Folding a fitted sheet is seen by many as an impossible task that takes a team to accomplish. But it’s not all that difficult once you know how best to do it. The reason fitted sheets are so damn difficult to fold is because they have stretchy, rounded edges. It’s obvious how to fold a square object, but a rounded one is a bit more difficult.
There are many tutorials online on how to fold a fitted sheet properly, but here’s a foolproof method that’s a little less complicated. Here’s what to do. For more tips see how best to wash your bedding and linensand learn more about these laundry symbols or you might ruin your clothes.
How to best fold a fitted sheet
First, lay the sheet on a flat surface like your bed or the floor. Then take an edge and tuck it into the edge directly across from it.
So if you grab the right edge, tuck it into the left edge. It doesn’t matter if you plug in horizontally or vertically – just don’t plug in diagonally. Also, when tucking in, make sure the corner seams line up.
Tuck it in, straighten it.
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If you get this part right, the elastic will fold down and the new edge of the sheet will be smooth and square. Do the same with the bottom corners.
When you’re done, your edges should look something like this.
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final steps
You can breathe a sigh of relief: the hardest part is over. Just smooth the edges and corners. If the sheet isn’t perfectly flat, don’t panic. The bumps will fade out when you’re done folding.
You should now have a rectangular (-ish) shape to work with. Fold the sheet in half, hiding the elastic edges. Flatten the corners and fold the sheet in half again. Keep folding it in half until you have a nice, neat bundle.
This will likely take some practice to get the hang of – it definitely took a while. But give it a try a few times and you’ll have folded sheets that you can easily store away.
A tidy fitted sheet can be achieved.
Alina Bradford/CNET
Bonus: A quick shortcut
There is another, albeit lazier, way. You can simply fold your sheets any way you like and then tuck them into a matching pillowcase. Your linen closet will still look tidy and tidy no one will ever know.
More washing tips and tricks
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition or health goals.
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