Getting sick of the daily scavenger hunt through the tangled jumble of tights, knickers and lingerie sets that was once your underwear drawer? We hear you.
Picking your foundation from a well-organised drawer (rather than one that looks like a bomb has gone off in it) does more than save you time and energy each day. You’ll be surprised at how much extra storage space you gain when your t-shirt bras aren’t just thrown in willy-nilly!
And the first step to lingerie drawer nirvana? Finding the perfect fold for your fanciest pieces. Taking a few extra seconds to fold your underwear each day means they won’t be pulled out of shape, helping your delicate items last longer.
So if you thought you can't possibly fit anything else into your lingerie drawer, these clever tricks will open your eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. Eat your heart out, Marie Kondo...
Folding knickers into a compact square means you’ll be able to store them neatly with each one’s waistband showing, allowing you to pinpoint the perfect pair in a flash. It will also help them keep their shape, preserving the life of your panties.
Top tip: Keep smoothing out the knickers as you do each step to make them as flat and wrinkle-free as you possibly can.
Step 1: Lay the knickers on a flat surface, face up and with the crotch towards you.
Step 2: Fold the crotch up so it sits flush against the waistband.
Step 3: Fold each side in towards the centre so they overlap each other.
Step 4: Turn them over and voila! One neat, cute square.
How to fold knicker shorts or boxer shorts
Bigger knickers don’t mean bigger storage problems. Create order from chaos by making them small and neat with the following method.
Top tip: Do your folding on top of something firm and smooth like your dressing table or an ironing board, instead of the soft surface of your bed.
Step 1: Lay the boxer shorts or boy shorts face up on a flat surface with the crotch towards you.
Step 2: Fold the left leg in towards the centre. Then fold the right leg over the top to sit flush with the left edge, forming a straight line.
Step 3: Fold the waistband down to the centre point.
Step 4: Tuck the legs inside the waistband until you get a neat square.
There are two golden rules that apply to all the bras in your lingerie drawer…
Folding the cups of non-wired bras may be a tempting space-saver, but this can misshape the delicate silk and lace.
- Always attach the back clasp
Letting hook and eyes hang loose can snag other garments and ladder your tights.
Most bras can be folded at the central gore to sit neatly in your drawer. But moulded bras such as T-shirt options shouldn’t be folded in on themselves by pushing one cup inside the other. Why? Because this can cause dents and puckers which can be seen through your clothes. Instead, just stand them vertically next to each other in your drawer.
Tangled tights can truly overtake your lingerie drawer, making it hard to see what’s in there. The simplest way to deal with them is to roll them up and tuck them in, almost like you do with your socks.
Step one: Lie your tights on a flat surface.
Step two: Fold them in half lengthways so that one leg is on top of the other.
Step three: Starting with the toes, roll them up towards the waistband until there’s nothing left to roll.
Step four: Tuck the waistband over the roll so it all stays together.
Getting everything neatly folded away gives you room for more cute lingerie sets!