How to Fold a Shirt Without Creases: Drawers, Shelves and Suitcases

Hanging is always the kindest way to store a shirt, but sometimes folding is the only option: a full wardrobe, a chest of drawers, or a suitcase. Done properly, a folded shirt comes out with only a few soft folds that drop out quickly, rather than deep creases across the front.

What you need

• A clean, flat surface like a bed or a table.
• A smooth, completely dry shirt. Folding a damp or already creased shirt only locks the creases in.

Step by step

1. Button it up. Do up the top button, a middle button and the bottom button so the shirt keeps its shape.
2. Lay it face down. Smooth the back flat with your hands, working out from the centre.
3. Fold the first side. Fold one side of the shirt towards the middle, so the shoulder seam lines up with the edge of the collar.
4. Fold the sleeve back. Lay that sleeve down along the side of the shirt, pointing to the hem, and smooth it flat.
5. Repeat on the other side, so you have a neat, straight-sided rectangle.
6. Fold the body. Fold the bottom third up, then fold again so the hem sits just under the collar. For a drawer, a single fold in half is often enough.
7. Turn it over so the collar and front face up, and check that the collar is not squashed.

Tips that make a big difference

• Fold along natural lines. Folds that run along the side seams barely show when you wear the shirt.
• Use a piece of card or tissue inside the fold to soften it for travel.
• Do not stack shirts too high. The weight of a tall pile presses creases into the ones at the bottom.
• Keep the collar up and free. A crushed collar is the hardest part to fix.

When to hang instead

For shirts you wear to work, hanging is better whenever you have the space. Use wide hangers that support the shoulder, button the top button, and leave a little room between shirts. Here is how to stop hangers leaving bumps on shirts.

Start with a smooth shirt

A good fold only works on a shirt that is smooth to begin with. If you would rather not iron the whole pile before folding it away, an automatic ironing machine dries and smooths a damp shirt in around 8 to 12 minutes, ready to fold or hang.

Travelling soon? See our tips for keeping shirts crease-free when travelling.