Proper folding/hanging - YouLookFab Forum

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Proper folding/hanging

BethT

How do I store some of my lighter weight sweater cardigans so I don't have fold lines or hanger wings?

Should I invest in some padded hangers? I know that should prevent the wings, but do the sweaters droop out of shape?

When I fold them (and I probably have my drawers overly stuffed), I get fold line which on some are very noticeable.

I live in a smaller, older home, so I don't have room to keep an ironing board set up for quick touch ups. And I know I'm too lazy to drag it out in the morning (I already get up at 5:15a, I really don't want to make that any earlier). I've been hanging up the sweater the night before I wear it over a T in the closet, which seems to be helping, but isn't perfect. And again, too lazy to drag out the ironing board/iron in the evening as well.

How do you keep your clothes to keep them at their freshest and best looking so they are good to go when you get dressed?

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15 replies

Latest reply was from

AviaMariah

Veteran

I know some people use a steamer for quick fixes like that. I'm not sure how much room they take up but I've wondered if I should invest in one since I abhor ironing. I'll be interested to see what advise you get. (If you take a shower in the morning, hanging the item in the bathroom while you take it might help out. I've done this before in hotel rooms.)

Elly

Veteran

Personally I think that the best way to store sweaters is loosely folded and stacked on a shelf when they are in season-- I have a couple wire shelf racks like the kind you can get at ikea that I use to store folded sweaters/sweatshirts and jeans so they don't have to be crammed into my dresser. I do have a tight-weave cardigan in a light weight that I store on a padded hanger (I also use padded hangers for my leather jackets).

Anonymous

This is what I do:

http://www.onegoodthingbyjille.....aters.html

shiny

Veteran

If they're light weight then you can probably safely hang them on a padded hanger, and this assumes you have plenty of closet space. It's the heavier sweaters that tend to stretch out when hung.

I love Bettycrocker's idea!

I don't have space to hang sweaters, so everything gets folded. I've recently learned the Konmari folding method, which is working great:

1. Take the item and lay it flat.
2. Fold horizontally in thirds -- i.e., bring the neckline towards the waist (or for me 1/3 tends to be right about at the bra band line on the sweater).
3. Now fold the arms in over the folded upper 1/3 and smooth them out.
4. Fold the bottom up over the arms.
5. Now fold vertically in 1/3's.

You should have a nice neat square shaped sweater package that will stack quite neatly.

Anonymous

I noticed the same fold line problems when I folded my sweaters and hung them over the lower bar on my flocked hangers. I took some of DH's leftover foam pipe insulation and cut it to the length of the bar, popped it over and now my sweaters hang happily with no crease! (The pipe insulation is the stuff that's cylindrical with a hole in the middle and a cut down it to open and seal round pipes to prevent freezing in winter--you can get it in Home Despot).

I can take pix when I get home if this doesn't make sense.

Alassë

Veteran

What Elly said.

Anonymous

I follow Elly's system too.

DJP

I have loosely folded my sweatersfor years and have not been totally satisfied with that method so I tried the padded hangers. This works fairly well but the hangers take up too much room in the closet. I now use "velvet" hangers and the method bettycrocker gave us the link for. It's the best yet!

Bonnie

Veteran

I do what bettycrocker does too - it keeps my sweaters smooth and I can see them on the hangers.

Leighways

(website)

You can pad hangers - tissue paper inside plastic bags, well stuffed and wrapped around hangers is a great way of doing it cheap. Or basic, low quality shoulderpads - they're very cheap, like 50c or so here, just stick them between the jumper and hanger. Sometimes you need to tape on the pads to hangers but still, it keeps off any marks and holds the shape of the garment.

And I have to agree with velvet hangers, but they can get a little pricey if you need a few of them. I don't have a place to store folded things so I don't really have a take on that.

BethT

Several options here!

I think I'm just a bad clothes folder. Although I have been better at spending the time to put my clothes away properly instead of sorta folding them and shoving them in my closet.

I'm going to try Shiny's folding technique and the hangar trick this weekend as well. I don't have much room in my closet, but I suppose I can always steal more space in my son's closet for my dressier stuff that I rarely wear.

sarah

Veteran

These are like magic.

http://www.target.com/p/joy-ma.....#prodSlot=...

Diana

Veteran

I also loosely fold on shelves. I don't notice problems with creasing, but if you do, you might consider rolling them instead of folding. If you must hang, I'd recommend draping them over the bar (like on a trouser hanger or just the bottom part of the triangular shaped hangers) rather than by the shoulders. I think even padded hangers can distort shoulders because the edge of the hanger and the shoulder seam rarely match up exactly.

Erikajl

I do what Bettycrocker does, but with a padded hanger.

Anonymous

I loosely fold all of my knits. I have never experienced folds or wrinkles. Perhaps I should look more closely next time I get dressed.