How To Fold A Fitted Sheet Like A Pro

If you dread folding a fitted sheet, you’re not alone. The process can be tedious and frustrating, and it somehow never creates the neatly folded stack we envision. To help you master the art of the fitted sheet like a pro, Jolanda Thomas, associate merchant of product development for The Company Store shares her tips for folding, organizing, and caring for your fitted sheets.

Southerners know the importance of always being prepared for guests. Whether that means having a fridge stocked with grab-and-go nibbles and beverages, or a guest room always ready to greet weary travelers, our hospitality knows no bounds. At the heart of it all is ensuring both family members and guests feel a warm and gracious welcome every time they step foot in the door. And a perfectly made-up bed to crawl into? Well, that’s just as good as it gets.

To help your sheets maintain their freshness, keep them wrinkle-free, and ensure they’re in top shape for guests and family members alike, the first step is mastering the art of folding the fitted sheet. Here Thomas shares her best strategy for folding a fitted sheet and, in turn, creating linen closets anyone would be impressed to open.

How To Fold a Fitted Sheet Neatly

“The best way to fold a fitted sheet is to tuck all the elastic corners inside each other, shape the sheet into a rectangle, and then fold it in thirds,” says Thomas. She promises it’s easier than it sounds. Here are her tips for getting it right.

1. Turn the sheet inside out. While standing, put your hands in the top two corners.
2. Bring the two corners together, folding one top over the other. The visible corner should now be right side out.
3. Repeat the process with the two corners at the other end, or bottom, of the sheet.
4. There should now be two visible elastic corners. Put your hands inside both corners and fold one over the other, the same way you did in step 2.
5. Lay the sheet on a flat surface such as a bed or table. Fold excess material toward the center, forming a rectangle.
6. Fold the rectangle into thirds, creating a tidy package. If you prefer, you can fold the sheet in quarters or even in half instead.
   

How To Bundle Your Bedding Sets  

You can create bedding in a bag by employing either the basic method for folding a fitted sheet found above or the 60-second method outlined below. Once you’ve determined your method, use this pillowcase technique for storing your bed linens in a neat and tidy fashion that makes grabbing fresh sheets from the closet a breeze. No more trying to decipher which linens go with what.

1. Start with either the classic method for folding a fitted sheet or the 60-second method.
2. Once your sheet is folded using your preferred method, stack the sheets (both fitted and flat) and one pillowcase.
3. Neatly place the stack inside the remaining pillowcase, sliding the stack all the way to the back of the pillowcase.
4. Fold the extra fabric on the sides over on top of the bundle.
5. Your bundle will now be a long rectangle, with the stack at the far interior. Starting at the flat end, fold the excess fabric over until it’s folded on top of the linen stack.
6. Flip the stack over and place it into your linen closet or wherever it is to be stored.

Alternative Method for Folding a Fitted Sheet

While this method employs a similar process as the basic folding instructions prescribed above, it makes quicker work of the process, with a little less attention to detail. If saving time is more important to you than perfectly crisp and smooth folded sheets, opt for this method instead.

How To Fold a Fitted Sheet in 60 Seconds

1. Lay your fitted sheet on a large flat surface, with the inside of the sheet facing outward.
2. Scoop your hands through the bottom two corners and bring them up to the top two, inserting the bottom corners through the top.
3. With the corners still on your hands, lift the sheet off the surface and give it a shake to release wrinkles.
4. Place the sheet back on the flat surface with the flat side at the bottom (toward you) and the corners at the top.
5. Fold the flat side halfway up, then smooth out any wrinkles with your hands.
6. Repeat with the top (corners) portion, folding onto the bottom half you just folded up.
7. Your sheet should now be a long rectangle. Working from left to right, fold the sheet over itself in about 6-inch sections until you’ve created a neatly folded rectangle.

Additional Tips for Folding Fitted Sheets

Make the most of your new fitted sheet folding techniques by utilizing these tips and tricks for proper care.

Use a Low Heat Setting

It’s tempting to go high heat so you can get the sheets folded and put away sooner, but Thomas urges restraint. Use low heat settings on the dryer in order to preserve the elastic on fitted sheets. Over time, the dryer can damage it causing the sheet to fit improperly on your bed, come undone easily, or even rip completely.

Fold Sheets Right Away

In order to give yourself the best chance at limiting wrinkles, folding your sheets right away (ideally while they are still warm from the dryer) is crucial. While you’re at it, make sure to move the sheets from the washing machine to the dryer quickly as this can also help reduce wrinkles.

Keep Them Fresh

“To ensure no set of sheets sits too long, put freshly laundered sheets on the bottom of the stack or bin, and always pull from the top when changing sheets,” says Thomas. The first-in-first-out rotation will keep your linens fresh as can be.

Leave Room to Breathe

How you store your sheets—and pack your linen closet—matters. “Overstuffed linen closets prevent air circulation, which can result in musty-smelling sheets,” Thomas explains. “Store sheets with a little wiggle room and they’ll smell fresh, longer.”

Fight Odors

Thomas suggests a few scent-boosting tactics to keep your linens smelling fresh when not in use. A reed diffuser, herbal pouch, or simply a cotton washcloth with a few drops of essential oils tucked in your storage space can all deliver a light fragrance that will work hard to maintain your linens when they’re not in use.

Tips for Neat Storage 

Storing your sheets doesn’t require a linen closet, but it does require a few considerations that you might not have thought of. Thomas says, first and foremost, linens should be stored away from moisture, bugs, and dust. They will also require air circulation in order to make sure they don’t grow mildew and mold. From there, use these strategies to ensure neat and tidy linen storage.

Fold Sheets According to Space

“When it comes to saving space in the linen closet, look at how you fold your sheets,” says Thomas. “Depending on your space, a compact tri- or quarter-fold method may fit better on the shelf, freeing up room to store other bedding and linens.”

Hang Sheets Instead

If a linen closet isn’t available, you can opt to hang your sheets instead. Thomas says to follow the basic sheet folding process above, stopping before the final folding step. Drape your sheet through a clothes hanger, then hang it either in the closet of the room it belongs in or hang all your linens in the same closet.

Use Storage Furniture

Thomas says another alternative for those who don’t have a linen closet (or theirs is already bursting at the seams) is to call on furniture for linen storage. “Allocate space in your bedroom furniture for storing linens—the bottom drawer of a dresser, a trunk at the foot of the bed, or a decorative box on the bookshelf are all convenient options,” she says.

Look Under the Bed

For skirted beds, or those with hidden storage beneath, the storage possibilities are endless. Use this tucked-away space for linen storage to free up your closets. “If you’re short on shelf space, bulkier bedding can be stored underneath your bed,” suggests Thomas. “Protect quilts, comforters, and blankets from dust and mildew by storing them in a cotton bag that also allows air to circulate and moisture to escape.”