We all know the pain of laundry piling up. You finally find time to wash all those clothes that have gathered in the hamper, only to be faced with a new monster once they come out of the dryer – the ever-growing pile of clean clothes that now need to be folded.
The thought of tackling fold after fold makes your laundry days feel neverending. Not to mention all the space those unfolded piles take up in your bedroom or laundry room. You ask yourself why folding requires so much time and effort…
Well, what if we told you there’s a smarter way to take care of this dreaded chore? A special technique that works with your laundry rather than against it.
Most People Spend Hours Folding Way More Clothes Than They Realize
Studies show that the average person washes at least 8 loads of laundry per month. With the average load containing around 40 articles of clothing, that’s 320 items a month or 3,840 per year that need folding!
It’s no wonder this monumental task leaves laundry piling up infinitely. All that folding, one sock after another, can get tedious fast. Not to mention wasteful if clothes end up balled up and wrinkly anyway.
There has to be a more effective approach…
The KonMari Fold: Organized Stacks That Transform Your Drawers & Closets
Introducing a brilliant solution for tackling mass amounts of laundry – the KonMari fold. Named after organizational icon Marie Kondo, this is a technique designed to streamline folding clothes into uniform stacks.
With just a flat surface like a bed or table, you can minimize wrinkles and also sort items how you’d like them organized. Whether by type, color, or custom categories.
The key is handling one garment at a time.
You start by taking a single piece of clothing: a t-shirt, towel, jacket – anything. Give it a quick shake or smooth to remove major wrinkles. Then lay it face down and fold the sleeves in so they line up evenly.
After making sure the seams match, fold the shirt horizontally until the bottom meets the sleeves. Continue bringing the top toward the middle until you have a neat rectangular stack.
Visualized step-by step:
- Lay shirt flat face down
- Fold sleeves in horizontally
- Match side seams and fold up from the bottom
- Continue folding into a small stack
The result is a pristine, wrinkle-free piece of laundry. Almost like it’s store-bought!
Repeat this process one item at a time. Designate space on your folding surface for categories – stacks for t-shirts, pants, socks. Or color code them from light to dark. Fold and organize all in one step.
Once your clothes are grouped, stand up and put them away right then. Don’t let piles accumulate! Carefully transfer each stack to its home in your drawers and closet.
Never Dread Laundry Days Again
After perfecting this folding method for just a few loads, you’ll start to reap the rewards immediately.
No more wasting time folding the same shirts and pants over and over. Now everything has its designated area before leaving your folding space.
Other benefits include:
- Space-saving vertical stacks that maximize drawer and closet storage potential
- A bird’s eye view to “see” your wardrobe and inventory what you actually wear
- Finding specific items becomes quick and easy
- Fewer wrinkles make re-wearing clothes between washes doable
- Enjoy a tidier bedroom and laundry room as clothes don’t pile up dirty or clean
Most importantly, you have a reliable system in place for tackling this chore from start to finish in a single room. No more transporting overflowing baskets from washer to dryer to bed and repeating this cycle endlessly.
Laundry still takes time, but your effort feels worthwhile after implementing this technique. Plus there’s something satisfying about handling each garment individually – embrace this meditative opportunity every fold presents!
Think of it like a “reset” for your wardrobe.
Make Laundry Zen Again – How to Master the KonMari Fold
Hopefully learning about the KonMari fold has sparked some inspiration and motivation to get your laundry routine under control. Here’s a quick recap on how to master this game-changing fold:
Supplies Needed
- Flat, waist-high surface – bed, table, or countertop all work
- Laundry must come straight from dryer while still warm and wrinkle-free
Steps
- Shake out hot item and lay flat face down
- Fold in sides to center leaving bottom edge exposed
- Fold up from hem to top creating uniform rectangle
- Set in designated spot based on category/organizing method
- Repeat!
That’s it. For optimal results, put clothing away immediately after folding rather than leaving sorted stacks.
Be warned – it takes time to build speed and fold laundry this way without feeling tedious. Stick with it through those initial slow loads. Once you perfect ergonomic movements and establish categories that work for your needs, this system becomes second nature.
Soon you’ll breeze through basket after basket almost joyfully. Take time to appreciate little details like fabric textures as you handle each item consciously. Laundry could even become an oddly satisfying wind-down ritual.
And just imagine opening your immaculately organized closet or dresser every day – no more rummaging past wrinkled piles or wondering where certain clothes disappeared to.
Doesn’t that sound rejuvenating? Dare we say you may end up loving laundry days thanks to this trick?
Okay, maybe that’s a stretch…but the KonMari fold certainly makes the chore more bearable. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
Remember that organization takes time and laundry probably won’t ever top your “favorite things to do” list. But implementing small changes can make a world of difference to your home’s harmony.
Hopefully this introduction to the KonMari folding method gave you ideas for improving the dread of laundry day. We’d love to hear your success stories and answer any questions in the comments below!
What works for your organizational style? How did the KonMari fold compare to your usual process? Do you have unique laundry hacks to share?
Let’s talk all things laundry and keeping closets tidy. Learning new systems for household tasks can really be life-changing. Plus, think of all the inspiration you’ll give by sharing your own journey.
We look forward to creating more useful, solution-based content around home management struggles. Laundry day blues seem like the perfect place to start – something tells us the comments will be buzzing on this post!