How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

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How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

You can do this. Yes, you. It's time to achieve your linen closet aspirations.

Ali Rayl

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Step 1 of 14

There are two tricks to folding a fitted sheet. The first one is the corners. You're going to nest all four of them together. The other is to make square that which is... not square. Like elastic.

Step 2 of 14

Step one: Figure out which side of your sheet is the long side (runs the length of the bed) and which is the short side (runs the width of your bed).

Step 3 of 14

Step two: Pretend your sheet is an envelope. Put one hand in the corner where you write the return address and the other hand in the corner for the stamp. Use a finger to make the corners pointy.

Step 4 of 14

Step three: You should have each hand in a pointy sheet pocket. Bring one hand over and turn the pocket inside out on top of the other pocket, bringing the two pockets together by nesting them.

Step 5 of 14

A different view of step three. I've pulled the inner pocket out a bit to show how they're nested.

Step 6 of 14

Repeat step three on the other two corners. You should have a fitted sheet that is folded in half with nested corners on both sides.

Step 7 of 14

Step four: Put your hands back in the corners and repeat the motion from step three to combine them. You should now have all four corners nested together.

Step 8 of 14

Step five: this is where the magic happens. The two sides attached to the elastic are going to try to ruin this for you. Don't let them. Straighten the edges and make a 90-degree corner.

Step 9 of 14

Step six: we're just folding in thirds from here on out. Fold the bottom portion up to meet the bottom of the elasticized part.

Step 10 of 14

Step seven: fold again lengthwise to hide the bunched- up elastic and fabric.

Step 11 of 14

Flip it over. You're going to erase this unevenness with some more folding-fu.

Step 12 of 14

Step eight: just two more folds and you're done. Use these folds to hide unevenness and to square up all of the edges.

Step 13 of 14

Smooth it out. Pull it taut. Admire it. Feels gratifying, right? You just triumphed over elastic. Like a boss.

Step 14 of 14

A well-folded fitted sheet is always this gratifying. Seriously. It never gets old.

You're Done

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Ali Rayl

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Monique Guzman

Frankie

Florida

Christina Bekaroglu

Los Angeles, CA

Michaela Gonzales

Asuka Ichikawa

Aubrey Farella

Vancouver

Erika R

NYC

Nicki Fuller

Sarah W Grant

Nashville, TN

Tami Gruner

Constantin Sauvage

Jannet Beukema

Groningen, Groningen

Caitlin Matthews

Sarah Allison

Nova Scotia, Canada

Jean-Claude Siegrist

Kyle Buttress

iPhone: -27.061544,152.9...

Janet Kuo

Adam Hantke

Adelaide, South Australi...

Erin Foley

Anthony DelleCave

Emily Harden

Nelsonville, Ohio

Sumapa Dangcharoen

BKK Thailand<3

Pete Lozzi

Vacaville, California

Trisha Amarante

Jessica Kristina

Love this soooo much! I can now tick "fold a fitted sheet" off my bucket list! Yusss!

Kirsten Daymond 5 months ago

I always ball my fitted sheets, hopefully I can remember to check this guide next time...

Miss Apple 8 months ago

I need a video. :( My sheets are broken....

Koreen Sablan 10 months ago

BTW, this comment thread has been really therapeutic for me - my balled up sheets have long been a secret shame that I wanted no one else to see. Glad to know I'm not the only one who's been in the closet with unruly sheets. ;-)

Laura Atwood 10 months ago

Hurray - thank you for this! I've tried this in the past, but now see that I failed at the being the boss step! Now I get that I need to calmly assert my folding authority instead of freaking out and shoving the ornery elastic mess in the closet.

Laura Atwood 10 months ago

We have a resort with six cabins and 20 beds and I do all the laundry every week. For ten years I have wadded the fitted sheets up !!! No more! I am folding the sheets like a grown up should. Thank you 😜

Kathy Vitcak 12 months ago

I learned this once...and forgot! Thanks for posting this!

Cerulean Apple 12 months ago

I learned this from my mom as a teenager and as a wife I tried to show my husband how to do this as well. He has failed miserably and given up. Thanks to your snapguide, he is finally able to fold a fitted sheet!!! Thank you so much!

Deanne Prucha 12 months ago

Thank you thank you thank you!!! Finally I can fold a fitted sheet properly! Good on you!

Frk W 12 months ago

I'm printing this and will put it over my washing machine. Will practice until I give myself an A+ which may take a while... Many thanks, M

Mary Sliney 12 months ago

head... just... exploded... you are my hero

April Hiller 12 months ago

Great! Just got my sheets folded. Thanks a lot.

Deirdre Mendis 12 months ago

Bravo, I have never had any idea how to do that.

Ovanus Woodard last year

So great! My sheets are all packed up in their pillow case. Much more space in the linen closet.

Jane Martin last year

Wow! Thank you soooooo much! I've been waiting for these tips for about 30 years...seriously!!!

Sandi Taylor last year

I am so proud of you guys! <3

Ali Rayl (author) last year

This is the best thing ever. Fitted sheets have gotten the best of me for years. I was just balling them up prior to reading this. Thank you. I just owned that fitted sheet. It feels good.

Evan Huntley last year

My Mom taught me how to do this years ago and my girlfriends in college were always impressed. It's funny (& actually sad) how gratifying it is! The jersey sheets and the new Sheex (fantastic!!!) are extra challenging, though, but it IS still possible. They're easier to do when you lay them out on a bed. Good luck everyone!

Andrea K💋 last year

My wife is gonna be so impressed with me. Unfortunately, my son has those t-shirt material sheets with elastic along ALL FOUR sides. I think I may have to admit defeat with those and use the old "wad and stuff" method!

Scott Shaw last year

OMG. Just managed to execute this for the first time. Should be organizing myself for bed, but tidying up our linen closet instead hahaha. And have also arranged into sets, within the pillow cases. Thanks.

Erica Matthews last year

Thank you so much!! I hate folding fitted sheets with a passion!

Heather Correia last year

Thank you so much for bringing me laughter today. This is hilarious, and still one of those random i-can't-do-this things ...

Mary Rosberg last year

Zen of Fit! Well done. I tried this intuitively as a teen, including all the nesting bits you have, but never reached the Nirvana of right angle perfection you achieved. I was a weird teen who spent time perfecting the laundry arts while ignoring sports. Later, I lost my touch as I became a salary warrior and my wife took over internal domestic affairs. Now, with renewed confidence, I can launch a unilateral assault upon linen closet imperfections and amaze everyone with the fact that, all these years, I was paying attention.

Bill Newman last year

OMG amazing

Andrew Malone last year

Perfect!

Leslie Pappas last year

Love it! Going to get my crumpled sheet from the linen closet to try it out, thanks!

Christy Morris last year

Now I have to clean my linen closet and fold my sheets right. I'll have more space now!

Kristi Rimkus last year

... To trying this! Thank you!!!

Sherri Fox last year

I've been using a method that resulted in a lumpy square and gave me no satisfaction or pride whatsoever. I am so looking forward

Sherri Fox last year

My mom would be thrilled if I learned to properly fold fitted sheets. I just don't have the patience. Maybe I'll give it a try...

Tonya @The Dieter's Academy last year

A video for visuals would have been helpful :)

Linda Randall last year

Yea! I can stop throwing them into closet as a jumbled up mess!

Carrie Garner last year

After 23 years of marriage, my mom finally knows how to fold a fitted sheet! Thank you! :)

Ashley Smiley Poitevien last year

omg finally!! Thank you!

Sarah K. Cheffy last year

My Grama taught me to fold this way!!

Gretchen Johnson last year

Daaaayyyuuuummm

Lisa D last year

I am excited to try this. I am a bit confused on step Two. You said to turn the second corner inside out? I haven't actually tried yet so it may make sense when actually doing it...

Jonathan Ervin last year

Wow I always thought it was impossible. Yay thank u for showing that it's not. Definitely going to give this a go :)

Donna Mason last year

I love this, still practicing but I will get the hang of it thanks to you ❤

Nina Prasetijo last year

Yay! Thanks!!

Brenda Lybbert last year

Amazing. To be honest I just wad the fitted up and throw it in the top of the closet but this works as well. I'm definitely going to do this when the in-laws come. Thank you.

Darcy Bastin last year

I hadn't meant to press send yet, I wasn't quite finished. I thought I'd offer a TIP if anyone would like it!! After u have folded your sheets & pillow cases so nicely, take one of the pillow cases and put the sheets and pillow cases, shams and anything else that is part of that set into the case to make storing it simple and easy to find for the next time u go to use them. EVERYTHING FOR THAT SET IS IN THE SAME PLACE!! ITS WONDERFUL ***

Donna Puls last year

Took me 50 yrs. To finally fold a fitted sheet so it looks nice.

Donna Puls last year

K McL: you'll get there! King-sized sheets are the hardest because they're so big.

Ali Rayl (author) last year

Love it .. Folded my 1st king size sheets today I think I need some practice but I'll get there.

K McL last year

Liz: We can't add to existing guides or modify existing pictures, but perhaps I can make a video followup with sheets that have more contrast!

Ali Rayl (author) last year

Nice job :-)

Martin Byrne last year

Great guide! Any chance you would add some video? I got a little lost trying to follow along, which is why my fitted sheets are such a mess! Failing that, maybe you can stop by after you fold Melanie's sheets. :)

Liz Lufkin last year

Melanie: I am inviting myself over to fold your sheets. It's that satisfying.

Ali Rayl (author) last year

Why don't you just shove the sheet in a drawer?

Melanie Mikecz last year

My life as a Domestic Goddess is now complete!

Susan McLeary last year

Well done. Thanks

Rosemary Danon last year

Thank the heavens!!! I'll no longer be moles by my family for having a "rats nest" for a linens closet... Yay!

Edward Cáceres last year

My life is changed forever!

John Tan last year

One of householding life's great mysteries - solved!

Michael Satterwhite last year

This is hilarious and awesome. Thank you!

Leslie Hitchcock last year

Pete: You'll get there! We can all gain the upper hand in the quest for 90-degree angles over the tyranny of elastic!

Ali Rayl (author) last year

Debi: I LOVE THAT TRICK. I realized I should have included it after I made the bed. :) It's like each sheet set has its own special storage case.

Ali Rayl (author) last year

Like calculus. But with linen. I'll keep trying. (Eyeing iPhone whole hands are tied up in linen origami.)

Pete Lozzi last year

Oh, the other thing about putting your sheet sets into the matching pillowcase? It means that you know you're getting the entire set out, with no missing bits. It also means that no one else can separate your sets easily.

Debi Rose last year

Michaela, well done. I would like to add to your instructions if I may be so bold? Fold a flat sheet, and if there are two pillowcases that match the fitted sheet, then fold one and put it on top of both sheets. Then, simply place the neat pile of sheets and pillowcase into the second pillowcase, folding over the edge into a nice package. You then have a complete set to place into your linen cupboard.

Debi Rose last year

This is..... Amazing....

Michaela Gonzales last year

OMG!!! Thanks so much for posting this! I've been asking my Mom-In-Law for 15YEARS what her secret to this is. She doesn't know-she says!! Thanks!

Wendy Zwickl last year

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Amen.

Pete Lozzi 5 months ago

It looks easy but needs practice

Nina Prasetijo last year

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THIS is the step I'm always missing!! Thank you.

Jeanette Delaplane last year

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You can do it Pete! This is like group therapy. Hi, my name is... It's been 10 months since I last wrestled with my fitted sheet. Every 2 weeks is a struggle but I power through. Like a boss.

HeyD388y P 3 months ago

Wrestling with this right now. Not exactly feeling like a boss. :(

Pete Lozzi 5 months ago

Love this - I am a folding wiz (I managed a Gap store, LOL) but folded sheets were my kryptonite. Thanks to this guide I will finally triumph over them!! Mwa Ha Ha!!!

Toni Foselli 9 months ago

So I'm NOT supposed to ball it up in frustration? Great demo!!

Betsy Cadel last year

I flipped through 50 or so snap guides during my first glance at this app. This is the one that caught my eye. The bane of my existence may be conquered!!! This is the best thing ever.

Emma T last year

You are awesome!! I had to grab a sheet and demonstrate the process to my boyfriend, he doesn't do the laundry and doesn't understand the awesomeness of this method-bravo!!!

Leslie Neville last year