One of last year’s trends was home organization (thank you, Marie Kondo), with a particular focus on the closet. We especially love her trick for determining which items you wear least by reversing the direction of your hanger every time you put something away. Maintaining an orderly system means everything in its place — even underwear, the most indispensable (and often most-neglected) garments in your wardrobe.
The Best Way to Fold Underwear To Save Space
Organizing your undies will do two crucial things: save space and free up time, so that you can find your go-to favorites and matching sets with ease. Our step-by-step guide will help you determine the best techniques for folding or rolling your underwear based on its specific shape and style.
The Roll Method
Step 1 – Lay face up, so that underwear is vertical and the waist is on the right
Lay your panties flat, face up and turned 90 degrees so that the waistband is on the side, positioned vertically.
Step 2 – Fold in half vertically so that the bottom lines up with the waistband
Grabbing hold of the crotch, fold the panty in half so that the crotch meets the waistband, then run your hand along the surface to smooth and flatten.
Step 3 – Fold in half horizontally, away from you
To ensure a tight roll, we recommend folding the underwear in half prior to the rolling step.
Step 4 – Roll it into a tight cylinder
Begin rolling tightly, starting at the side nearest you, and continue until a compact, neatly bundled cylinder is formed.
Step 5 – Store rolls side by side
Organize your rolled panties into one side-by-side stack for easy access. For maximum storage, place the rolled panties into a single file, then neatly stack a second layer on top of the first.
The Square Method
Step 1 – Lay underwear facing up on a flat surface
Similar to the roll method, this technique has you placing the panty face-up and flat — only with the crotch end towards you.
Step 2 – Fold the bottom up to meet the top
Fold the panty over so that the top of the waistband meets the end of the crotch.
Step 3 – Fold the right side over to the center
Step 4 – Fold the left side over to the center
Step 5 – Take the folded square, flip over and fold in half
Gently flip the panty over, keeping the tucked-in square shape neat and fold in half.
The Egg Roll Method
Step 1 – Lay face up with the waistband near you
For this method, start with the waistband closest to you, smooth to flatten.
Step 2 – Fold three times in narrow, equal folds — moving away from you
Make three narrow and equally measured folds, beginning with the waistband and advancing up toward the crotch. Leave an inch or so of the crotch, unfolded at the top.
Step 3 – When you have about an inch of fabric left, flip it over
Flip the panty over — its backside should be now face-up and the crotch end positioned towards you.
Step 4 – Fold each side towards the center
Next, fold both the sides in toward the center, one overlapping the other.
Step 5 – Fold the bottom up, place thumbs in the pocket made and flip inside out
Fold the remaining crotch material up, while pushing fingers into the gap on the back created via the three folds made earlier — it should resemble a pocket. Depending on the style and amount of fabric, you may have to repeat the crotch-fold twice. Place thumbs in the pocket and use middle fingers to push fabric from the back through the front opening. At the same time, pull the outside edges back in with thumbs. The panty should now be in a tidy bundle, compact and neatly secured.
Step 6 – A little extra time, yes, but now you can just toss it in a drawer
The benefit of spending extra time on this method is that panties will stay tightly bundled until you undo the folds, so you can be less precise about how you arrange them in your underwear drawer.
The Thong Method
Step 1 – Lay thong face down with the waistband away from you
Lay your thong panty face-down with the waistband positioned away from you. Smooth to flatten.
Step 2 – Fold the bottom towards the top
Grabbing the bottom edge of the crotch, fold up and cover the top of the waistband.
Step 3 – Fold one side towards the center
Fold the panty into thirds, bringing one side of the waistband toward the center.
Step 4 – Do the same with the other side
Fold the other side in, overlapping them.
Step 5 – Stack folded thongs on top of one another
Store it, along with all your bundled thongs, in an upright stack.
The Boxer Briefs Method
Step 1 – Lay Flat, Waistband Opposite
Lay the boxer briefs face-up with the waistband positioned away from you. Smooth to flatten.
Step 2 – Fold in Half
Find the middle of the boxer and use it as the folding point, laying one side over the other and lining up the outer seams.
Step 3 – Rotate & Rectangle
Rotate the boxer briefs halfway,180 degrees, so leg openings are on one side and waistband is on the other. Create a long rectangle by folding down the top half of the boxer until it meets the bottom.
Step 4 – Fold in Thirds & Stack
Taking hold of the crotch side, fold up toward the waistband, creating a square. Stack the neatly bundled boxers side by side on a shelf or in a dresser drawer.
Whichever undie bundling method you choose, know that adding dividers or drawer boxes will help carve out neat, dedicated spaces for better storage. You can separate underwear by style — thongs in one area, briefs in another — or category, such as everyday versus special occasion. Organize by hue to create a visual color-coding system or have a little fun with your lingerie by forming rainbow stacks. In the end, go for the method that’s easiest for you to access and brings you the most closet-decluttering joy.