Free Up Drawer Space With Martha Stewart's Towel Folding Hack

Sterling Munksgard/Shutterstock

If your drawers are bursting at the seams and you're desperate for a little drawer-taming magic, you might be surprised at how a simple fold can transform chaos into calm. You won't believe how adjusting the way you fold towels can become the hero of your organization woes (and save space in a tiny kitchen) with just a few strategic moves. Ask Martha Stewart — she swears by this towel folding hack!

The secret, which the lifestyle guru revealed during a segment on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," starts by laying your towel flat and smoothing out those wrinkles. Fold it lengthwise, bringing the long edges toward each other. Then, fold it lengthwise a second time. Finally, fold the elongated rectangle into thirds. The result is a neat, compact rectangle that stacks beautifully without taking up unnecessary space. This method works for all kinds of towels, including kitchen and bath. Stewart suggests storing the towels with the folded side facing up. 

This clever technique isn't just tidy — it's flexible. Depending on the towel's size and the depth of your drawer, you can adjust the fold for a flatter fit. For instance, rather than folding it into thirds, you can bring the long ends together and then fold the towel in half. It's a subtle trick, but it can make your drawers (or pantry, if that's where you keep your towels) look professionally organized and oh-so-satisfying to open.

Panitra Pinem/Shutterstock

At first glance, folding towels Stewart's way seems almost too simple. But that flat folding means you're minimizing air pockets and bulk, so your towels stay slim and stack upright, clearing up precious drawer space.

Want to take it a step further? Try this clever twist: Instead of fully folding the towel in half, leave a slight margin between the edges and roll from the fold toward the edge. This makes the towels less likely to stick together — no more tugging at a towel only to pull out a whole jumble. Think of them as tiny burritos neatly nested in your drawer.

Aiming for a towel drawer so streamlined it's worthy of a magazine shoot? Get into the quick habit of pressing each fold firmly and smoothing everything down. If you go the extra mile and purge old, worn-out towels or repurpose them into cleaning rags, you'll free up drawer space — and mental space as well. It's like when you spring clean your home, and the mind gets a good clean-out in the process. Are more than towels cluttering your bath and kitchen storage? You may need to combine Stewart's method with new kitchen organizer hacks and tricks for keeping your pantry clutter-free.