shirts, dresses, and cotton items but try wooden hangers for heavier pieces like pants. Suit hangers are perfect for keeping suits together in one place. When you have pants or skirts to hang, your best bet is clip hangers to keep them looking sharp!



According to Forbes.com, it’s a good idea to look for clothing that has hanging loops built in. These loops are sewn into certain dress shirts, blouses, and dresses in order to help keep them looking their best. Plus, they put less pressure on the fabric.

You've invested a lot of time & funds to have a sumptuous wardrobe, but you may not be sure how to maintain it. No more getting hung up on closet stress! Folding and hanging your clothes properly will remove the mess from your closets, make it easier to find what you want to wear, and keep your clothes looking great.