# Do you fold your underwear? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498 "2025-09-29T22:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/21 "2025-09-29T23:47:36Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Fold in thirds, then in half to make a square-ish parcel. It’s so funny to find someone who folds exactly the same way I do. 😆 Especially since nobody taught me; I came up with it on my own when trying to figure out how to get my underwear to fit neatly as the messy pile I used to have was driving me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/22 "2025-09-29T23:57:47Z")
Do they fold, I didn’t know that. Normally cram, but with travel if space is a concern, roll. ---
**Author:** ![Cachalot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@Cachalot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cachalot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/23 "2025-09-30T00:07:23Z")
I fold them in half down the center and then roll them up. Rolled up they fit neatly in a dresser drawer. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/24 "2025-09-30T00:33:30Z")
Folded into thirds horizontally, then into thirds vertically, then placed vertically (standing on edge) in a line in the drawer. Newly laundered undies go to the back of the line so as to rotate the stock. _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/24))_ ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/25 "2025-09-30T02:09:26Z")
I wear boxer briefs. I fold them in thirds, turn them 90°, and fold in thirds again. The resulting little cube is about 4" on a side and perfect for storing in a dresser. > [@Atamasama](#): > > I know some people just roll them partway like this That’s how I “fold” my socks as it’s how my mom taught me and I’ve never found a reason not to fold them this way. Easy, quick, and makes storage a cinch. My OCD will not let me _not_ fold and organzie (or hang up in the closet) every piece of clothing I own. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/26 "2025-09-30T03:06:26Z")
I fold my boxers. Old military habits die hard, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/27 "2025-09-30T03:09:19Z")
I fold but I use boxer-briefs which are more amenable to it. Not sure I would fold whitey-tighties. The fold is super easy and fast though. Mostly just fold in half lengthwise and pile them up neatly. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/28 "2025-09-30T03:35:37Z")
I fold my boxer briefs in half, then roll them into little underwear burritos. They stack more efficiently in my underwear drawer, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/29 "2025-09-30T04:28:04Z")
That’s how my mom taught me to fold them. She also taught me how to fold t-shirts, but my pile of folded t-shirts looks like it was a team effort between Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/30 "2025-09-30T05:11:57Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Neither. I stack them flat and all facing the same way I start with all clean briefs this way. Then fold the crotch of the top pair up to the waistband, then fold into thirds horizontally. Set to the side and fold the next pair. Stack the folded ones neatly then place the stack sideways in the drawer. Done correctly looks like a card catalog of underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/31 "2025-09-30T05:13:42Z")
I live in Korea, where dryers are not usually included in apartment rentals. I have a drying rack and space is premium, so yeah, I fold. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/32 "2025-09-30T05:34:23Z")
What’s ‘Underwear’? ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/33 "2025-09-30T05:51:35Z")
My socks are not quite rolled up in balls. Single fold, and then inside-out the one one sock to keep them together. This keeps the socks together and is convenient when traveling. I just looked at quite a few videos about folding socks, and I think I will either KonMari them or just go for a single fold. I use the [KonMari](https://youtu.be/SVwrwJPIHPU?si=e-k4FxvFtQkokLEX) fold for underwire bras (which I also use for non-underwire, as I only have one) and briefs. The drawer for underwear and socks is very shallow, so there is no stacking. All my underwear and socks are visible when I open the drawer, no digging for underwear or socks. Bras are in a different drawer. I find folding to be be relaxing. With the old dresser I just threw underwear in the dedicated drawer. As I have many different shapes, I was always searching for the right pair. I have two “columns” of underwear. The active column, and the inactive column. The inactive column is because I bought underwear, even though I didn’t really need any. So I am wearing underwear from the active column. When there is enough capacity, the pairs in the inactive column will be merged into the active column. All of them, at one time. Active column has about 20 pair, which is enough for 2 weeks, including changes for exercise. In active column has half that much. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/34 "2025-09-30T06:53:55Z")
I voted cram, but sometimes i fold. I can fit more in the same space when i fold. So if I’ve just added new underwear, or if I’m packing and my bag is tight i fold. But usually i cram. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/35 "2025-09-30T10:55:18Z")
You should change your username to Bare\_Nenno. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/36 "2025-09-30T11:23:42Z")
Underwear folded in half to fit in the drawer better (the few boxers I have are folded twice for the same reason). Socks balled and crammed. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/37 "2025-09-30T11:50:45Z")
I voted “fold”. Not that _I_ do that, though. The lady who does for us…does. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/38 "2025-09-30T13:48:11Z")
I voted Fold. Sometimes I even have to re-fold, because if my wife did the laundry she doesn’t fold them right. (Boxer briefs, I just fold them in half but she folds them in thirds then a top-to-bottom fold.) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/39 "2025-09-30T14:54:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > > College girlfriend also taught me to roll my socks into balls like those; I eventually decided that that was doing a number on the elastic, so I switched to the “partway roll” style. > > That’s a very good reason to not do so. However, for me, I develop holes in my socks long before the elastic runs out. It’s probably just how the socks are made. I don’t think I’ve ever had a sock last long enough for them to stop being elastic. For me, white socks tend to wear out holes, work & cycling socks tend to have the elastic go; I’m guessing because they get less miles walked on them, but yes, fold mid-calf socks in half at the ankle & just pair up the shorter (ankle, ped) ones , no rolling at all so at not to overstretch the elastic. Clean underwear gets folded in half & then stacked each one 180° opposite so the stack is flat rather than wedge/triangle shaped as the top/elastic is thicker than the bottom. However, dirtys get balled up & crammed back in the bag when away, which makes it easy to tell which ones are next to be put on when living out of a duffel or suitcase. For both, clean ones go on the bottom or to the right (depending upon which they are) & then next one is pulled off the top or left to ensure all are worn relatively the same amount. The only exception is maybe pulling one or two to the right for better outfit coordination of work/dress socks (not wearing light/tan socks with black pants; they’ll be first out on a khaki’s day.) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498/40 "2025-09-30T15:07:57Z")
I tie my thong strings in little bows and arrange them prettily in straight little rows in my antique Victorian highboy. Third drawer. /s (Are you kidding me? Yeah I fold-ish my dainties, I don’t toss and cram, but I ain’t anal about it. 😊 ) My drawers are lined with scented paper. No! Not them drawers…😄 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fold-your-underwear/1023498.md?page=3)