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Organizing ‘Quick Tip’: Manila Folder Hack

Discover a manila folder hack you wish you had learned years ago! Organizing Quick Tip: Manila Folder Hack | organizedartistry.com #manilafolder #filefolder #officehack #organizedfilecabinet #filecabinet

Open one of the drawers of your file cabinet. Are papers popping out or peeking over the top of your file folders? If your answer is ‘Yes,’ then read on…

I’ve learned a lot of cool organizing ‘hacks’ in the 16+ years I’ve been a Professional Organizer. Here’s one I think is the coolest–it’s going to help you keep your stacks of papers neat and organized…

Grab a manila folder and take a look at the front of it. You may not have ever noticed, but there are scored lines at the bottom of most folders–some folders have three lines across and some have five. Ever wonder what they were for? I hadn’t, until a colleague taught me this neat trick that I pass on to all of my paper organizing clients:

To make more space for papers in your folder, bend and crease one of the lines to create a box-bottomed effect.

Creasing the highest of the three or five lines will provide you with the most space inside your folder. Creating a box-bottomed effect will offer more space for papers in your file folder.

Go ahead–take a file folder out of your file cabinet and give it a try. The front of the folder will shorten but it will still be high enough to protect the papers inside.

These lines appear most often on plain manila or colored folders. You may not see them on decorative folders such as ones you’ll find at HomeGoods or Target–save those for smaller piles of paper that you wish to file.

To see these scored lines close up, click to watch my YouTube video below:

Wasn’t that cool? Share this post with a friend who could use this cool manila folder hack!


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Categories: Office Products, Organizing 'Quick Tip'

12 responses to “Organizing ‘Quick Tip’: Manila Folder Hack”

  1. I never knew! Wow this made my day. Thanks Stacey. I’ll never look at a manila folder the same again.

  2. Seana Turner says:

    Great little hack, Stacey. It is so great to know you can make these folders broader. You might need a box-bottom hanging folder as well, if you are putting your manila folders inside of hanging folders. Keep the hacks coming – love to see more:)

    • Stacey Agin Murray says:

      That’s a great tip about the need for a box-bottom hanging file. I love the look on a client’s face when I show them the manila folder hack. Glad you liked my latest hack!

  3. This is a wonderful hack to help these folders hold more. Thanks for the tip!

    • Stacey Agin Murray says:

      When I first learned the manila folder hack, I was amazed. Now I amaze my paper organizing clients with it! Thanks for stopping by!

  4. I love your video! What a cute sign in the background. The sticky note guide that explains the various folder expansion sizes is so smart.

    The folder hack is terrific and one I’ve been using forever. The funny thing is that I never tire of “increasing” the folder size. It’s like a magic trick.

    • Stacey Agin Murray says:

      Thanks for the ‘video love,’ Linda. When I first learned this trick years ago, I thought it was ‘magical,’ too! It never ceases to amaze our clients.

  5. Deb Lee says:

    That’s one of my favorite office hacks! So simple and yet so effective — and makes the folder sit nicely (AND neatly) in the file drawer. I agree with you and Linda — it’s magical! LOL

    • Stacey Agin Murray says:

      Abracadabra–make more room in the manila file…file folder magic! Oh, if only we had an organizing ‘magic wand…’

  6. Jonathan says:

    I love that the manila folders expand. I started to fold my folders as well. I use color coding on my top tab straight cut folders. Another tid bit of info, is to use 14 pt. stock instead of the standard 11 pt. stock folders. 14 pt is a more robust, durable folder if you have a lot of paper to put inside.

    • Stacey Agin Murray says:

      Color coding is a great way to organize your files! Thanks for the tip regarding using 14pt stock folders. Durability is key to a long lasting file system.

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