# Why Can't I do This? (Folding fitted sheets) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 12, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147 "2011-02-12T18:44:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/21 "2011-02-13T04:08:52Z")
I fold mine so they will fit neatly in a peach basket. Too bad I don’t have a peach basket. My sister’s house is spotless. Immaculate. Everything has a place and everything is in its assigned place. She taught me how to fold fitted sheets. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/22 "2011-02-13T17:02:38Z")
I am also ignorant in the ways of folding fitted sheets. I’ll have to try it out in this video, even though all 4 sides of mine are elastic. Maybe I’ll figure it out. More likely, it’ll end up like a mauled bundle of threads in the linen closet like always. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/23 "2011-02-13T18:35:36Z")
I’ve solved this problem by leaving sheets dirty in the laundry basket until I’m ready to change the sheets, at which time I wash, dry, and apply directly to the bed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/24 "2011-02-13T20:14:25Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > I’ve solved this problem by leaving sheets dirty in the laundry basket until I’m ready to change the sheets, at which time I wash, dry, and apply directly to the bed. 🙂 This is also my plan. Any extra sheets (since I do have more than the two sets) are sort of wadded up on the top shelf in the closet. What does it matter if they get wrinkled? They’re only going on the bed. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/25 "2011-02-13T20:27:58Z")
My god, do you guys have Princess and the Pea disease? Even if a single sheet, in the back of a closed closet, is not absolutely neat and clean, you can’t sleep at night? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/26 "2011-02-13T20:45:40Z")
> [@Miss\_Mapp](#): > > This is also my plan. Any extra sheets (since I do have more than the two sets) are sort of wadded up on the top shelf in the closet. What does it matter if they get wrinkled? They’re only going on the bed. To be honest, I wash them right before putting them on the bed not because I care if they’re wrinkled, but because I prefer that fresh-from-the-dryer feeling. Sheets don’t feel clean to me if they’ve been sitting in the closet. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/27 "2011-02-15T15:22:44Z")
I’m a single male. I jam them into the linen closet without bothering. I figure they’re folded enough. They have folds in em, right?? ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/28 "2011-02-15T15:31:08Z")
Another pillow stuffer here. I don’t fold anything, just shove it all in one pillow case. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/29 "2011-02-15T16:18:23Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > My god, do you guys have Princess and the Pea disease? Even if a single sheet, in the back of a closed closet, is not absolutely neat and clean, you can’t sleep at night? This is my wife. Not everything but the linen most be done just so. Before we met my method was to wash the sheets on the bed and put them back on the bed. Who sees wrinkles on a FITTED sheet anyway? I’ve learned to do the fitted sheets similar to the linked Youtube and it isn’t that hard. Although the video guy used a single fitted sheet with weak elastic … amateur. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/30 "2011-02-15T16:20:45Z")
Count me among the number of folks who can’t fold fitted sheets either. I know how one is supposed to, but mine never come out looking like that. I’m a failure. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/31 "2011-02-15T17:30:32Z")
Life’s too short. Cram 'em into the linen closet, shut the door, and go have a glass of wine. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/32 "2011-02-16T05:41:55Z")
I just line up the points of the corners, kinda shake it out, make sure the elastic is all facing the same direction and then fold to the points as if the elastic wasn’t there and it just kinda ends up folded into the middle. Flat enough to stack in the closet, but you can still definitely tell the fitted ones from the flat ones. Good enough for me. Martha Stewart can suck it. ---
**Author:** ![serious\_lark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@serious\_lark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/serious_lark)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/33 "2011-02-16T21:21:49Z")
I`m going to have to try that technique now, but my fallback position is going to be the wash, dry and immediately put back on bed… ---
**Author:** ![tpatsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tpatsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpatsfan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147/34 "2011-02-17T21:35:42Z")
That video is more complicated than it needs to be. I can fold a fitted sheet very well but have never done it like that. After his first step I fold it differently. His way takes way too long. But don’t feel bad I had to teach my boss when I worked at a laundromat how to fold a fitted sheet and she still doesn’t get it. I think it is like whistling, either you know how or you don’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-do-this-folding-fitted-sheets/571147.md?page=1)