How to Make a Trouser Folding Machine Out of Cardboard

Folded pants

To make light work of laundry day, you can make a trouser folding machine out of cardboard. You can use it to fold trousers, jeans and shorts in just seconds, making the chore of folding laundry quick and efficient. While it will take a few minutes to cut out your cardboard pieces and attach them to one another, once your trouser folding machine is made, you can use it as often as needed.

Things You'll Need

• Large piece of corrugated cardboard
• Yard stick
• Pencil
• Scissors or box cutter
• Duct tape
• Pants

Instructions

1. Measure and cut your large piece of cardboard into four pieces with the following measurements: one piece 10-by-40 inches, one piece 10-by-20 inches, and two pieces 10-by-10 inches.

2. Align the 10-by-20 piece with one of the 10-by-10 pieces with 10-inch sides touching. Adjust the cardboard to create a slight 1/8-inch gap between the two. Run a 10-inch strip of duct tape over the two pieces and the gap. Flip the pieces over, and run a second piece of duct tape over the pieces and the gap.

3. Repeat Step 2 on the other end of the 10-by-20 piece with the remaining 10-by-10 inch piece.

4. Align your large 10-by-40 inch piece on its 40-inch side to the unit of the three connected pieces. Adjust the cardboard to create the 1/8-inch gap between the previously made unit and the large cardboard. Run duct tape on both sides to connect.

5. Lay a pair of pants over the cardboard with the front facing down. Fold the 10-by-40 piece over, using the duct tape as the hinge, to fold the pants in half. Fold over the bottom 10-inch square to bring over the cuffs of the pants up, followed by the top 10-inch square to fold over the top of the pants. Remove the folded pair of pants and begin again with a new pair.

Tips & Warnings

• Store the folding machine under your couch or bed rather than upright to keep the longest piece of cardboard sturdy.

References

• "Unclutter Your Life in One Week"; Erin R Doland; 2009