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I had a lot of positive feedback when I wrote Folding and Filing
Clothes and Organizing Drawers to Make More Room. But I also received some questions that I wanted to answer. So here we go. How to organize your drawers to make more room with supporting the
clothes piles.
You can see how I helped T. with a better way to fold t-shirts and organize them in the drawer to make more room.
Readers asked me how to keep the shirts from falling over when you file them this way. That question took me by surprise because we’ve been using this filing method with my son’s drawers for over a year. He’s 11-years old and certainly doesn’t take any special care in handling his clothes or drawers. In fact he’s responsible for putting his clothes away himself (I do fold the clothes). After reading the question asking why the shirts don’t fall over, I went upstairs to check my son’s drawer. This is what it looked like.
My first thought, was the problem was solved. If the tees stay in place for an 11-year old, then case closed.
But then the problem solver in me kicked in. I thought, maybe there would be a problem with bigger and heavier tees falling over. I talked to T. and he hadn’t had any problems. So, of course, I had to conduct a test. I opened and shut the drawer quickly. It took 5 times of unnaturally opening and slamming the drawer before the first
t-shirt fell over. I can now
scientificallyy confirm that this is not a big issue. Plus, most people I’ve worked with don’t have much empty space in their drawers. You fold and file to make
more room, not make empty space in your drawers.
But for those of you who do have a problem with the nicely filed clothes falling over, here are some ideas to help.
Use an extra toiletries item to support the pile. Just don’t use anything that could possibly leak.
Use an empty tissue box. You can weight it down with a belt or item you don’t use often if you find the empty box sliding around.
Use a small vase. Most of us keep vases but seldom use them. The vase will still be available when you do need it, but will be supporting your clothes the other 51 weeks of the year.
And my favorite idea for those of us that tend to shut off the alarm and fall back asleep. Put your alarm clock in your drawer. Clothes supported and a trick to get up on time.
Hope these ideas help. What ideas do you have?
You may also be interested in all my Folding Clothes tutorials.
I’m a mom of 3, a veteran and military spouse. I’ve moved into 20+ homes all around the world. My passion is helping busy people make the space and time for what’s really important to them.
Love this post! I am also impressed with your scientific process to see if the shirts fell over! I would be embarrassed if you came over and looked in my dresser (or my closet) I am not nearly as organized as you are!
Hi Susan – I don’t know what I love more… the perfectly organized t-shirts that even an 11 year-old boy can’t mess up… or the fact that you did such a great scientific experiment on this project. As convincing as you are though, I’m still a roller. I know it’s your life long dream to convert me! Hugs, Holly
Ѕaved as a favorite, I like your website!
How odd, I think I always have problems with them falling if I fold them this way. Maybe my house is tilted!
Very cool. I do have one question. Does your 11 year old usually pick the shirt from the back or front of the pile? My 14 year old’s drawers are always a mess because he is always pawing through to get at the exact shirt that he wants on that exact day. Does this hold up when you are always pulling from the middle of the stack?
Wendy, filing the shirts should help because your son can see all the shirts and then pick the one he wants without having to “paw” 😉 through the stacks to find what he want to wear. If you pull from the middle of the pile, just slide the shirts behind forward and it’ll hold up fine. It works well for my son and for friends’ sons. Good luck and let me know if it works for you.
I’m just impressed your 11 year old keeps them folded WHILE putting them away! That’s wonderful. My kids just tend to stuff them into the drawers and make me wonder why I bother folding clothes at all.
I hear ya’, Joanne! He does pretty well putting them away most of the time, but…… not always. 🙂