If only I had known this earlier! 8 tricks for storing and ironing bed linen and blankets

Tip two: geometric shapes

The author has a unique diagram that explains how to fold things according to Marie Kondo’s method, that is, correctly.
Perhaps the housewife who encountered this method of storing clothes for the first time will think that it is too difficult. But a quad for any thing is actually a universal shape for a T-shirt or blouse, for shorts, T-shirts and even underwear.

If you don’t manage to fold it on the first try, don’t despair; the guide book describes in detail how to fold a T-shirt using Marie Kondo’s method; the book contains many pictures depicting the diagram. There is also a detailed and clear training video.

Methods for storing underwear in the closet

Underwear can be stored both on a closet shelf and in a chest of drawers. In most cases, wardrobes are equipped with drawers for storing clothes and small accessories. You can organize the space in sections using organizers. Such devices are sold ready-made. You can also make them yourself.

If there are no drawers

If you don't have a box, you can use empty shoe boxes. They help you sort accessories by type. Lace fabrics, textured wallpaper, and other available materials are suitable for decorating the lid.

Boxes from other things are also suitable for storing laundry

Special organizers

Organizers are ready-made structures made of plastic, thick cardboard, covered with fabric. The number of storage compartments is one or many small compartments, depending on the purpose. Bras and panties are compactly placed in the cells.

Organizers for underwear

Cardboard packaging from underwear orders

High-quality underwear is always sold in tight boxes. After the next purchase of a new set of packaging, it is better not to throw it away. You can store tights, a belt and stocking holders, and boudoir accessories in them.

Plastic dividers

Separating structures come in a standard rectangular shape, honeycomb type. Used to organize the filling of boxes.

Honeycomb separators come in plastic and rag

Vertical organizers

The small closet uses vertical designs. The devices consist of a body with shelves made of dense materials. The second option is mobile cases with transparent pockets. Attached to the hanger rod and internal elements of the wardrobe.

Cases with transparent pockets - vertical storage method

Hangers

If you have enough space in the dressing room, you can organize the placement of linen on hangers. It's hard to imagine a better way to store bras. This will allow you to quickly find the right set and avoid deformation of the cups.

Storage on hangers takes up a lot of space

Organize your closet: 5 clever ways to fold shirts, laundry and more

The weekend is the perfect time to do some household chores. We have already talked about several life hacks that will make cleaning easier, and now we suggest you take care of cabinets and shelves. We have collected several video instructions that will help you fold things more efficiently and save space.

How to organize things in a closet

Asos' universal guide: This explains how to fold jeans, sweaters, T-shirts and underwear, and the best way to store them (hint: everything you put in dresser drawers should be placed vertically). Bonus of the video - instructions on how to hang a pantsuit in a closet. Once you have mastered these methods, you can improve your skills—for example, study popular methods on the Internet for folding T-shirts and socks.

How to fit a mountain of underwear into a drawer

You've probably heard about Marie Kondo's cleaning method: she turned tidying up her house into her life's work and now teaches it to others. If you are not ready to apply all its principles, you can limit yourself to individual practical video tutorials - for example, on how to ergonomically fold underwear and socks in a small drawer.

How to fold a shirt

The easiest way to fold shirts is similar to how you fold sweaters and T-shirts, but there are some differences. First of all, buttons.

It is not necessary, as in this video, to button up the whole shirt - just button the first, last and one in the middle. Otherwise everything is pretty easy.

If you can’t fold your clothes evenly, you can use a folder or a special board.

How to fold bed linen

There is nothing difficult about folding bed linen: the only item that may be difficult is a sheet with an elastic band. A video from furniture and home decor brand West Elm explains how to deal with this.

At first it seems that everything is not easy, but after a little practice it will be easy for you. In order to save space and not frantically search for linen from one set, the sheet can be stored in one of the pillowcases.

How to put things in a suitcase

This Heathrow Airport video gives you some simple but effective tips on how to pack for your trip.

There are general recommendations (pick out the items you want to take with you, then feel free to set aside a third of them - you'll probably need a lot less clothes than you think) and small tricks (fold your socks in your boots - this will save some space ). The authors of the video say that they were guided by the life hacks of pilots and flight attendants - those who regularly pack their suitcases.

Cover: heinteh – stock.adobe.com

With elastic band

Often the bedding set includes a sheet with an elastic band. Initially, such textiles were popular in the West, and our housewives adopted them relatively recently. It’s worth touching on the question of how to fold a large sheet with an elastic band:

• lay out the sheet and stretch it along its entire length, straighten the corners;
• connect the upper corner with the lower one located on the same side of the sheet;
• the next corner needs to be placed under the two that you connected before;
• the fourth corner needs to be tucked under all three corners, in a similar way you should get a rectangle;
• a folded sheet can be rolled up and tied with ribbon or an elastic band.

Useful tips

To ensure that your bed linen lasts as long as possible, you should:

• change kits at least once every 7 days;
• wash items in accordance with all instructions on the manufacturer's label;
• dry the products in the fresh air (at least in a ventilated area);

• store laundry inside out;
• Store pillowcases, duvet covers and sheets separately;
• in cases where sets of linen are stored in one place, wrap the sheets and duvet covers with a pillowcase (the set of linen can also be tied with a ribbon or string for convenience);

• divide sets of linen by season: separately - lighter and summer ones, separately - winter ones;
• use specially designed fragrances, soaps or herbs to give your laundry a pleasant and fresh smell.

Thus, you have become familiar with all the secrets of proper storage of bed linen. If you follow these simple tips, your products will last for quite a long time and will be in good condition.

Remember that the quality of your rest largely depends on the quality of your bedding.

Instructions for folding bed linen are in the video below.

Preparation

It is worth taking care of the condition of the duvet covers, pillowcases and sheets themselves. Ironed items are more convenient to fold, and they become much smaller in volume and can be placed more compactly. Therefore, one of the main points of cleaning the closet is ironing the bedding sets. Many housewives use the steam function when ironing clothes. This helps remove wrinkles better. And if you add 1-2 drops of aromatic oil to the water, the bedding will not only be smooth and neat, but will also literally begin to smell fragrant. To prevent wrinkles from appearing on clothes, before ironing they must be shaken and spread well on the surface of the ironing board.

Interesting: How to Store Onions at Home in an Apartment

To arrange the kits conveniently, it is advisable to sort them. Indeed, in the cold season and summer, most people use different bedding. If it's winter outside, you'll need sets made of thicker fabric. They should be placed closer, while light summer linen can be put away deep in the shelves. During the warm season, bedding is sorted in the opposite way, as lightweight and breathable pillowcases, duvet covers and sheets will be used.

Set in pillowcase

If you fold a folded duvet cover and sheet into a pillowcase and tuck the ends of the pillowcase, you will get a neat envelope

A very convenient option is to store folded bed linen in a pillowcase. This method has virtually no drawbacks: different things don’t get confused, neat stacks take up little space, and it’s very easy to get the right set without touching others.

A convenient and practical way to keep the entire set in a pillowcase - it’s easy to get the whole set out of the closet without unnecessary movements

Let's take a step-by-step look at how to put a linen set in a pillowcase:

1. iron things (or carefully straighten and shake them off before drying);
2. carefully fold the duvet cover corner to corner (about ten folds) so that it easily fits into the pillowcase;
3. also carefully roll the sheets into an even rectangle;
4. roll up all the pillowcases (except for the one in which we will “pack” the set);
5. put all the items in the kit in one pile;
6. place the stack in the remaining pillowcase, straighten the edges and bend them so that the linen lies in a kind of bag.

Bedding set for a double bed fits perfectly in a pillowcase

We put the resulting packed stacks on a shelf in the closet - and you’re done!

Matryoshka principle

This is another convenient storage method if you know how to fold bedding using the KonMari method. It consists of storing the set together, placed in a pillowcase. Order and quick access are guaranteed.

You need to iron the entire bedding set, fold the sheet and duvet cover together compactly, and attach all the pillowcases in the set except one. Place the folded set into the remaining pillowcase, like a package or like a nesting doll. Tuck the edges of the pillowcase and place the resulting beautiful set in a stack on the shelf.

This method provides elegant wardrobe content and convenience for the housewife - any set is assembled “in full combat readiness”, and not scattered on different shelves of the wardrobe.

On a roll

This is the standard method for folding laundry sets. Instructions:

1. Unfold the duvet cover, fold the sides inward several times until you get a long strip.
2. Fold the other items in the set in the same way.
3. Place pillowcases on the duvet cover, then the sheet.
4. Roll into a roll.
5. Place an organizer on a shelf, in a drawer.

Method of folding bed linen into a roll
Plus:

• No creases.
• The roll can be folded compactly into any closet, chest of drawers, drawers, containers, or fabric organizer.

Minus:

• You need to sort your laundry by size.
• For sets with different configurations, the rolls differ in size.

This method is not suitable for fitted sheets. But rolls can be stored vertically or horizontally. It is not necessary to roll the entire set together; sometimes this is done separately with each copy of the set.

You can fold towels, jeans, and other items of clothing into compact rolls. The method is suitable for assembling a suitcase for a trip.

Bed sheet with elastic band

The Japanese woman especially dwells on how to fold sheets with elastic bands to form an even rectangle. Quite often, sets of modern linen are equipped with sheets with elastic bands at the corners so that such a sheet can be pulled well over the mattress.

Here's a tip on how to fold bedding using the KonMari method if it's hemmed with an elastic band.

• First you need to lay out the panel and stretch it well, straightening the corners.
• First connect the upper and lower corners on one side.
• Attach the third corner to the folded corners of the sheet.
• Fold the fourth one under the folded three and as a result of these manipulations you will get a rectangle.
• For strength, roll the folded rectangle sheet into a roll and tie it with tape (you can use twine or an elastic band).
• Place vertically in a closet.

According to Marie Kondo's method

Japanese woman Marie Kondo has developed her own way of folding and storing laundry. Apartments in Japan, like furniture, do not have a lot of free space, which sets strict conditions for organizing the storage of linen.

Basic principles of the method:

• minimal space for each item;
• retrieving any item without disturbing order;
• all items in the closet should be visible.

The author of the idea offers the following instructions for tidying up your closet:

1. The shelves are emptied, and the laundry is sorted out for old and unnecessary items - things that will be thrown away.
2. The sets are sorted by category: pillowcases, duvet covers and sheets are recommended to be stored in different piles.
3. Things are stacked so that they are all accessible for viewing, and so that when removing one of them the order of the others is not disturbed: for this they are folded into a rectangle and stored in a vertical position.

"Bookshelf"

The essence of the method is that folded or rolled laundry is stored on shelves in a position that is not quite familiar to us. It is not laid horizontally, but placed like books in a vertical plane. Visually it looks unusual. However, retrieving laundry from such a vertical row is much more convenient.

Storing bed linen - basic methods

There are three of these methods:

Classic - on shelves, horizontally, stacked. To ensure that the set takes up less space, it should be ironed first, then folded corner to corner. To prevent stacks from collapsing and pillowcases from getting lost, fold the entire set into a pillowcase. If it is too small (euro, for example), fold strictly in order: sheet, duvet cover, pillowcase.

Vertical (thanks to Marie Kondo for the idea) - the laundry is rolled up into neat rolls and placed in rows, preferably in an organizer. If it is not there, you can tighten the rolls with plastic ties.

Horizontal rows - the laundry is folded into rectangles, as in the classic method, but placed in rows rather than stacked. To prevent the “envelopes” from fading, you will again need a limiter: an organizer or the same ties (for example, from a regular linen elastic band - it’s easier to add rectangles to these after ironing).

Dressing

The stacked set can be tied with a ribbon. It is both convenient and beautiful. Place the ironed duvet cover, sheet and pillowcases on top of each other. For dressing, you can use decorative ribbons or simple ropes. In any case, the kit will be assembled. It will be convenient to remove it from the closet to make the bed.

Tip number one: divide and conquer

Marie Kondo's "How to Put Things Away" outlines one of the main principles of tidying.

All things must be divided into groups. It is better to have its own drawer for each group of clothes. Tights or loungewear should not be worn with skirts or blouses. Dressy items are not stored together with everyday items.

Therefore, before you start getting rid of junk, you need to pay attention to each thing, subjecting it to careful examination and analysis - whether you need it or not. To keep your closet organized, only the necessary clothes that you actually plan to wear should remain on the shelves.

To keep your closet organized, only the necessary clothes that you actually plan to wear should remain on the shelves.

Even if you are sorry to throw away some piece of clothing (it is in good condition, memorable in some way), but you are not going to wear it, you need to get rid of it. Because sooner or later such clothes turn into unnecessary and forgotten rags by the owners, that is, into trash.

Instructions for the hostess-sorceress

It's easy to learn how to put things on a shelf from Marie Kondo. Here's a little instruction.

The item is laid out smoothly on a flat surface, for example, on a table. Then mentally draw lines along and across this item dividing the folded clothes.

In this case, the left side is bent so that its edge is exactly in the middle of the shirt, T-shirt or sweater. The left sleeve comes after the side; it must be folded, perhaps twice, so that it does not violate the boundary of the future ideal rectangle.

We fold the item on the right in the same way. We bend the second sleeve, like the first. As a result, the sleeves form a straight line.

We mentally divide the resulting rectangle into 4 parts and consistently bend it 1/3 from the bottom. Then fold the resulting rectangle in half.

And in half again. We put a T-shirt, T-shirt or sweater folded in the form of an even and tight narrow rectangle like a “soldier” in a drawer of a dresser or closet. It will be joined by the rest of the things, folded in a similar way.

How to fold bed linen compactly

Any housewife knows that compact storage of bedding affects not only the order in the closet, but also their condition.

After all, you will agree that sleeping on soft and ironed sheets and pillowcases is much more pleasant and comfortable than on wrinkled items.

That is why there are ways that help to fold laundry in such a way that it does not lose its appearance, does not wear out, and does not take up much space on the shelf in the closet.

How to compactly fold bed linen in a closet

First of all, it needs to be prepared. To do this, you should iron all the details well: pillowcases, duvet covers, sheets. Why is this necessary? Well, first of all, it is much more pleasant to sleep on ironed bedding. And secondly, you don’t have to waste time on ironing before making your bed with a fresh set.

There are several ways of folding so that the laundry takes up minimal space and does not wrinkle. If you practice and get used to it, the whole process will not take more than two minutes, and you can forget about the clutter in the closet.

Classic way

You may remember neat piles of bedding on a shelf, arranged in a chaotic order, as our mothers and grandmothers did. Of course, this method is very convenient. All you need to do is iron the accessories, fold them into an even rectangle, align them and put them on the shelf in the same neat order.

But this method has one drawback - if you only need to get a sheet or duvet cover, then all the other parts will simply “eat away” with the entire stack and you will have to start putting things in order all over again.

But you can separate all the parts only if there is enough space in the closet to allocate a separate shelf for each part. For example, for pillowcases - one, for duvet covers - another.

Of course, this is very convenient, but not very economical.

In a pillowcase

This method is convenient if you have full sets of bed linen in your home. That is, the set includes all the details: pillowcases, a duvet cover (or even two), a sheet. By folding your accessories in this way, you won’t have to look for all the missing items on the shelves and then re-organize your closet, because everything will be in one place. To fold bedding into a pillowcase you need:

• Carefully fold the sheet and duvet cover so that they are smaller in size than the pillowcase;
• place them inside the pillowcase and straighten out any wrinkles;
• fold the second pillowcase and place it on top of the other pieces.

Now it's very convenient to put the kit on the shelf, and when the time comes, you won't have to look for small parts among many other kits and stacks.

How to fold bed linen using the Konmari method?

This is, rather, not a method in the full sense of the word, but a separate philosophy of putting things in order, which applies to everything in the house, including bedding. All you need to do is get rid of the unnecessary, everything that causes discomfort, causes negative emotions and everything that you don’t need, but you keep it for no reason. Even the phrase: “What if it comes in handy!” doesn't matter here.

So, how to fold laundry the Konmari way? Open your closet, take out all the bedding you have.

Now carefully evaluate the importance of each detail. Anything you doubt, feel free to throw it in the trash.

Faded duvet covers, holey pillowcases, sheets that have outlived your grandmother - you need to get rid of this, especially if it is not used for its intended purpose. Don't be afraid to regret what you did later.

The author of this technique is sure that this way you will not only free up space in your closet, but also get rid of what makes you uncomfortable.

After sorting, all pieces of bedding need to be folded into identical rectangles. First we lay the sheets, then the duvet covers, then the pillowcases.

Then all the elements need to be placed in boxes or special storage containers. But there is one nuance here - only vertical arrangement. Yes, Marie Kondo, the author of this technique, is a fan of vertical storage.

According to her, she doesn’t even have carrots in her refrigerator, but in a drawer.

As soon as you perform such a “ritual,” you will immediately understand that this is the most effective way not only for bed linen, but also for putting things in order in the house as a whole. Use it not only with bedding, but also with everything else, and you will immediately understand that putting things in order is such a simple task that it does not require any effort, physical or time expenditure.

Basic folding methods

Regardless of what sets are in the closet - children's, one-and-a-half-size or family, they include at least three items (duvet cover, pillowcase, sheet). If you put each of them separately, you get a lot of things that are not easy to sort through and quickly get what you need.

The most common ways to fold bed linen include:

• classical;
• storage in a pillowcase;
• vertical.

Classical

This method is considered the most common. After washing and drying, the laundry is ironed. As a result, it not only acquires a more aesthetic appearance, but also takes up less space. Pillowcases are folded correctly (corner to corner) 3-4 times in half, sheets and duvet covers - up to 6 times. Sets are assembled from ironed items and placed in a neat stack in a closet.

Vertical

The method was borrowed from the Japanese. Bedding items are folded not into rectangles, but into voluminous rolls. By folding a duvet cover or sheet not 6 times, but several more, you get a bundle that is stored, placed on the narrow part, vertically. Finding and retrieving sets folded in this way is not difficult, but they require a special shelf or chest of drawers. This option for storing bed linen is not suitable for a standard closet.

Set in pillowcase

The pillowcase storage method is convenient to use. The items in the kits do not get confused, they are very compactly located on the shelf, and they are easy to get out. To put bed linen in a pillowcase, you need to:

1. Iron it with an iron.
2. Carefully fold the sheets and duvet covers to fit into the pillowcase.
3. Place in one pile.
4. Place the entire set in a pillowcase, fold the edges and place it on the shelf.

With elastic band

Recently, sheets with elastic have become widespread; they are convenient to use, but difficult to fold so that it looks neat. According to one of the methods, it is necessary:

1. Take the sheet by the centers of the short side and shake it.
2. Place it in the shape of a hammock on a flat surface.
3. Fold the edges with the elastic into the middle.
4. Fold towards the smooth side twice.
5. Turn over and fold in half.
6. Combine all corners (one to one).
7. Align the edges and fold to the required size.

KonMari Method

The method was developed and bears the name of Marie Kondo, a resident of Japan. It provides for the rational distribution of space for linen in a modern apartment.

The remaining linen is sorted into three categories: sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers. They are stored in a closet in a vertical position, folded into separate piles that are accessible for viewing. The location allows you to take the necessary item without disturbing the general order.

Roll

This method is used to store sets of linen in deep drawers or shelves. The duvet cover is folded into a strip, and a sheet and pillowcase folded in the same way are placed on top. Everything is rolled up and placed in a second pillowcase. The vertical position allows you to remove rolls without destroying the structure, and place a new, clean set of linen in the free space.

Bookshelf

The method consists in placing bed linen on shelves not horizontally, but like books in a bookcase. Removing the required set is very convenient and does not affect the neighboring ones. The method is suitable for narrow cabinets with frequently spaced shelves.

Package

You can significantly save space in your closet using special vacuum bags. After the laundry has been washed, dried and turned inside out, it is carefully folded, placed in a bag and the air is pumped out of it. Ordinary plastic is not suitable for these purposes.

Dressing

A beautiful addition to folded laundry can be tying it with a ribbon, decorative rope, or ribbon. The assembled kit is easy to take out and pleasant to hold in your hands.

Baskets and containers

The inside of the closet looks very neat if each set of bed linen is folded compactly and placed in a separate box, basket or container. It’s convenient to take from the shelf; the order in the closet is not disturbed if you take out one of the boxes. This method is applicable when the size of the apartment and closet allows.

Where to store?

It is worth noting that at the moment the closet and chest of drawers are far from the only places to store bedding sets. Laundry tightly packed on shelves can often harbor moths and spoil things. Recently, special covers have become very popular among housewives. They come in different sizes and can be hung or for horizontal storage.

Another convenient innovation is vacuum bags. In this way you can save space, since things in such a bag become much more compact. They are convenient for storing spare sets for guests or things that will definitely not be used in the near future. The bags protect laundry from moth larvae and other negative factors, such as humidity.

4 ways to fold bed linen in the video below.

Friends are kindly jealous

Writer Marie Kondo in her guides not only shares techniques for storing and storing things, but also gives many additional tips to readers. Here are some of them:

• It's better to store your clothes in one place so you always know what's in stock and what's missing. This will help you avoid unnecessary spending and buying things at discounts.
• It is good to place things on hangers by color - from dark to light, from long to short.
• It is better to store hosiery vertically. Stockings and tights are rolled into rolls, and socks are folded into rectangles. It is better to store socks, stockings, and knee socks not on shelves, but in small containers or boxes.
• Storage bags can be stacked one inside the other if size allows, but no more than three. This saves cabinet space.
• Another tip from the writer is to actively use shoe boxes to store various small items, from socks to medicines.

If you consistently try to apply Marie Kondo's tips on how to fold things, your life will improve significantly. You can forget about general cleaning, since order of things means order in the house. And you won’t have to shake up your wardrobe. The order and harmony in the house will be the envy of any random guest.

Basic tips for storing bed linen

Housewives should take note of a few basic tips on how to store bed linen and towels:

1. Before storing the set in the closet, you need to wash and dry it.
2. The place for textiles should be located away from heating devices and bathtubs, that is, without changes in humidity and temperature. Otherwise, this is a great chance for nasty parasites to appear.
3. Do not expose the fabric to sunlight, as this leads to drying of the fibers and fading of the color.
4. If bed linen is stored for long-term storage, it must be ventilated periodically to avoid the appearance of moths.
5. For home use, it is better to have several sets (2-5), no more. This way you will ensure comfortable storage of things in your closet.
6. It’s good if the bed linen on the shelves is turned inside out.