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7 Clever Ways to Fold Long-Sleeved Shirts: Fast and Small (Video + Pictures)

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Folding long-sleeved shirts is very similar to folding your other shirts with the exception that we need to take care of the long sleeves as well.

There are a few different ways to fold these shirts: First, there is the standard “flat fold”; this one is fast, but not the best for organizing and travel, next we have the file-folding style which is reasonably fast and can help organize and save some pace.

Then there is the simple roll which is very wrinkle-resistant and also fast to do, lastly, there is the ranger roll style which will save a lot of space, but it is a little bit more tricky.

Today you’re going to learn all these methods in addition to some variations to take your folding to the next level.

7 Clever Ways to Fold Long-Sleeved Shirts (Small and Fast)
Here is a video I made on how to perform all the folds. It is instructive and moves pretty slowly so that you can learn properly.

File-Folding Long-Sleeved Shirts Neatly

The file fold is generally considered one of the neatest ways to fold your clothes. It is not a coincidence that it is the same one that organizing master Marie Kondo uses in her KonMari method.

Clever Ways to Fold Long Sleeve Shirts (and Save Space)
Video timestamp: File fold: 0:13

Essentially, the aim of this fold is to fold the shirt down neatly and allow it to stand with the tall side facing up instead of lying down.

I have added step-by-step illustrations on how to perform this fold below, but you can also check out the video embedded above if you prefer.

File-folding long-sleeved shirts is a great option if you want a neat and organized dresser. It is also very fast once you get the hang of it.
  1. Lay the shirt down flat with the front facing up and button/zip it up.
  2. Fold both arms over to the opposite side so that the second one folded entirely overlaps the first.
  3. From the left side, fold the shirt in 1/3 of its total width
  4. Fold the right side in 1/3 of the total width of the shirt so it completely overlaps the folded left side.
  5. From the top, fold the shirt down 1/3 of its total length twice.
  6. Place the shirt vertically with the tall side (with a single fold) facing upwards.
  7. Stack multiple shirts next to each other so they can support each other in your drawer.

Folding Long-Sleeved Shirts to Save Space

How to Fold Long-Sleeved Shirts Small
Here’s a quick video I did on how to do the ranger roll on a long-sleeved shirt. Feel free to check out the first video at the top of the article if you want a little more details in video format. Otherwise, just keep reading below.

The ranger roll is by far the most effective way to fold your long-sleeved shirts if the main goal is to save space.

We are in essence going to compress the shirt down into a roll then use the end of the shirt to create a pocket to wrap over the roll.

This roll also works fantastic for travel since it takes up the least amount of space, and holds together really well.

I have a huge guide on how to fold all your clothes like this that you can check out next if you like this style.

Below you can find the illustrated step-by-step guide on how to perform this fold.

The ranger roll can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it you will never want to go back to the old way of folding clothes!
  1. Lay the long-sleeved shirt down flat with the front facing up.
  2. Fold both arms to the opposite end so that the second one you fold overlaps the first.
  3. Flip the bottom of your shirt inside out and pull it up 3-5 inches (the amount depend on the size and thickness)
  4. From both sides, fold the shirt in 1/4 of the shirt’s total width so that the edges of the shoulders meet in the middle.
  5. From the top of the shirt, roll it down all the way to the bottom.
  6. Lift up the shirt and wrap the inside-out part over the roll you have created to secure it in place.

Tip: Stick your thumbs inside the edes of the roll to adjust the roll to make it look neat.

I would avoid this roll for formal shirts and collared shirts, then you can check out how to fold collared shirts instead.

Folding Long-Sleeved Shirts to Avoid Wrinkles

Wrinkle-Free Roll for Long-Sleeved Shirts
Here’s a quick video I did on how to do the wrinkle-free roll.

The best way to fold long-sleeved shirts to avoid wrinkles is to do a simple roll. When clothes are rolled instead of being folded, there are less points where wrinkles can form.

This fold is both very fast and very gentle. It will work for all shirts, and can even be used folding tank tops if you don’t want them to wrinkle. But keep in mind that it will unravel a lot quicker than the ranger roll for example.

I have added step-by-step illustrations on how to do this fold below, but you can also see the video mentioned above at timestamp 1:52. Obviously you will skip flipping the bottom inside out to create a pouch, but other than that it will be very similar.

Here is an illustration on how to fold long-sleeved shirts to avoid wrinkles. It is very quick and easy.
  1. Place your long-sleeved shirt on a flat surface with the front facing up.
  2. Fold both arms over to the opposite side of the shirt. The second folded arm should overlap the first one.
  3. From both sides, fold the shirt in 1/4 of its total width so that the fabric meets in the middle.
  4. From the top, gently roll the shirt down all the way to the bottom.
  5. Let the shirt rest on the end of the roll so it doesn’t unravel.

If you enjoyed this guide, I recommend that you check out my guide on how to fold clothes fast next. I go into how to fold up all the rest of your clothes in the file-folding style, so that you can create an awesome organizing system for your wardrobe.

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