Is Folding Laundry Really Necessary? The Drawbacks Of No-Fold Method

While washing laundry is an essential task important to your daily life, it turns out there is some controversy about how to store it all. Folding clothes, linens, towels, and other items can be time-consuming, and many busy families understandably seek ways to possibly get around it. In fact, there's even been a rise in the "no-fold laundry method," which encourages the use of storage baskets to organize and hold clean laundry as it is, rather than folding it all. Accordingly, you may be wondering if folding laundry is really necessary. Despite the attractiveness of the idea of never having to fold laundry again, there are several potential drawbacks to the no-fold method. Not folding your laundry can possibly create an unhygienic environment, wrinkle certain fabrics, and even lead to unintentional hoarding of old items.

Though it may seem that more and more people are ditching folding their clothes for the no-fold system, you should consider a possible hazard to both your health and your clothing before you try it: bacterial growth. Items that are left damp after laundering can harbor bacteria that may cause issues with odor and skin irritation, and may even ruin clothing. Thicker items, such as towels and jeans, are especially vulnerable to this problem. Bacterial growth isn't necessarily related to the no-fold process directly. Instead, the issue may arise when you stack clothing items into a storage basket without checking them; when you fold your laundry, you are more likely to spot any issues with dampness. Placing damp laundry in humid no-fold storage areas, such as bathrooms, can also worsen the issue.

While some fabrics are not as prone to wrinkling, such as nylon, polyester, and spandex, others easily wrinkle after being laundered. Cotton, linen, and other items made from natural cellulose are the most vulnerable to wrinkles. If these are not hung up or carefully folded, you could spend the time saved from the no-fold method trying to iron or steam out creases and wrinkles. Placing unfolded natural fabrics in piles within baskets and storage containers can make them wrinkle even further due to the collective weight of the items on top of one another. This is an important factor to consider for heavier items, such as towels, shirts, and pants, versus smaller ones. Knowing how to fold and store clothes to minimize wrinkles may be a better solution.

A final consideration before deciding to not fold your laundry is clutter. Some estimate that the average person wears only 20% of their current clothing. By not actively folding your laundry and instead allowing items to continue to pile up in storage baskets, you are setting yourself up for accumulating items you no longer need. A lack of an organizational system can make cleaning out your closet take more time than it ought to. Instead of deciding to fold or not to fold your laundry, you might instead make concessions to help save yourself some time. Consider, for example, placing your smaller wrinkle-free items, such as socks and underwear, in baskets and carefully folding or hanging up the rest. Then, you can consider expert tips to organize your closet to possibly help you streamline the laundry-folding process.