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If fitted sheets drive you crazy, this step-by-step guide is a total game changer.
Macy Meyer is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. Macy is a Writer on the CNET How-To team, covering a variety of topics, including home security, fitness and nutrition, smart home tech and more. In each article, Macy helps readers get the most out of their home, tech and wellness. When Macy isn’t writing, she’s volunteering, traveling, walking her dog, Holden, or watching sports.
Expertise Macy covers a variety of topics for the CNET How-To team. Credentials
- Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
My linen closet looks picture-perfect at first glance. Pillowcases are stacked neatly, comforters are folded just right, and extra pillows sit in an orderly row. But hidden in the back corner is the one thing I can never seem to conquer — my fitted sheets. No matter how many tutorials I watch, they always end up looking like a wrinkled lump of frustration.
If you’ve also given up on folding fitted sheets the “right” way, you’re not alone. They’re notoriously tricky, and most of us just shove them into a corner and call it a day. But with the right visual guide and a few simple moves, you can finally fold a fitted sheet like a pro and bring real order to your linen closet.
The reason why fitted sheets are so dang hard to fold is that they have stretchy, rounded edges. It’s obvious how to fold a square object, but folding a rounded one? That’s a little tougher.
Many people think folding a fitted sheet is an impossible task that takes a team (or at least several hands) or some kind of crazy gymnastics to accomplish. But if you’re hoping to get ahead on your cleaning, you’re in luck: We’ll show you a foolproof, less complicated way to fold a fitted sheet.
For more tips, learn how to best wash your sheets and bedding, and learn about these laundry symbols or you might ruin your clothes.
How best to fold a fitted sheet
First, lay the sheet out on a flat surface like your bed or the floor. Then, grab one 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’re tucking horizontally or vertically — just don’t tuck diagonally. Also, as you tuck, make sure the corner seams line up.
Tuck it in, smooth it out.
Alina Bradford/CNETIf you do this part right, the elastic will be folded down and the new edge of the sheet will be smooth, right angles. Do the same thing to the bottom corners.
When you’re done, your edges should look something like this.
Alina Bradford/CNETFinal steps
The hardest part is now over, and you just need to smooth out the edges and corners. If the sheet won’t lie perfectly flat, don’t panic. The bumps will be hidden by the time you finish folding it.
Now, you should have a rectangle-ish shape to work with. Fold the sheet in half so that the elastic edges are hidden, smooth out the corners and fold the sheet in half again. Keep folding it in half until you have a nice, neat bundle.
This will probably take some practice — it definitely took me a few times to perfect. Give it a few tries and you’ll have folded linens that you can easily store without all the hassle.
A tidy fitted sheet can be achieved.
Alina Bradford/CNETBonus: A quick shortcut
There is another, albeit lazier, way. You can just fold your sheets however you want, then stuff them into a matching pillow case. Your linen closet will still look tidy and no one will ever know.
More laundry tips and tricks
- Remove Stubborn Makeup Stains From Your Bedding With These Easy Steps
- Why It May Be Time to Ditch Your Favorite Laundry Products
- Turns Out There Is a Wrong Way to Do Laundry, and It’s Costing You Cash
- How to Clean Gym Clothes the Right Way Without Losing Elasticity or Wicking
- Never Lose a Sock Again: 9 Laundry Hacks That Solve Common Problems
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 health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.