Is It Better to Fold or Hang Your Clothes

Dresses 

Most of your lightweight dresses will have thin straps that almost look like ribbons. These straps are specifically designed to allow the fabric to flow naturally so it looks great when you put it on. If the straps keep slipping off the hanger, use a velvet hanger or crisscross the straps.  For heavier dresses, such as formal gowns, be sure to display them on padded hangers.   

The only type of dress you should fold up instead of hang is a sweater dress; the material tends to stretch, which can ultimately damage the form of the dress. To maintain this particular piece, fold it up and place it inside of a drawer.  

Lightweight Sweaters and Cardigans 

For lightweight sweaters and cardigans, you're going to want to use the hang-fold method, championed by Jill Nystul from OneGoodThing. This will help ensure your lightweight sweaters and cardigans don’t develop little bumps on the shoulders that typically come from hanging them.

To begin, fold your sweater in half with the sleeves lining up together. Then, grab the hanger and position it so that the hook is located at the armpits of the sweater. Take the "body of the sweater" and drape it over the hanger. Finally, fold the sleeve that is sticking out over the other side of the hanger.   

For thicker winter knit sweaters, you are going to want to fold them to protect their structural integrity. Thicker sweaters can also take up a lot of space when hung up that could be used more economically by other items in your wardrobe.  

Pants

With pants, it depends on the material. Jeans should be folded up, while casual dress pants and slacks benefit from being hung up. You can use hangers with clips, or take your pants, fold them in half, and put them over the bar on the hanger. This is a great way to hang pants if you don’t have a lot of vertical space in your closet.  Another option is bringing in one or two pull-out racks as mentioned in this article by Hartville Custom Closets and Garage, 14 Versatile Accessories for Organizing Your Custom Closets. 

Jackets 

Jackets tend to be big and bulky, making them difficult to fold. Additionally, folding up a jacket can compromise the structure of the piece. Regardless of the type, be it an outwear jacket or a blazer, it should be hung up. For jackets on the heavier side, use a stronger hanger to support their weight. 

T-Shirts

T-shirts are one of the most common items in a wardrobe. One of the great things is that they are very versatile, and they can just as easily be hung up, folded, or rolled up. According to NBCNews.com, the best hangers for t-shirts are those that are non-slip, including velvet hangers and wooden hangers with special non-slip pads.

Blouses 

Blouses are a little different than t-shirts; instead of being made from cotton, they are made from more flowy materials, such as chiffon or silk. These fabrics tend to get easily wrinkled and shouldn’t be stifled by being folded up. Hang up your blouses on soft, padded hangers to protect the material and help them retain their shape. 

Scarves 

If you have a collection of scarves as part of your wardrobe, the best way to store them depends on their style. Oversized scarves that could easily be mistaken for a shawl should be folded up. Smaller scarves can be draped over a hanger or hung up using a tie hanger or scarf rack to save space.  

Ties 

You want your ties to look professional and smooth when you pull them out, and one of the best ways to achieve this is by hanging them up. According to toughapparel.com, you can use a standard hanger and drape them over the bar on the hanger. Another option is to invest in a tie ladder or hanger that includes individual spaces to hang up each of your ties. You'll also be maximizing space in the process.

Shorts 

Because shorts have so little fabric, it's usually best to fold them up. If you want to hang up your shorts, use hangers where you can clip the waistband.

Activewear 

Activewear tends to be made of stretchy fabric that doesn’t hold up well when hung up. As a result,  items such as workout tops, yoga pants, and lightweight workout jackets should be folded.

Conclusion

As a general rule of thumb, always hang up items that would get wrinkled or compromised if folded, such as blouses and jackets. Fold up material that would get stretched out by being hung up, such as activewear and sweater dresses. Knowing whether to fold or hang your clothing is essential to keep your wardrobe looking its best.

Sources

• https://www.hartvillecustomclosets.com/best-custom-closet-accessories 
• https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/best-clothes-hangers-ncna1273228 
• https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/how-to-hang-fold-sweaters/ 
• https://toughapparel.com/blogs/news/hanging-vs-rolling-how-to-store-your-ties