Fitted Sheets

[whirlcool]

My wife can do fitted sheets ok, I'm a mess at it. What usually happens is that even though I am 73 inches tall, I end up dragging half the sheet along the floor trying to get it to go together properly. And to me if you are dragging something along the floor, it's really no longer clean even though the floors are.

Since this house is so small, we don't have a folding area, and we don't have a linen closet. So whatever you fold is done as it is coming out from the dryer. Sometimes it works for me, most of the time I leave this to Karen.

 

[yogitunes]

I have always been taught to fold fitted sheets like in Martha's video....

I find an extra tip when having several sets of sheets, fold the fitted and flat sheet, and one pillow case, stacking one on top of the other, and using the last pillow case as a pouch, stuff all inside and tuck under as I place them on the shelf.....

this just saves time to grab a complete set of matched pieces, without searching for all the individual pieces....also seperate by bed sizes on shelves, single on the bottom, full on the next shelf, king on the top...

they are also stuffed into a pillow case as I remove from each bed, keeping everything together until ready to wash, so as nothing gets lost...

as I start to replace worn ones, I find it easier to buy and seperate by solid color......twin=white, full=tan, king=black.....at a quick glance you quickly know which belongs to which bedroom.....

this also works for towels, rather than run room to room to keep an ample supply, whites go in the main level bathroom, black/cream goes in the master bath, and sage/tan goes in the lower level bathroom....each one has equal amounts...

 

[toploader55]

Perfect Eugene.

I'm going to invite Justin Over when I launder sheets.

And That's That. Problem Solved

 

[westie2]

Here another 30 second way to fold a fitted sheet. Not hard on the eyes either.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Why did you get rid of your sheets when you got the FL?

 

[NYCWriter]

Sandy ...

... AMEN!

I still have an old "standard" depth mattress but the new sheets seem to be way too big.

 

[rp2813]

Agreed about fitted not exactly fitting anymore.

 

It's not always evident on the packaging that you're about to buy the deep dish variety.

 

[ptcruiser51]

@ TomTurbomatic

Re: Why did I trash all my sheets when I moved?

All of them were 20+ years old and had seen better days. I used to have a love life years ago(ahem), if you get my drift.

Also, I suffer from the misery of psoriasis. Repeated bleachings and harsh detergents are really tough on fabrics. That's the reason I wear a lot of black.

When I moved I got rid of all my furniture except for four sentimental pieces that I loved. Bought everything new, because the FL "look" is quite different from the Northeast.

But again, everything I bought in linens doesn't fit right. Except for one set that my sister gave me as a house gift. She bought them at Macy*s in NJ and gave me upon my departure. Perfect fit.

I think this is just like the 45/LP/Cassette/CD/DVD debacle that's been foisted upon us: I promise to buy whatever they deem will be the "last" thing they'll invent. In the meantime, my 1958 '45 of "At The Hop" on ABC-Paramount sounds just as good as the first time I played it. Thank you very much.

 

[rp2813]

Both Systems SUCK

Maybe if you own twin size sheets this works, but with king size it's a different story.

 

My arms got tired trying again tonight, and all I got was twisted mess. 

 

The only thing that works for me -- when I want to bother -- is to lay the whole sheet out on the bed, get the corners out and let the elastic edges fold inward,  then you have a square sheet to work with and fold easily.

 

I think the guest on Martha Stewart proved that the demonstrated method is not easy to follow.  They should mark or tag the corners and number them, with tags or marks positioned so that all are facing either upward or downward when correctly placed/tucked on your arm.  Then it might make sense, and as a result become instinctive.  Otherwise, it's a complete waste of time.

 

[launderess]

Another Fitted Sheet Problem Solved

Have perhaps only three or four fitted sheets, and even those were found at a good price (there was a local Williams-Sonoma outlet in our area), everything else in my vast linen store are flat sheets.

Having been involved with nursing you learn how to make beds with flat sheets and appreciate their value. For mostly long as one has been keeping house that is really only what is purchased.

Whomever invented fitted sheets ought to have been shot! *LOL*

The things ball up in front loading washing machines with pillow slips and cause all sorts of problem. Ironing contour sheets even on an ironer or press is much more difficult than flats. Worse are the ones with elastic all way round, even folding such sheets is a royal pain.

Regarding "deep" fitted sheets. Linen manufacturers have had no choice but to respond to changes in American mattress sizes. More and more households purchase those deep mattresses and then pile pillow top layers, pads, feather beds, etc... on and above. By the time things are done you've got one very deep mattress.

 

[rp2813]

I always make "hospital corners" when I put new linens on the bed.  Considering the balling up that L. described above,  which is far worse in the dryer than in the washer, I may start buying items separately so I can get two flat sheets.

 

[danemodsandy]

Good Luck With That!

"I may start buying items separately so I can get two flat sheets."

When you find flat sheets of a size sufficient for an optimal twelve inches of tuck-under all the way 'round, I hope you'll let the rest of us know.

All the flat sheets I see have barely three or four inches, because they're intended only for use as top sheets with a fitted bottom sheet. Manufacturers are cutting things smaller every year.

 

[launderess]

Again Another Problem Solved By Yours Truly

Only purchase vintage linens, so that's me for you.

Long as one gets 108"x 90" or thereabouts all flat sheets work as a bottom. Things a bit smaller in width can only be used for top sheets.

Have a decent stash of vintage Pequot and Canon muslin and percale (ok, Supercale) flats that work a treat.

 

[danemodsandy]

That Doesn't Really Work, Launderess....

....And you know why?

Because you've got them all, LOL!

 

[launderess]

No, not *all*

Clever chops! *LOL*

But did get in on the ground floor before everyone and their mother wised up to the value. Wamsutta Supercale used to be found at nearly give away prices, even at estate sales or thrifts. Now one's only hope is that someone doesn't know what they've got, otherwise it is priced accordingly! *LOL*

Actually a large portion of my stash is made up of vintage French linen and hemp things. So love sleeping on linen or hemp in summer. But for ease of care nothing beats cotton. Especially if one owns an ironer or press (or two or three, *LOL*)

 

[yogitunes]

may not work with the KING, but to use flat sheets as fitted may not be all that hard if you purchase the next size larger than your bed size.....

using a king size flat sheet on a queen size bed would be more than enough to fold and tuck.....

I have a friend who uses nothing but flat sheets....and uses those iron board spring clip clamps to hold them tight....he used to be in the Army, and found these were the best to keep sheets tight enough to bounce a quarter off them....

 

[launderess]

Quarter Bouncing

Trick is to have enough material to pull taught when tucking under, but not so much that there is excess to prevent

 

[Ultramatic]

 

 

I'm not allowed to fold anything. Hubby folds everything...beautifully. I should take pictures of our drawers. Everything folded just so. For crying out loud, he tucks us in bed, which I immediately undo my side. Need room for my feet and legs.

 

[washdaddy]

Ultra-
You should be thankful that he tucks you in every night. Instead he could just jump into bed and hog up all the covers!

Does he also provide milk and cookies with a bedtime story for nighty night?
O00h, but probably no crumbs allowed in the bed. (OK, I'm being simple minded now)

rotflmao

 

[Ultramatic]

Rick,

 

 

Milk and cookies? Hell, we have nachos in bed. As for bedtime stories, lets just say I can't repeat in this forum what actually transpires, suffice to say they can be quite "vivid".