USEFUL TIPS
How To Fold a Fitted Sheet: The Easiest Step-by-Step Method
6 min read
6 min read
Folding fitted sheets is among one of the most unnecessarily complicated household chores. Just when you think you have the hang of it, you notice a corner isn’t tucked in the proper place, or the elastic all around comes undone.
But you don’t have to struggle anymore. It’s time to officially learn how to fold a fitted sheet.
There are a few different methods for folding fitted sheets, and we’ll walk you through our top choices. These methods range from a quick-fold strategy to a strategy that will leave you with a gorgeously compact set of rolled sheets.
The method you choose is totally up to you. In fact, you could even try each method out to see which works the best in your routine.
Why Is Folding Your Fitted Sheets Important?
You may wonder why you even need to bother folding your bed sheets. Is there really any harm to the “crumble them in a ball” method of sheet storage? There are quite a few good reasons to spend a few extra minutes folding a fitted sheet. We’ll discuss them below.
Avoid Wrinkled Sheets
Folding a fitted sheet ensures your sheets stay wrinkle-free. If nice, crisp sheets are a priority for you; proper folding is part of the process. When you don’t fold your sheets, they are almost guaranteed to wrinkle. There’s nothing better than smooth sheets, so it's worth the extra effort.
Keep Your Sheets Cleaner
Folding your sheets and storing them properly is a game changer. If you just leave your sheets out or bunch them up, it is easier for bacteria to grow, especially if stored in your laundry room with other dirty clothes or in a bathroom where plenty of germs abound.
Instead, wash your sheets and fold them before storing them somewhere sanitary. When you do this, your sheets will stay cleaner.
Save Yourself Some Space
Properly folded sheets will save space in your linen closet. If you choose to fold a fitted sheet, you can stack it easily with other sheets, blankets, and towels.
Not folding fitted sheets can cause a struggle to find space because they take up more surface area than flatly folded sheets.
Keep Your Sheets Longer
Folding sheets properly will help them last longer. Sheets that are properly tucked away in their correct place protect them from inevitable day-to-day wear and tear — they'll gather less dust, and they're less likely to fall out each time you open the closet.
Practice Self-Care
Folding a fitted sheet is a tiny act of self-care. It helps show your brain that you have things worth taking care of.
Opening your linen closet to freshly folded sheets is like a tiny shot of dopamine when you see everything put away just so. Having properly folded sheets just feels better. Something about it just feels right.
How Do I Choose the Best Fitted Sheets?
Multiple factors may play into your decision of what type of sheets work best for you. You may need sheets that are extra long or extra warm. Maybe you’re more into satin sheets, or maybe finding the best cotton sheets is your goal.
May we suggest an option uniquely suited to fit almost every type of sleeper? Our Miracle Made Sheet Set sets the standard for exquisite comfort, cooling, and cleaning.
What do we mean by that? This sheet set is infused with silver, which prevents 99.7% of bacteria growth. Beyond the cleaning aspect, the silver also helps regulate the sheets' temperature, keeping you nice and cool all night long.
Now that you know our top choice for the best fitted sheets, let’s learn how to fold a fitted sheet.
Tips for Folding a Fitted Sheet
Before you ask, “How do you fold a fitted sheet?” let’s look at some basic tips to get you started. There are a few different methods for folding a fitted sheet. These tips apply to each folding strategy and can help you get the job done a little bit quicker.
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Use a flat surface. There’s nothing worse than attempting to fold a sheet with no surface beneath it or using a lumpy couch or another bumpy surface. If you have a large table or even your bed, these flatter surfaces can assist in getting the fold right the first time.
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Smooth out the wrinkles. When you fold your sheet, the wrinkles won’t magically disappear. Take some time to smooth out the wrinkles before you fold your sheet to keep it crisp and wrinkle-free.
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Use a folding board. Who says you can’t use a little bit of help in the folding process? By using a folding board, you can save yourself some time and frustration. This is one of the best hacks for folding.
- Practice regularly. They say practice makes perfect, which is true even when folding a fitted sheet. The more you do it, the better you’ll become. Get in the habit of folding your sheets each time you wash them. Eventually, you’ll feel like a pro.
Now it’s time to dive into the different methods for folding a fitted sheet. You can choose which one sounds the best for you!
The Marie Kondo Method
Organizational guru Marie Kondo is no stranger to the struggle of folding fitted sheets. In addition to being the queen of decluttering, she’s taken the time to find a way of folding that works well for her, and it may work well for you too!
This strategy is all about saving time and folding as efficiently as possible. Learn from the expert as you discover the Marie Kondo Method of folding fitted sheets.
- Lay the sheet on a flat surface, elastic edges facing upwards.
- Fold the sheet lengthwise into thirds. Use your left hand to fold one side slightly past the center, and then use your right hand to fold the other side over the top of that one.
- Flatten any wrinkles so that you're looking at a nice, long rectangle.
- Fold the rectangle in half (lengthwise).
- Flatten out this rectangle. (Remember, Marie Kondo is all about the details; flattening creases after each step will help ensure a perfect final product).
- Roll the rectangle into a nice cylinder shape.
This method leaves you with rolled sheets, not flat folded sheets. Because of this, you’ll want to store the upright. You can put them in your linen closet or in a storage container. Just don’t forget to add your pillowcase and duvet cover!
The Woman's Day Method
The Woman’s Day method is all about creating the perfect square. If you like the look of a nice stack of flat sheets in your linen closet, this method is for you.
Once you get the hang of it, you can fold a fitted sheet in 60 seconds or less with these simple steps!
- Place the sheet lengthwise on a flat surface so the elastic edges face upwards.
- Reach your hand into the left-side bottom corner and grab that corner.
- Bring this corner to the opposite corner (right corner) and tuck it inside.
- Do this again for the top, grabbing the inside top left corner, bringing it over to the right side, and tucking it in.
- Give this rectangle a 90-degree turn so that it's lengthwise again.
- Do this process one more time — tuck the two corners from the left into the two corners from the right.
- All four corners are now on one side.
- Fold the side that has the elastic edges inwards, creating a straight edge along that side.
- You're now looking at a rectangle, so you can go ahead and fold this like you would with a regular sheet.
- Choose a side and flop it over once or twice, and voila! Your sheet should be an almost perfect square.
Get lost somewhere along the way? Here's a quick tutorial video that you can follow along. Don’t worry if reading instructions seems trickier. Instructional videos are a great way to double-check that you’re following the steps as you fold a fitted sheet.
Plus, you’re not alone! Almost 30,000 people each month search for instructions on how to fold a fitted sheet. Once you’re done, put your folded fitted sheet in a clean storage space.
The 30-Second Folding Method
If you’re interested in learning the quickest method for folding a fitted sheet, this one’s all yours. While it is possible to fold your fitted sheet in 30 seconds, you’ll likely need to spend a lot more time practicing before you really see the timing payoff!
Here’s how to do it:
- Lay your sheet on a flat surface, elasticized edges facing up.
- Orient the sheet so that the short end is closest to you.
- Grab the two bottom corners in front of your hips, bring your hands forward, and push the sheet inside out.
- Bring these corners to the top of the sheet and tuck them into the top two corners - keep your hands tucked in with them!
- Lift your arms so the sheet hangs down, and give it a good shake out before placing it back down on the table (elastic facing upwards and towards you). It should now be an almost square shape.
- Fold the top into the middle.
- Fold the bottom into the middle.
- Bring the corners of the sheet to meet in the center and then flop one side over the other.
- If your sheet is big enough, feel free to fold it over again.
Feeling a little intimidated? No need to be. Here's another quick video walkthrough.
Once you watch this a few times, you’ll be ready to take on the task. Another great way to learn is to fold along with the video. Grab your fitted sheet and follow the step-by-step instructions while pausing between to get it right.
The Simple Method
If all of these corner tucks aren't working out for you, the simple method may be the one for you. This is the easy way to fold. It’s okay; you don’t have to be fancy to fold a fitted sheet.
The most important thing is that it works well for you! Here’s how to make the simple method work for your sheets:
- Lay the sheet down, elasticized side facing upwards - either orientation will work for this technique.
- Fold the left side into the middle and the right side on top of the fold you created.
- You should now have a long rectangle; all elastic edges are hidden.
- Bring both sides inwards, folding the rectangle into thirds.
- You'll now have a flat, small rectangle.
- If your sheet is small enough, roll it up.
This method is great if you’re short on learning time or if you don’t want to deal with all the corner tucks that the other methods require. Your sheets will still be folded and look great in your linen closet or storage container.
Conclusion
You’ve learned a lot in this short article! Now you know a few different methods for folding a fitted sheet, and you’re ready to take this chore from frustrating to super simple.
Remember, getting a great fold begins right out of the laundry. Set yourself up for success by folding on a flat surface. Smooth any wrinkles before you begin, and practice your chosen folding method regularly to ensure an amazing fold every time.
If you’re looking for the best sheets to practice your newly found folding skills, look no further than our Miracle Made Sleep Bundle. These sheets will keep clean and crisp longer than your average sheet and make the perfect set for easy folding.
Once you’re done folding your sheets, be sure to go the extra mile and store them properly in an organized linen closet or storage container. This will keep your sheets clean and wrinkle-free much longer, so all you have to worry about is getting a good night’s rest.
Sources:
How to Fold a Fitted Sheet, According to Bedding Experts
How To Fold a Fitted Sheet In Three Easy Steps | Woman's Day
How to Fold a Fitted Sheet | TikTok
