Folding Hacks: 5 Clever Ways to Make Laundry Less Miserable

Folding laundry might be the most universally loathed household chore. It’s not messy like sorting. It’s not noisy like washing. It’s just... relentless. You’ve already done the hard part. You’ve washed, dried, and hauled everything into a pile. And yet, there it sits. A wrinkling mountain of fabric that dares you to care.

According to a recent survey, doing laundry is the least popular chore among Americans. And it often feels like folding laundry takes twice as long as it should. It’s the final boss of laundry day. The step we procrastinate the most. The reason some of us live out of baskets (no judgment here).

But good news: it doesn’t have to be this way. With a few clever tweaks, including some smart setup ideas to folding techniques and even tech-powered tools, you can make folding laundry feel less like a punishment and more like a small win. 

In this article, we’re sharing 5 folding hacks that streamline the process, save time, and might just make you hate laundry a little less.

1. Optimize Your Folding Space

If folding laundry feels like it takes forever and drains your will to live (a little dramatic, but not wrong), you might need to rethink your setup. Where and how you fold your clothes has a bigger impact than you’d think. Folding on your bed, couch, or even the floor might seem convenient, but it can lead to sore backs, wrinkled piles, and zero motivation. 

The solution? A dedicated laundry folding space that’s designed to work with you, not against you.

Start with a laundry folding table. This one change alone is among the top time-saving hacks, making the entire process feel less chaotic. When you have a flat, stable surface at the right height, you eliminate all the hunching, shifting, and scooping that makes folding so exhausting.

Why It Works

• Ergonomic support: No more kneeling or awkward bending. Your back and shoulders will thank you.
• Improved flow: Having a clear space just for folding cuts down on wasted motion and clutter.
• Less overwhelm: A clean folding zone creates structure. When your space is intentional, folding feels like a task you can actually finish.

Practical Options for Every Space

• Collapsible folding tables are great for small apartments and tuck away when not in use.
• Wall-mounted drop-leaf tables offer a minimal footprint and work well in laundry closets or tight corners.
• Multi-purpose surfaces like kitchen counters, entryway tables, or even a sturdy ironing board can double as folding stations in a pinch.

To take it one step further, set up labeled baskets or bins underneath your table to sort by family member or room. That way, once you’re done folding, putting clothes away becomes a 30-second job instead of its own dreaded task.

Folding isn’t fun, but with the right setup, it’s no longer miserable.

2. Embrace Technology: Laundry Folding Machines

Imagine getting through laundry day without folding a single shirt. Sounds impossible? Not anymore. Laundry folding machines are real, and they’re transforming laundry routines for busy families, overwhelmed professionals, and anyone who’s officially had enough of folding mountains of clothes.

These devices use mechanical arms, rollers, and AI-powered systems to scan, fold, and stack your clothes automatically. Just feed in clean garments one by one and let the machine take over. It’s a futuristic upgrade that brings serious time savings and consistency to your laundry process.

Why Use One?

• Hands-free operation: Load the machine, hit start, and move on with your day.
• Uniform folds: Clothes come out tidy and stackable every time—no more awkward crumples.
• Reduced physical strain: Great for people with arthritis, chronic pain, or limited mobility.
• Better organization: Neatly folded laundry takes up less space and keeps drawers from overflowing.

These machines aren’t just for tech lovers. They’re for anyone who values their time, energy, or physical comfort. Whether you’re juggling a household of five, running loads for a small business, or simply tired of laundry eating up your evenings, folding machines offer a real solution. 

Machines Worth Knowing

• FoldiMate: Currently the most prominent option. It folds shirts, pants, and towels in under five minutes. Price: $980–$1,100.
• Laundroid: A now-discontinued Japanese innovation that pioneered AI-based clothing recognition and folding. Its legacy still influences current models.
• Effie: A UK-designed machine that folds and steams garments. Still in development, but promising for multitaskers.

While they’re still considered a luxury, laundry folding machines save time, reduce stress, and help you stay organized. If folding is the part of laundry you dread most, investing in one of these tools might be the smartest (and most sanity-saving) decision you make all year.

3. Simplify with Folding Techniques

Not quite ready to invest in a laundry folding machine? No worries. There’s still a lot you can do to make folding feel less like a drag and more like a system. Sometimes, a better folding method is all it takes to save time, cut clutter, and make laundry day far more satisfying. 

These three folding techniques are practical, easy to learn, and ideal for anyone who wants their clothes and linens to look neat without the extra mental load.

Option 1: Marie Kondo’s Vertical Fold

Popularized through her bestselling books and Netflix show, Marie Kondo’s method is all about space optimization and visibility. Instead of stacking clothes on top of each other in drawers, you fold them so they stand upright, making it easier to see and access everything at a glance.

How to Do It

1. Lay the item flat and smooth out wrinkles.
2. Fold lengthwise into thirds.
3. Fold in half, then in thirds until it forms a small, firm rectangle that can stand upright.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Great for small drawers and tight closets, maximizes vertical space, keeps clothes wrinkle-free.
• Cons: More time-consuming than basic folding; not ideal for bulky items.

Option 2: The Fitted Sheet Hack (TikTok Trick)

Fitted sheets are the universal nemesis of laundry day, but this TikTok-famous method makes them actually foldable.

How to Do It

1. Hold the sheet inside out with your hands in the corners.
2. Tuck one corner into the other to create a clean edge.
3. Repeat with the opposite corners.
4. Lay it flat, fold into a rectangle, then again into a square or roll.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Saves space in the linen closet, gives a hotel-like finish.
• Cons: Takes practice; can be fussy with larger sheets.

Option 3: Spa-Style Towel Rolls

Perfect for bathrooms or open shelving, this technique makes your towels look as good as they feel.

How to Do It

1. Fold the towel in thirds lengthwise.
2. Fold once across the width.
3. Roll from one end tightly.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Visually appealing, easy to stack, adds a spa vibe.
• Cons: Takes up more drawer space than flat folding.

Mastering just one or two of these folding techniques can turn a chaotic pile into a neatly organized system and might even make folding a little more enjoyable.

4. Storage and Organization Hacks

You’ve folded everything nicely, neatly, and are ready to go. But now what? If your clean clothes sit in a pile for days, end up wrinkled again, or get shuffled between rooms without ever making it into drawers, you’re not alone. 

Post-folding chaos is real, but a few smart storage and organizing laundry hacks can make all the difference.

Try Vertical Storage

Instead of stacking folded clothes in tall piles, try file-style vertical folding, especially if you’re using Marie Kondo’s method. Fold items into rectangles that stand upright, then line them up in drawers like folders in a filing cabinet. 

This not only saves space but also lets you see everything at a glance.

Use Labeled Baskets or Bins

One of the easiest and most satisfying upgrades? Assigning baskets by family member, item type, or destination. Label them with names or categories like “Kitchen Towels,” “Emma – PJs,” or “Workout Gear.” 

As you fold, sort items directly into these bins. When it’s time to put everything away, the job’s already halfway done.

Rotate Your System

We all have that “I’ll put it away later” pile. To stop it from becoming permanent decor, implement a 24-hour rule: once laundry is folded, it must be put away by the next day. 

You can also assign each day to a specific person’s laundry, or even set up a weekly rotation for baskets.

Hacks for Small Laundry Rooms

No floor space? No problem. Check these laundry room ideas: use over-the-door organizers, slim rolling carts, or under-table storage bins to add vertical and hidden storage. 

Even a few labeled canvas bags on hooks can transform a cramped space into an efficient station.

Final Tip

A solid system keeps laundry moving. When every item has a place to go, folding becomes the actual end of laundry day, not the start of another round of chaos.

5. Involve the Family

Getting the whole family involved in folding laundry doesn’t have to be a battle. With a little creativity, it can actually become a routine that’s cooperative, empowering, and, believe it or not, fun.

Start with age-appropriate tasks:

• Toddlers can help match socks, sort clothes by color, or toss items into labeled bins.
• Young kids can fold washcloths, stack hand towels, or practice folding their own T-shirts.
• Teens can take full ownership of their own laundry, including folding and putting it away. (Yes, it’s possible.)

To keep things light, gamify the process. Set a timer and race the clock. Offer small incentives for best-folded pile or fastest finisher. Or turn folding into a family moment with music, a shared podcast, or a fun show playing in the background. Even 20 minutes of focused effort with the right vibe can make a dent in the laundry mountain.

The real benefit? No one feels like they’re doing it all alone. Folding laundry as a family builds teamwork, responsibility, and routine. It takes the edge off a repetitive chore and transforms it into a shared rhythm.

Even if your kids’ folds aren’t perfect (they won’t be), it’s progress and it teaches skills they’ll use for life. Over time, what once felt like a never-ending task becomes just another simple part of the day that everyone contributes to.

You may never love folding laundry. But when you do it together, you just might stop hating it.

Conclusion

Folding laundry might always be a chore, but it doesn’t have to be a miserable one. With a few smart changes, you can make the process faster, easier, and even a little more satisfying.

To recap, here are five folding hacks worth trying:

1. Create a folding station that supports your workflow
2. Use a laundry folding machine to skip folding altogether
3. Master folding techniques that save space and time
4. Organize your storage so clean clothes never sit in limbo
5. Get the whole family involved to share the load

Even implementing just one of these efficient laundry tips can make laundry day more manageable and a lot less annoying.

And if you’re ready to simplify your routine even further, try HeySunday’s detergent and dryer sheets. They’re eco-friendly, space-saving, and designed to make your laundry life easier from start to finish.