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Why Should You Fold Socks?
Socks are probably overlooked the most when folding laundry because it’s just so easy to throw them in the dresser individually or to grab two non-matching socks and roll them together.
You might not see the point in taking the extra step to fold your socks, because who is going to see your feet anyway? Wrong! Socks add a finishing touch to your outfit that makes you look more put together and less sloppy, especially during important moments like a job interview or a first date.
We’ve all been there. You go to grab some socks but the inside of your drawer looks like a hurricane came through. It’s much easier to push the drawer back in, forget what you saw and visit it again when the time comes. Or, you could take the time and actually get organized. That might bring the question to mind: “Well, how do you fold socks?”
There are many ways of how to fold socks together that will save you time, since you won’t have to scramble to find matching pairs. That will give you more space in your drawer, so you’ll have more room to buy cool socks. Whether you tend to just throw all your socks in your dresser separately, roll pairs together or you currently already know how to fold socks, it doesn’t hurt learning new ways to get the job done.
How to Fold Ankle Socks
Each pair of socks comes with their own special ways to fold them. Some methods work better than others, depending on the size and length of the sock. With ankle socks, there are a few foolproof ways to guarantee they are folded neatly to prevent wrinkles, and tightly so they don’t come undone and wreak havoc in your sock drawer. One method is to:
- Take your socks and twist them so that the heel is facing up and flatten it.
- Do this to the other sock and then place them on top of each other.
- Then take the cuff end and fold it until the top reaches the middle of the sock.
- Take the toe end and bring it to meet in the middle, then tuck the toes into the sock.
If you want to maintain the elasticity of your socks, here’s a technique that you may prefer:
- Put the socks on top of one another.
- Starting from the toes, roll the top sock only until the cuff side.
- Then wrap around the roll with the other sock and tuck it in.
How to Fold Long Socks
One of the most popular ways to fold long socks is the square method. It might take some getting used to since it’s a little more complicated than most folding methods, but it’s one of the most effective. Here is one technique to folding long socks:
- Lay your pair of socks on a flat surface.
- Take one of the socks and place it on top of the other forming a cross or an ‘x’.
- Bring the toe of the bottom sock over the top sock and tuck it under the top sock.
- Fold the top part of the bottom sock over the socks.
- Then fold the toe side of the top sock over the socks.
- Take the top part of the top and fold it over the socks.
- Tuck in the remaining parts of the sock.
The square method allows you to stack your socks on top of each other since the surface is flat, maximizing space in your drawer. Another space saving tip when folding long socks is to use the military style. This method doesn’t work as well with smaller socks like ankle socks or no show socks because they come apart more easily.
- Lay the socks down on a flat surface with one on top of the other.
- Make sure there are no wrinkles in the socks.
- Starting at the toe, roll the socks together.
- When you have reached the end, take the outside of the outer sock and hold it.
- With the other hand, bring the outside edge of the outer sock securely around both socks.
How to Fold No Show Socks
Since no show socks are small and don’t have much material to them, it’s easy to toss them in with the others. To ensure each pair remains together and the harmony of your sock drawer stays in tact, here are some quick ways of how to fold no show socks:
| Method | Instructions |
| One Inside the Other | All you need to do is place one sock inside of the other one. |
| Fold Over the Top | This style can be used on almost every kind of sock, but it’s especially easy for no shows. Here’s what you do: place one sock over the other and then fold the cuffs. |
| Roll them | Place one sock over the other and roll from one end to the next. Either cuff them once completely rolled, or leave them uncuffed. |
No show socks are particularly easy to lose track of, since they’re so teeny. They can even get sucked into the back of your washing machine. Read up on the best ways to wash socks so that they don’t get lost when you do the laundry.
How to Fold Short Socks
Short socks still have enough length to manipulate them into suitable folding methods. Here are the different ways of how to fold short socks:
- Method 1: place one sock on top of the other, then fold in half. Take the outer sock and wrap around the rest of the socks.
- Method 2: Start with the socks on top of each other, then roll the sock starting at the toe. Once you get it rolled to the cuff, take the outer sock and secure it around the roll of socks.
- Method 3: Have one sock laying on the other, fold the socks in half, and then fold them in half again. Take the outer sock and lock the rest of the sock in it. This way the socks are more flat, and are optimal for stacking.
If you want to know how to fold socks without stretching them, try not pulling the outer layer around the socks.
How to Fold Dress Socks
Dress socks are made from a thinner and delicate material, so it’s easier to stretch them out if you’re not carefully folding them. Then they end up looking wrinkled and creased.
Make sure you aren’t using the elastic of the sock to keep them together. This stretches the elastic band, which makes it look worn and causes an imperfect fit. Not folding dress socks properly can lead to spending more money in order to replace them. There are five steps to folding dress socks:
- Lay the socks on a flat surface.
- Lay one sock on top of the other and make sure they are aligned perfectly, so it just looks like one sock.
- Have the heels pointing up and the toes pointing toward you.
- Fold the cuffs towards the toes, about one third of the length. Then do the same thing again, but bring the toes back towards the cuffs, one third of the way.
- Tuck the toes into the elastic at the top of the folded cuff.
At this point, your socks should now look flat and square-like.
How to Store Socks
If storing your socks in a dresser isn’t something you’re looking to do, or maybe you don’t have enough room in the drawers,read on about storing socks in a well ordered way.
| Options | How to Use |
| Baskets | You can find baskets online, in stores or you can easily make your own that fit into your drawer. You can place your pairs of socks in large groupings or get smaller boxes for more detailed organizing. |
| Dividers | Dividers can be found online, in stores or can be handmade. Place individual folded socks within each divider. |
| Drawer Organizers | Find these online, in stores or make your own to fit perfectly into your drawer. Put your socks in each provided compartment. |
| Storage Hanger | You can even buy a storage system that allows you to hang your socks up by clipping each pair. |
These are just a handful of ways to keep your socks organized, and we dedicated a whole article to just that.
How to Roll Socks
So far we have already learned an effective technique to rolling socks, but just like many aspects of life, there’s multiple ways to do something. Rolling up a sock is pretty straightforward, though some methods have different variations.
This rolling technique works best on thinner socks, but it can still be used on bulkier socks. It might just be difficult enclosing the sock at the end.
- Lay the socks down flat on top of each other.
- Flatten the heels so the sock becomes more of a rectangle shape rather than L-shaped.
- Starting with the toe, roll the socks tightly, stopping half-way from the end.
- Open the end of the top sock and stretch it all around the sock, enclosing the entire sock.
How to Fold Socks for Travel
We all know that when travelling we need to optimize the space in our suitcase or bag. Something that I’m sure you’ve been told to do is roll up all of your pieces of clothing to make them more compact. Since socks are worn everyday, you want to make sure you have enough room for them as well as capacity for your other items.
The best way to guarantee everything in your travelling bag is able to come on the ride with you is to do the Army Packing Hack, otherwise known as the Army Ranger Roll.
- Place on sock over the other.
- Starting from the toe end, tightly roll the socks.
- About an inch down from the cuff, take the top sock and fold it under itself. It will help you to wrap the bottom sock around the roll.
- Pick up the roll and then wrap the outer sock around the entire roll.
The end result will be a perfectly rolled up pair of socks that can fit in the palm of your hand.
How to Pack Socks
Instead of going the conventional route and packing each clothing item separately, why not try something one of a kind. Let’s master how to pack socks, but more specifically, how to pack an entire outfit into a sock. I know what you’re thinking, this sounds crazy, but it actually makes a lot of sense in regard to saving space. This hack is useful for those who want to pack light, so here’s how to do it:
- First, gather up the outfit of your choosing.
- Start by laying your shirt down on a flat surface, next fold your desired bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts) in half in the middle.
- The tops of all the items should line up. Then fold your underwear in half and line them up about an inch below your bottoms.
- Make one long rectangle by folding the sides of your shirt onto your bottoms.
- Place one sock straight across on either side at the top of the shirt, with the toe ends pointing towards each other.
- Now roll the whole thing up from the top as tightly as possible, while keeping everything in place.
- Lastly, roll the socks over the roll of clothes. Do this as many times as possible.
There you have it, you are now an expert on how to fold, pack and store socks. We can all learn something from this, taking that tiny extra step of folding your socks makes a world of a difference to the inside of your drawers. Feel free to experiment with other methods or mix and match ones together.
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