How to fold underwear

Short answer: Boxers are best folded in three, and briefs in two. Stand them on edge in the drawer instead of in a pile, so you can see the whole drawer at once and do not always reach for the same pairs.

Fold in two or three

Boxers are best folded in three. Lay them flat with the front facing down, fold each leg in towards the middle, then fold once across from the legs up to the waistband. This gives a small square that stands on its own. Briefs are smaller and simply fold in two. Many of our most popular pieces from Copenhagen Bamboo are everyday underwear.

Why a square works best

A square has firm edges, which makes it easy to stand next to the others. Round bundles and loose piles slide together as soon as the drawer is pulled out. When every piece is the same size, the drawer fills up without gaps, and you can see at a glance how many clean pairs are left before the next wash.

Stand them on edge

In a pile you only see the top piece. Stand the folded boxers on edge instead, like cards in a file box, and you can see every pair at once. Choosing becomes easy, and you avoid wearing the same ones again and again while the rest stay at the bottom. The same idea works for a bamboo sweatshirt for women in a deep drawer.

Do not roll the waistband tight

Some people roll their underwear and pull the waistband over the roll to hold it together. It looks tidy, but an elastic that is rolled tight and stretched every day loses its shape faster. Ordinary folding does not strain the elastic in the same way. Let the waistband lie loosely in the fold, so it is only stretched when you put the underwear on.

Fold only when fully dry

Underwear should be completely dry before it is folded and put away. Even a little moisture in the waistband or thicker parts can cause a stale smell when it sits close to other clothes. Feel the waistband, as it is often the last part to dry. If it is cool and dry, the piece is ready to fold.

A drawer for underwear only

Underwear is small and easily disappears between larger clothes. Give it its own drawer or compartment, so it does not mix with T-shirts and jumpers. That way heavier clothes do not press the folds flat, and you always know where to look. A small divider in the drawer can keep boxers apart from socks.

Put freshly washed pairs at the back

When you put clean underwear away, place the freshly washed pairs at the back and push the others forward. That way you wear every pair in turn, instead of always taking the same ones from the top. The underwear wears more evenly and lasts longer, because no single pair is washed and worn far more often than the rest.

The same system for the whole drawer

Once the underwear stands neatly on edge, it is easy to do the same with the rest of your soft clothes. Folded T-shirts, tops and thin jumpers can stand the same way in a deeper drawer. Take a look at our bamboo sweat clothes, which also fold into squares and fit side by side, so you can see everything at once.

Frequently asked questions

How do you fold boxers

In three. Fold the legs in towards the middle and fold once across, and you get a square that stands on its own in the drawer without toppling.

Why stand them on edge

Because you can then see the whole drawer at once. In a pile you only see the top piece and keep wearing the same ones while the rest go unused.

Does folding harm the elastic

No. Ordinary folding makes no difference. It is tight rolling around the elastic that tires it over time, because it is kept stretched all the time.