How to fold a fitted sheet so it lays nice and flat in your linen cupboard. I know. Crumpling it into a ball is easier. And more artistic. True. But if you live in a house with very little storage space, learning how to fold your fitted sheets properly will help you regain some room and sanity.
Yes. It's true. I tackled the greatest puzzle known to mankind. A puzzle more intriguing than the great pyramids, more mysterious than Stonehenge and more frustrating than the success of anyone who became rich and famous for having a (mediocre at that) sex tape.
How to fold a fitted sheet.
Several years ago I spent 2 months in training for this moment. I experimented, investigated and scoured the Internet for every folding a fitted sheet technique possible. I ate properly, got plenty of rest and drank 8 glasses of water a day. The result?
I gained 4 pounds, and peed a lot.
In between eating and peeing I figured out not only the easiest way to fold a fitted sheet, but also the technique that was the easiest to learn. I tested this technique by making my mother watch me do it once.
I then handed Betty the ceremonial fitted sheet and asked her to do what she just watched me do. It was a success. An actual success.
The BIG mistake people make when folding a fitted sheet is not sticking their hands into the corners from the proper direction.
The other big mistake people make is trying to just guess how to do it. You can't guess. You need to learn how to do it, memorize how to do it, then force other people to learn how to do it.
That's just the way it is.
I've included step by step instructions on how to fold a fitted sheet, but honestly, watching the video below will be the fastest way for you to learn. You just need a fitted sheet and a flat surface to fold the sheet on.
These instructions are for people who are right handed, but if you're left handed just - well you'll know what to do. Just reverse which hand you're using. You'll start off on the top two corners on the long side of the sheet. Ready?
How to Fold a Fitted Sheet.
How to fold a fitted sheet so it lays flat.
Materials
- 1 fitted sheet with partial or full elastic around it.
Instructions
- Hold the sheet so the wrong side (with the seams) is facing away from you and the right side, is toward you.
- Put your hand inside one corner (your hand will be touching the RIGHT side). Put your other hand in the opposite corner (your hand will also be touching the RIGHT side). You want your hands in the corners that are the length of the sheet. Not the width.
- Move your hands together and flip the corner that is on your left hand over your right hand. They'll be nestled together now on your right hand with your left hand free.
- Move everything to your left hand again.
- Run your right hand down the portion of the sheet closest to your body and find the corner.
- Slip your hand into the corner like before with your hand touching the WRONG (seam side) of the fabric. Stick that corner underneath the other corners on your left hand.
- Run your right hand down the sheet again until you find the final corner but this time stick your hand in the corner so it's touching the RIGHT side of the fabric. (the side without the seam). Stick that corner underneath the other corners on your left hand like before.
- Your sheet is now pretty much folded. Lay it on a flat surface and adjust it until it's a nice square. Fold in half, then fold in thirds. Done!
Notes
So the order your hands go into corners is right side, right side, wrong side, right side.
How to Fold A Fitted Sheet Part II
Yes, there are more ways to do this. Yes, they all work. But this one is the easiest to teach, the easiest to learn and the easiest to remember. I want you all to go and fold a fitted sheet. RIGHT NOW. Or at your earliest convenience as long as that's right now. Then report back!
The funny thing is - I don't use fitted sheets anymore. I use 2 flat sheets. A tip taught to me by Tricia Rose of Rough Linen.
To do this just cover your mattress with a flat sheet and tuck it all in tight. Then add your regular top sheet as you normally do. Unless you don't use a top sheet in which case there's nothing normal about you at all.
Now if you'll all excuse me, I have a pyramid to finish building. (I completed the sex tape last year and figuring out Stonehenge seems like more of a summer project)
Update: For everyone wondering if this technique works as well for sheets with elastic all the way around. I tested it. Works perfectly!
This was so helpful! I have watched numerous tutorials on this and could never get it right. The explanation about the WRONG side and RIGHT side was key. Thank you!!
Hey Jaz! That's excellent, thanks for letting me know. Happy folding. ~ karen!
I always enjoy your posts. I used to be paid to edit documents, & it's hard to stop. So, in this one, you state you quit using fitted sheets & just use 2 flat sheets. Then you say "To do this just cover your mattress with a fitted sheet and tuck it all in tight. Then add your regular top sheet as you normally do." Since many people don't pay attention when they're reading, maybe you'd like to correct that.
ICYMI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L25VYBtGinE Cat folds fitted sheet.
Thank you Mr.editor, I'll correct it now. :) ~ karen!
Thank you! I had learned this trick years ago but could never remember the order of wrong, right sides, now I will!
I had a maid in my early twenties, approx. 37 years ago, show me how to fold a fitted sheet. Basically the same. I just fold all fitted corners together in my right hand made as a fist then straighten the material out with my left and lay flat and fold as many times as you need to fit in your linen closet. I have a king bed so laying flat is a must unless you have "GUMBY" arms!
Sorry, still can't find the video. Tried a "fitted sheet video" search of your site, no results.
PS I also find flat sheets come untucked too easily ;-)
Love your blog, Karen!
Karen, I know you must know this already--but what if you don't? My mom taught me to fold fitted sheets like that (that's not the part you must know) and she also taught me a nifty way to keep the whole set neat and together. You take both sheets and one pillowcase and put them in a little pile. Then you put that whole pile inside the second pillowcase, fold that case over, and VOILA, you have a cute little squarish package of one whole sheet set, and none of the parts will ever stray from the others. It's dynamite! Thanks for the delightful video. Also--am looking forward to seeing Paula Abdul fold sheets. (Or did I get that wrong?)
I don't really care about folding sheets, I will continue to wad them up into the smallest ball possible and place them lovingly into my linen closet. Easy peasy. Life is too short to spend unnecessary time doing useless shit!
Thanks for your entertaining videos. I love them!
Phyllis
O.K, but let's not forget that it's only useless shit to you, lol. Someone else might find what you spend time on as useless shit. Like, some people think bathing is useless shit. Or watching television. Or playing the lottery. Or searching for naturally shed deer antlers. Which I'm about to do this weekend. :) ~ karen!
Hmm...don't see the video link, only written instructions. Am I blind?
Yeah I’m with that other chick. Just have one set of sheets. Wash ‘em and put them back on. Of course before I was post menopausal that wouldn’t have been an option. When you awake in the middle of the night in a menstrual mess, another set of sheets is mandatory.
So I’ll add this to my daily gratitude list... I don’t bleed!
I was just introduced to you site. I love it! Received email this week about how to fold fitted sheets. There's no video link here. Is that still available? Thanks.
How in the world do you find two top sheets? Everything seems to come in a set which I find ungodly!! I want extra contrasting pillowcases and sometimes even those are hard to find. How will I ever find 2 king size flat sheets? HELP!!!
That is awesome. Thanks For the first time in my life I can’t wait for laundry day
Your printed directions say:
Put your hand inside one corner (your hand will be touching the seam).
Your lovely dance video says:
(Your) hands are touching the good side, the top side of the sheet.
Curious as to which is it? :)
PS: I know how to do this (your way) I just honestly can't recall now which side my hands are touching. I haven't folded a sheet since I put the summers away and started using the winters: I wash those puppies and put them right back on the bed!
OH, PSS (or is it PPS? I can never remember): How does one tell the long side from the wide side on King size sheets? Asking because they are so close to square; does it matter at that point?
:)
Hi Marli! I've just updated the printed directions. Both the video and the printed instructions are now the same thing. Thanks! It goes right side, right side, wrong side, right side. ~ karen
Can't see any video! (I'm on Firefox)