Folding laundry can feel like the most tedious part of doing chores. While some people find the process meditative, for many of us, folding laundry is just another thing on an already crowded to-do list. But with a few clever tricks and a slight shift in approach, this everyday task can become faster, simpler, and even (dare we say it?) satisfying.
It’s about working smarter, not harder. That means optimizing your environment, using the right folding techniques, and organizing in a way that sets you up for success the next time laundry day rolls around.
We’ve gathered five tried-and-true tricks from home organization experts who love making laundry easier. With these clever tips, you’ll be surprised at how much quicker and easier your laundry sessions become.
How to make folding laundry easier
1. Fold straight from the dryer (or rack)
One of the biggest laundry time-wasters – and stress inducers – is letting clean clothes pile up. You likely know the scenario: the dryer buzzes, but instead of folding immediately, you pull everything out into a laundry basket “just for now.” A few hours (or days) later, that same basket is a crumpled heap that requires re-tumbling, steaming, or even ironing. What should have been a five-minute folding job has become a full-blown laundry project.
Cleaning expert Vanessa Bossart suggests, 'Instead, start folding as soon as clothes are dry. Making this a habit drastically cuts down on wrinkling, keeps clothes looking fresher, and eliminates the visual clutter of clean laundry sitting around the house. It also creates a seamless transition between washing and putting clothes away, making laundry feel like a single, fluid process instead of three disjointed steps.'
By reframing folding as part of the laundry process and striving for 'completion days' rather than a separate chore to do later, you’ll notice a major mental shift. Clothes are handled once, rather than shuffled from machine to basket to another basket to the floor. It’s a simple laundry hack, but one that pays off in time saved, clothes kept neater, and less frustration.
Chasing perfection? Invest in a simple laundry folding board from Amazon to keep everything even and make folding even simpler.
2. Sort before you fold
Folding without sorting through your clothes first is a recipe for chaos. Shirts, socks, and towels each require a different technique, and constantly switching between them slows you down and breaks your rhythm. Instead, take a few minutes to sort the laundry into categories before you fold: shirts with shirts, pants with pants, towels with towels, and so on.
If you’re doing laundry for multiple people, sort by person as well. Use small baskets from Target to keep everything organized. Vanessa continues, ‘This allows you to fold items in batches, get into a groove, and significantly cut down the time it takes. Plus, it simplifies the final step of putting everything away, each stack goes directly into its designated drawer, no reshuffling required.’
A pre-sorted laundry hamper, such as this three-section Joseph Joseph hamper from Wayfair, also helps to sort laundry before the cycle for more efficient routines. Head of Solved Punteh van Terheyden tried and loved the Joseph Joseph hamper, saying, 'After testing it out for a month in my home, this laundry organizer has banished the previous physical pain I was suffering when having to manually sort all our washing on the ground or when reaching into the bottom of a basket. 10/10 – highly recommend!'
3. Learn the “Retail Fold”
Ever noticed how clothing in stores looks so effortlessly neat and uniform? That’s thanks to a set of simple, fast-folding techniques designed for speed and presentation. You don’t need a retail background to borrow a few of those tricks.
For shirts, try the “retail fold”: lay the shirt face down, fold the sides in toward the center, sleeves folded back, then fold from the bottom up into a tidy rectangle. With some practice, you can do this in seconds, and it keeps stacks uniform and manageable.
Gayle Walker, Marie Kondo organizer at Life Doula, adds, ‘Even better, experiment with file folding – the technique made famous by Marie Kondo. This method allows you to store folded clothes upright in drawers, like files in a cabinet. It saves space, prevents clothing from getting buried or messy, and makes it much easier to find what you need without disrupting the entire drawer.’
Really tight on time or space? There is an air-folding method that keeps the process simple.
4. Use laundry tools to speed things up
You don’t need to go full-on professional to reap the benefits of a few laundry tools. According to Kate Jakubas, founder of Meliora Cleaning Products, even adding one or two laundry room essentials to your setup can drastically improve your speed and consistency.
She recommends the following:
- Folding boards: These simple plastic tools help you fold clothes to the same size every time—perfect for t-shirts, sweaters, and even jeans. Folding boards such as the Onemayship Clothes Folding Boards from Walmart, especially useful if you're organizing small closets or drawer spaces.
- Mesh laundry bags from Amazon: Use these for socks, delicates, and small items. Not only do they prevent tangling in the wash, but when the cycle is done, everything inside belongs to the same place. You can fold or sort straight from the bag, saving time and eliminating sock-hunting frustration.
- Hanging racks: For wrinkle-prone garments, hanging them immediately after drying can eliminate the need for ironing. Keep a few hangers nearby and hang items directly from the dryer to streamline the process.
- Drawer dividers from Target: These can make a major difference in keeping folded clothes neat and categorized—especially in kids’ rooms or shared spaces.
5. Make it part of your cleaning routine
The best way to make folding faster? Make it feel less like a chore. When laundry becomes a part of your weekly rhythm, either hand washing clothes or using the machine, it becomes manageable and even predictable. Set a folding schedule, such as every Sunday evening, and stick with it. The key is consistency.
There are several ways you can hack your brain to make chores easier, adds Kate. She suggests, ‘To keep the momentum going, pair folding with entertainment such as a calming TV show or some feel-good music, something that doesn’t demand your full attention. Suddenly, you’re catching up on your favorite series and getting things done.’
What to shop
Free from dyes and fragrances, this detergent is better for people with allergies and sensitive skin. It is also softer on you laundry.
Drying clothes on a drying rack rather than a tumble dryer saves money and energy, and forces you to put laundry away more quickly to reclaim space in your home. It also prolongs the lifespan of your clothing.
Using a folding laundry basket means you can stow it away between uses, encouraging you to fold and put away laundry so that you can tuck it back into its storage spot.
Folding laundry doesn’t have to be the dreaded final step in the laundry cycle. With a few smart strategies, you’ll find that the process becomes faster, smoother, and far less overwhelming.
There are a few fun laundry rules you can break that speed up the whole laundry process, too, if you want to save some more time and energy throughout your routine.
