Fold fitted sheets like a pro


How To Fold A Fitted Sheet

by Amelia Jerden | Updated: August 2, 2022

Folding a fitted sheet is a skill that truly makes you feel like you have your life together. Yes, you could just roughly “fold” your fitted sheet into a jumbled pile, but there’s something truly satisfying about folding it flat. Not to mention, a clean fold will reduce wrinkles in your sheets and make storage simpler.

However, folding a fitted sheet is not an intuitively simple task. That’s why in this article I’ll teach you how to fold a fitted sheet (two ways!) like a pro.

How Do I Fold a Fitted Sheet?

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of fitted sheet-folding. Keep in mind that some materials are easier to fold than others. For example, the sheet I used in Method One is made from slinky viscose — which was more difficult to fold — whereas in Method Two I used a sturdier cotton sheet.

Method One
@sleepopolis learn our first method of folding a fitted sheet! did you already know how to do this? 👀 #sleeptok #sleepbetter #howtofoldafittedsheet #fittedsheetfolding ♬ original sound – Sleepopolis
Put a hand in each corner with the elastic on the sheet facing you.Turn the corners inside out so that you’re holding them externally, with the seams facing out.Turn the sheet around so that the elastic is facing you again as you swap hands to hold opposite corners.The sheet should now be inside out, with the elastic facing you, one hand in each pocket.Then, clap your hands together.Take the right-hand corner and flip it onto your left hand. This will free up your right hand.Place both corners from your left hand onto your right hand so that your left hand can travel down the elastic to the other corners.Now each hand should be in the new corners.Lay the sheet onto your bed and try to find the U shape in the elastic. Straight out the U and fold into thirds vertically.Once folded three times, flip it over.Then fold three times horizontally.Smooth out any wrinkles.Be proud of your finished product!

You did it! Congratulations on learning our first method of folding a fitted sheet. Now, let’s move on to Method Two. This method produces a more compact finished product, so it may be of interest to those trying to save space. 

Method Two
@sleepopolis our second method to fold a fitted sheet! which do you prefer, method one or two? #sleeptok #sleepbetter #howtofoldafittedsheet #fittedsheetfolding ♬ original sound – Sleepopolis
Place each hand inside a pocket with the elastic facing you.Turn the pockets inside out so you are holding them externally with the seams facing out.Swap hands to hold opposite corners as you turn the sheet around so that the elastic is facing you again. Now the sheet should be inside out, but with the elastic facing you.Clap your hands together.Fold right-hand corner onto your left hand so that your right hand is now free.Place the corners onto your right hand so that your left hand can travel along the elastic to the other corners.Now each hand should be in a corner.Clap your hands together again.Fold the left-hand corner onto your right so that your left hand is now free.Lay the sheet down on your bed and find the J shape in the elastic.Once you’ve found the J shape, fold the sheet three times horizontally.Then fold the sheet two times vertically.Hooray!

You did it! Personally, I prefer Method Two over Method One, but I recommend trying both to see which is easier for you. Plus, once you master one method, the other should come to you easily.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it to the end of this article, hopefully you are feeling like a master of folding a fitted sheet. It’s a great skill that can help you save space, prevent your sheets from wrinkling, and make you feel a little more put together.

Sheets are an important part of your bedroom setup, so be sure you’ve got the best ones. If you’re looking for a sheet upgrade, check out our best sheets roundup to find a set that will work for you — and now you’ll be able to fold them.

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Amelia is a Staff Writer for Sleepopolis. She primarily covers bedding and sleep accessory products in reviews, how-to guides, and more. You can also find her over on the Sleepopolis YouTube channel. Amelia is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with double majors in media and journalism and in dramatic art. Outside of work, Amelia can usually be found on a hike, traveling to a new city, or at her local thrift store.

How to fold fitted sheets |

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Folding any laundry is never especially fun-filled, but folding fitted sheets is a particularly frustrating, not to mention fruitless, endeavor.  

Laundry room ideas that include countertop space assist in achieving the goal of crisply folded sheets that will fit neatly into the linen closet without taking up excessive space. But, when it comes to folding fitted sheets, all too often we resort to roughly rolling them up like a snail before shoving them into the closet with brute force, shutting the door quickly before they come rolling straight back out again.

Fortunately, there is another way. Author Sophie Liard, aka The Folding Lady , has perfected folding fitted sheets, in less than 60 seconds. In her Instagram videos she makes it look easy and even manages the task standing up. 

We are focusing on her slightly more sedate method. This involves laying the sheet on a bed or other flat surface to fold it, which is more manageable and less energetic, especially when folding fitted sheets that are king size or bigger.

How to fold fitted sheets

Cleaning tips first. Wash bed sheets according to the laundry symbols on the tag first, then dry them. After that you can follow Sophie's six simple steps for neatly folding a fitted sheet that is elasticated all the way around, ie the most notoriously tricky design, which we’re sharing. 

This technique will also work with folding fitted sheets that are only elasticated in the corners. All you need is your fitted sheet ­– in any size, even super-king – and a flat surface. 

1. Lay the fitted sheet flat

Lay the sheet on a flat surface with the underside of the sheet facing upwards. The top of the sheet, ie where the pillows go, will be furthest from you and the four elasticated sides/skirts will be facing the ceiling.

Put your hands under the bottom two corners and lift the corners upwards. With your hands still tucked under the bottom corners (like puppet ghosts!) lift the sheet up to meet the top corners. The sheet should fold in half widthways. 

3. Tuck the corners inside each other

Tuck the bottom corners inside the elasticated skirt of the two top corners. You should now have a wide rectangle on the bed, with the elasticated skirts on the left, top, and right-hand sides.

4. Fold into the middle

Next fold the right-hand elasticated skirt towards the middle, then the same on the left, smoothing as you go. Then fold the top elasticated skirt down over both sides, like closing an envelope.

5. Fold into the middle again

Fold the right-hand side into the middle, then the left over the top. You should then have a much smaller rectangle. 

Fold into thirds widthways (not lengthways) by folding twice from the bottom up, smoothing as you go. The result should be a neatly folded sheet.

What is the best way to store fitted sheets?

Renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo suggests three ways to store fitted sheets to make the most of the available space and ensure easy access when it’s time to make the beds – a must-know for anyone cleaning a bedroom or organizing a linen closet. 

‘For linen closet storage we recommend storing folded fitted sheets flat in a stack. In deep drawers, fold the sheet into a smaller rectangle and store upright. If your drawers are small, roll the folded rectangle and store upright,’ she advises. 

Labelling the shelf or drawer according to bed size will make your fitted sheets easier to grab without having to check individual sheet labels (and potentially unravelling your hard work). Store in sets, again according to size but also design, including any duvet covers and pillowcases.

Can you iron fitted sheets?

Yes, ironing fitted sheets isn’t essential, but it can make them easier to fold and store ready for changing bedsheets. Also, nothing beats jumping into a bed of crisp, freshly ironed sheets! It helps to iron fitted sheets when they’re still slightly damp so don’t leave them in the dryer too long. Start by ironing the top two corners and top side, before working down the sheet, ironing as you go.  If your sheet is wider than the ironing board, fold in half lengthways before you start ironing. You may choose to iron out the central crease before making the bed but it's really not necessary.

Linda graduated from university with a First in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting. Her career began on a trade title for the kitchen and bathroom industry, and she has worked for Homes & Gardens, and sister-brands Livingetc, Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, since 2006, covering interiors topics, though kitchens and bathrooms are her specialism. 

90,000 how to add a sheet on an elastic band: 4 methods

Author Mary for reading 5 min Views 531 Published

Content of Article

  1. How to fold a sheet on an elastic band: 4 methods
  2. Classical method of exfoliation
  3. 9000 U-shaped U-shaped U-shaped U-shaped U-shaped U-shaped U-shaped method
  4. Fold a sheet like Marie Kondo
  5. The lazy way

Want to learn how to fold a sheet with an elastic band? The truth is that folding stretch sheets is hard. For some of us, this is so confusing that we end up just gathering the sheets in a ball and shoving them in the closet… Not ideal, because the next time you want to use that sheet, it will be wrinkled. nine0005

Fortunately, there is more than one right way to fold a fitted sheet correctly. There is a way that the pros prefer, and we will cover it first, but there are several other easier ways to fold sheets. Make these methods part of your wardrobe rituals and never be disappointed by a rumpled sheet again.

To learn how to properly fold a sheet with elastic, you must first learn to respect the fact that the sheet has elastic at the ends. This is what makes them a dream to put on your bed and a nightmare to fold when you take them out of the dryer. However, as long as you fold with these rubber bands in mind, you'll be fine. nine0005

Here are four different fail-safe methods to try:

Classic Rolling Method

This is the method used by hoteliers and linen professionals. This has been demonstrated by Martha Stewart and is the method if you want the best sheets to be neatly stacked together, flat and fitted.

This is a method that will probably take a few tries to get it right, but once you do it, you have perfect flat sheets that fit neatly into even the smallest of closets. Here's how to master this classic method:

  1. Hold the sheet lengthwise so that the two corners you will work on first are inside out. The bottom corners should not be turned inside out and will be facing outwards.
  2. Slide your hands inside the top corners so that the seams are clearly visible from the outside.
  3. Join hands and take one corner over the other corner. Insert the right hand inside, the left hand is free.
  4. Run your left hand down the elastic to find the bottom corner. Straighten your arms; your sheet is now folded in half. nine0010
  5. Repeat the process - join hands, put one corner on the other. Now all of your elastic will be aligned.
  6. Lay the sheet on a flat surface; you will see that the elastic has taken the shape of an L. Your sheet will now look like a square as a whole, and you can fold it into either a rectangle or a smaller square.

U-Shaped Method

If the tucking method gives you headaches, try a slightly simpler method that involves folding the sheet in the same way as a classic flat sheet. nine0005

Carl Walsh is the founder of Bed Guru and has perfected the method of folding sheets over the past 40 years. Walsh explains that “folding fitted sheets follows the standard procedure of folding in half, then in half again, and so on and so forth. However, there is a way to smooth out those stretchy corners and make sure the sheets fit snugly in the dryer cabinet with the rest of your bedding. Here's how:

  1. Stand holding the fitted sheet lengthwise (with the long sides horizontal and the shorter sides vertical) at the top two corners. nine0010
  2. Then fold, as usual, in half, with two hands together.
  3. When folding, make sure that the right hand passes over the left, making sure that the elastic corners fit into each other.
  4. You can then make the sheet fold evenly by folding the edges inward, which naturally tighten due to the elastic corners - much easier than trying to flatten the elastic corners.
  5. Continue folding the sheet as you normally would, folding the edges inwards to smooth out the elastic corners. This will allow flat folding. nine0010
  6. Basically, with this method, you do half of the tuck method and then just turn the other two corners inward. If you lay the sheet flat at this point, you will notice that you have a "U" shape, not an "L". This is easier than tucking in all the corners and the sheet will still fold flat.

Fold the Sheet Like Marie Kondo

The Marie Kondo Method has revolutionized household organization, and it's no surprise. The cleaning queen is so popular in part because her methods are so easy to follow. Her way of folding the sheets is no different. Instead of fiddling with aligning the elastic, Kondo simply lays the sheet down on a flat surface with the elastic gathered in the center, facing it. nine0005

Kondo then folds the sheet lengthwise according to the rule of thirds. First, she folds one end over the elastic, then wraps the other end. Now the sheet forms a long thin rectangle.

Now she folds it in half and then in half again. The result is a neat square. For "deep storage of boxes," Kondo recommends folding this square three times. Or skip this step and simply fold the folded sheet to fit in the basket for easy retrieval. nine0005

The lazy way

If you really don't have time to fold neatly, just fold the folded sheet in half, then in half again, fold the untidy edges to the center of the folded sheet and fold. It won't look as perfect as using the tuck or fold methods, but it's very simple and better than just putting yours together and doing nothing about it.

See also:

Photo: www.realhomes.com.

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How to fold a sheet with an elastic band neatly

March 11, 2022 Likbez Tips

With Lifehacker's step-by-step instructions, it's easier than you think.

How to fold a fitted sheet with elastic

1. Determine where the long side of the sheet is. Place your hands inside the product, grasp the corners along the long side. It should be parallel to the floor, and the short sides should be perpendicular. nine0005 Frame: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

2. Turn half of the sheet inside out. To do this, quickly make a rotational movement with the brushes so that the upper corners of the canvas on the inside are outside.

Frame: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

3. Connect the two corners of the linen. To do this, put the turned-out corners of the sheet on your hands and imagine that you are clapping your hands.

Frame: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

Then, with your right hand, turn the corner of the sheet over onto your left palm and straighten it. nine0005 Frame: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

4. Move the sheet to your right hand, and with your left, straighten the other two corners.

Frame: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

Find the inside corner of the sheet on the left. Align it with the outside, slightly stretching the fabric to the sides. After that, the product will be folded in half.

Footage: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

5. Lay the sheet on a flat surface. It can be a table, floor, sofa or mattress.

Footage: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

6. Flatten the fabric to form a rectangle with an arch cut in the middle. nine0005 Footage: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

6. Fold the sheet into a narrow strip. To do this, mentally divide the canvas into three parts horizontally. Take the top and wrap it down, and then repeat the action.

Footage: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

7. Make a neat rectangle out of the strip. You can start from any side: for example, put the right third on the middle one, and then repeat. Or, if you prefer, roll the fabric into a tight roll.

Footage: @Mattress Clarity / YouTube

If you don't understand something, watch the video. nine0005

How to fold a fitted sheet on the table

1. Lay the sheet inside out on the table. Another flat surface is also suitable: the floor, a sofa or a mattress. The main thing is that there is enough space for the long side of the product.

2. Insert the left corners into each other. To do this, straighten the bottom corner. Hold with your left hand for him, and with your right - for the place on the elastic opposite. Then move your left hand under your right, and the fabric will fit over your hand.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

Straighten the top left corner with your right hand. Place the left one inside it to match the corners.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

If your sheet has extra elastic at the corners, ignore them.

3. Do the same, only mirrored. Start from the bottom right corner. Turn it out.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

Then place the bottom corner inside the top one. Get a sheet folded in half.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

4. Spread the fabric on the table and put your hands in the corners.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

5. Raise the sheet and bring your hands together.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

6. Put the left corner over the right and turn it inside out.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

7. Spread the fabric with your left hand while your right is inside. Then put the sheet back on the table.

Footage: @Wirecutter / YouTube

8.


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