Should You Hang or Fold Clothes? What Clothes to Hang Vs Fold.

Should you hang or fold hoodies? Is it better to hang or fold t-shirts? What about jeans? Which clothes to hang vs which clothes to fold? Is there a right way to store clothes in your cabinet? The good news is – there are certain factors which determine which clothes to hang vs fold. I’m going to break the answer down simply in this article.

But why is the answer so important? Simple. How you store clothes in your closet determines how quickly your closet can get messy again. It’s a truth I learnt the hard way, during a recent wardrobe reset and when I did a deep dive on the prime suspects of closet clutter. I realized that a lot of it is about making simple changes. Changes based on an understanding of your available space, your current lifestyle, how you store clothes, even the kind of fabrics in your closet. Even the smallest changes matter. That’s where it becomes important to answer: should you hang or fold clothes?

It’s the eternal closet question. What to hang? And what to fold?

The answer actually depends on a variety of different factors. 

In this article, I’ll try to break down these factors, so you’re able to decide for yourself – basis your use case, what to hang and what to fold.

Towards the end of the article, I’ll also share a ‘Hang or Fold’ Cheat Sheet to help you with the general rules of which clothes are best hung, and which best folded.

What are the Deciding Factors?

Fabric

Flowy fabrics like satins, chiffons and silks are best hung.

The type of hanger matters greatly in this case, because these types of fabrics tend to slip off. Opt for velvet or anti-slip hangers. I’ve done a deeper dive on how to get the most out of your hangers here.

The other kind of fabrics that do best when hung, are the quick-to-wrinkle kinds. Like linen. These tend to get all wrinkly when folded, so best to hang your linen pants, shirts and blazers.

On the contrary, stiffer, thicker fabrics like denim, wool, can be folded – like denims, wool and thicker cotton. Wool, in particular, should always be folded, as hanging sweaters and cardigans can stretch out the threads and ruin the integrity of the fabric.

Occasion

It’s generally advisable to hang formal-wear like trousers, shirts and blazers. This keeps them wrinkle-free and ready to grab for a work day.

Most casual stuff like sweats, t-shirts and hoodies can be folded away as they don’t wrinkle easy.

Bulk and Weight

Bulky hoodies, chunky sweaters, heavy mufflers, bulky jeans and any heavy fabrics are generally best folded.

Being heavier in nature, they can stretch out and get ruined on hangers.

Frequency Of Use

As a broad thumb rule, it’s a good idea to hang your frequently used items. This makes them easier to quickly grab. 

I generally fold up most of my t-shirts, but I prefer hanging my work out t-shirts since I know I’ll need them everyday. Hanging them just makes it easier for me to reach for them without ruining the rest of my wardrobe.

Closet Space

This ones pretty commonsensical but sometimes you may have more hanging space than you have shelves, or vice versa.

This is where you can shift around certain clothes that can be hung as well as folded.
Yes, there are certain kinds. T-shirts and  jeans are some clothing items that can be both hung or folded. If you want to understand more about whether to hang or fold your T-shirts, check out this article.

Effective Spaces has some great tips on folding as well as hanging.

So if you have more hanging space in your closet, you can choose to hang your t-shirts instead of folding them. Have more shelf or drawer space? Choose to fold your denims instead of hanging them. You get the drift.

The Hang Or Fold Cheatsheet