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Folding Compulsions and Obsessions
The Wall Street Journal 7.15.08

7-15-folding-shirt.jpg

Are you an obsessive folder? Do you refold laundry that others have folded "incorrectly?" Perhaps you're one of thousands of adults who were trained to fold clothing at a retail store? We admit to being an obsessive folder due to our five-year stint at Banana Republic. We're slowly overcoming our obsessive folding but we loved a most fascinating feature from The Wall Street Journal that explores a generation of obsessive folders..

There's lots of us out there! People who have folding boards at home and keep impeccable closets and shelves (and are driving our significant others crazy). Check out the article from The Wall Street Journal and let us know if you qualify as an obsessive folder!

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Comments (31)

who is "we"?

posted by duckumu on 2008-07-15 16:04:20
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hahaahaha...........the skeletons are coming out of the closet. I'm guilty of refolding clothes after getting them back from the cleaners. it's probably ocd but it doesn't matter. I have to have all my clothes that are hung in the closet facing the same direction. I believe that it's more efficient when everything is organized. but then again it might just be ocd........

posted by lunatig on 2008-07-15 16:07:10
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I'm not so concerned with clothes, but I'm crazy about towels.

posted by CaseyB on 2008-07-15 16:11:59
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I hang pretty much everything.

posted by flyzipper on 2008-07-15 16:16:59
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I admit it! I'm obsessed! Don't you look at me that way! Don't judge me! Gotta go fold now bye ;)

posted by EddiePages on 2008-07-15 16:18:01
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I am a refolder. Never worked in a clothing store, just happen to like things "just so."

But according to the article - I'm not bad enough to be OCD ;-)

posted by boston brit on 2008-07-15 16:20:49
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Another refolder here. Also never worked in a clothing store. But it makes me crazy when things aren't folded properly.

posted by truenic on 2008-07-15 16:38:00
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I think I never fold clothing twice the same way....

posted by Daniel Poitiers on 2008-07-15 16:43:48
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the cutting boards from ikea are perfect for folding shirts !

posted by selena on 2008-07-15 16:45:25
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I used to work in retail...sometimes I still "edge" the hanging displays or refold clothes. I can't stop!

posted by inertia on 2008-07-15 16:51:08
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"We admit to being an obsessive folder due to our five-year stint..."

If you're going to be grammatically correct when you use the horrific/deplorable "editorial we" voice, shouldn't that be "We admit to being [del. an] obsessive folders due to our five-year stints..."?

You might as well consistent, right?

posted by Anna at D16 on 2008-07-15 16:55:01
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I am the opposite of an obsessive folder :)

posted by Hollie on 2008-07-15 17:01:39
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Ha, inertia, I do the same thing. I hate a messy store rack.

posted by neutopian on 2008-07-15 17:51:03
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I worked in retail for several years, but it was always the towels that got me, not so much clothing. (I could spend hours refolding towels). Then I found a flip 'n' fold at a thrift store for $1.50 and I just love it!!! There's nothing like perfectly sized stacks of t-shirts on a closet shelf.

posted by blvdblonde on 2008-07-15 18:00:36
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My boyfriend used to refolded the clothes that I already folded! Until I caught him. Now I don't do it anymore. :-)

posted by SWEET CHOCOLATE on 2008-07-15 18:24:46
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PLEASE cut out the "editorial we". Please?

It has been driving us nuts and we're getting tired of it.

Oh, and I hang most of my clothes, with the exception of shorts and sweats. I really don't care if those are folded neatly since they're in the dresser.

posted by Valerie on 2008-07-15 19:11:10
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i am guilty of being one of the people quoted in the article :)

posted by atlantadesigner on 2008-07-15 20:18:16
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Also, by the way, go on YouTube and search for "Japanese fold t-shirt." I don't know why, but folding my shirts this way makes me really happy.

posted by CaseyB on 2008-07-15 20:21:11
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Guilty!

I can't stand bath towels any other way but the Martha Stewart way. Fold it in third lengthwise, then twice in half.

My 2 brothers together own over 200 soccer jersey that they rarely worn. They are now nicely folded and sorted by colour sitting on top of the closet instead of cluttering the real clothes. Looks like a little Italian sports shop.

I wouldn't fold clothes that I didn't mess up at the stores. But I do fold them back after I pull them out to have a look. I also fold the blanket before I leave the plane.

posted by Evil Tofu on 2008-07-15 21:42:05
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I fold pretty fast. My first W-2 job was at a t-shirt kiosk (moved to a real store in the mall!) and we had a template. Didn't really stick to "the habit," shall we say. I did in the store, but not at home. I meant to, at some point, I mean, I know to fold in "thirds" now. My mother always folded in half so the crease ran up the middle of my chest. I guess that's my only "issue" with folding.

The drawers and sweaters need refolding occasionally (due to rummaging for things that shouldn't be buried but are), but I'm not obsessive. I might fold a thing twice if I'm folding or refolding a stack of things, but it was inconsistent with the pile, which is usually consistent with the size of the space and not some golden average width. Beyond that, I might re-re-fold if they weren't narrow enough to fit the space. Had I mentioned initially that my sweaters and bedding are kept in a buffet for the time being and not where they might fit better, it makes more sense, but I also have enough on my plate right now without spending extra time on something that's not my priority. I can see how it would irk some people - and that I might tend to be one of them, but later.

posted by K T G on 2008-07-15 21:47:16
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Tidily folded clothes fit drawers and shelves better, are easier to see when getting dressed in the morning, and don't get as winkled.

What's wrong with folding?

posted by jrochest on 2008-07-15 21:53:57
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Uh Uh, obsessive folder and color coordinate freak.
Guilty.

posted by Brazilian on 2008-07-15 21:54:10
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I began to pay more attention to my folding after working in my friend's laundromat/gallery (the only place in the country where you could've picked up your dry cleaning AND a first edition Toulouse-Letrec/lol). After being taught great folding techniques, it's kinda hard to go back when you see how easier it makes life.

For the most part I hang most of my clothes but ever since I could remember, I had to organize my closet first by wearing frequency, then by dress shirts (short sleeved first then long), casual shirts, dress pants, casual pants, skirts, dresses, jackets, coats.

posted by swandiver on 2008-07-15 23:18:05
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The only thing I'm obsessive about is fitted sheets. Don't ask me why but I can fold them like a hot damn. Everything else, I suck. Never worked in retail...

posted by echo333 on 2008-07-16 02:03:14
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Please share your method for neatly folding fitted sheets echo333! No matter how I try mine end up looking like dog's dinner. The Martha method requires a massive laundry table or counter surface, which i don't have...

posted by amed studio on 2008-07-16 04:18:08
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With the goddamn "we" and the non functioning slide shows (not to mention the "here's a photo of the napkin holder in the restaurant where we ate dinner last night") it's just getting too painful to visit.

posted by JoJenks on 2008-07-16 05:53:36
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I HATE folding and I am TERRIBLE at it. I mean, really, really bad. My boyfriend is a Folding God, so he promises that if I marry him I will have neatly folded clothing til death do us part. In fact, he has agreed that laundry is his duty completely.

I try to "help" him with his laundry. He has to re-fold. I just can't do it. I want to try one of those foldy tool things.

posted by Emmerloulou on 2008-07-16 06:05:05
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Those of us WITH the painful disorder of OCD would appreciate it if people didn't joke and mention it casually like "Oh maybe I have that, haha." If you think that - you most likely don't have it. It's not a joke, it's not casual, and it's not a fun little quirk that people have (like the deplorable portrayal of the disorder on the show Monk - ugh.) It's a very real mental disorder and has NOTHING to do with being a little anal about folding something. It's mentioned on AT comments at least a few times a week and I'm sick of it.

posted by Monkeyme on 2008-07-16 08:53:47
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I've been folding like this since I was 17 cause I worked at a hip hoppish clothing store. So I got stuck knowing how to do it but happy that I do!

posted by Snugglitas on 2008-07-16 15:33:55
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I'm not an anal folder, nor am I able to fold especially well, so I'm feeling a bit left out. I guess it's not too late to get a job in a clothing store and learn how to fold.

Fitted sheets are not meant to be folded. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

posted by jooly on 2008-07-16 16:51:39
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I'm really bad at folding, and i'm a bit over the top about order, so i just hang everything.... its just easier in the long run.

My mom on hte other hand, woudl fold and iron EVERYTHING, even down to socks and cleaning rags

posted by sanna on 2008-07-17 05:57:57
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