Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
"Folding clothes to stand upright" is the best-known of the tidying methods that spread from Japan to the rest of the world. Together with how to choose a hanger, here is the know-how for keeping clothes undamaged in a small Japanese flat.
| Hang | Fold |
|---|---|
| Shirts and blouses, jackets, coats, trousers, dresses that crease easily | Knitwear and jumpers, T-shirts and jersey tops, denim, sportswear, underwear and socks |
| Keeps the shape, avoids creases | No stretching from weight, and more fits in |
| Garment | Hanger | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Jackets and coats | Wooden or thick plastic with broad shoulders, the same width as the garment's shoulders | Keeps the shoulder line |
| Shirts | Slim, with rounded shoulders | No marks on the shoulders |
| Trousers | Clip type, or with a bar (clamp the hem) | Keeps the crease |
| Avoid | Thin metal wire hangers (long term) | Shoulder marks, rust, deformation |
[Verify] The hanger-width guides are general figures based on guidance from apparel and storage-goods makers.
Hanging stretches the shoulders and neck. Fold knitwear. If you really must hang it, fold it in half over the hanger's bar.
Fine for a short time, but long term they mark the shoulders, and in damp the rust can transfer to the clothes. The basic rule is when clothes come back, remove the plastic and change the hanger (the plastic traps damp).
Wider than the shoulders, the sleeve heads poke out and get marked. Match the garment's shoulder width.
Stored upright, the neighbours hold each other up when one is removed. The trick is to make the folded heights uniform to match the depth of the drawer.
Long compression damages the springiness of down, wool and knitwear. Keep vacuum bags for short-term storage of off-season cotton items and bedding, and air the contents after opening before use.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/guide/wash_02.html
https://www.qtec.or.jp/
https://www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kankyo/kankyo_eisei/jyuukankyo/indoor/kabi.html
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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