Folding and Storing Bed Sheets

Have you ever actually stopped and thought about how much sheets, and other kinds of bed linens, actually cost? Even a rather inexpensive set will run you a minimum of $30.00. No one really has the money to go out and purchase new sheets all the time, and as such learning how to take care of these items can go a long way to helping protect your investment. One of the best ways to go about doing that is by learning the proper way of folding and storing bed sheets.

Folding flat sheets:

1. Lay and iron. Lay out the sheet on a large flat surface (make sure that the surface is clean first) and then iron out all the wrinkles. This will help make the folding easier, as well as ensure that you have neat sheets when you put them on your bed.
2. Fold in half, and iron. Fold the sheet in half so that the top corners (the one with the hem or border) is matched to the bottom one. Make sure that the corners match as closely as possible.
3. Repeat. Repeat the process of folding the corners together, this time by folding the now narrow strip in half again. Once you have matched the corners together, iron the sheet flat again. Repeat the entire process until the sheet is small enough to fit into a pillow case.
4. Inspect, smooth, and store. After having completed folding the sheet double check to make sure that there are no obvious wrinkles, and that all the corners and sides line up. Set the folded sheet aside for later storage.

Folding fitted sheets:

1. Locate the corners. Place your hand into one of the top corners of the fitted sheet, and then place the corresponding corner at the bottom of the sheet over it. Repeat the process with the other two corners so that you have a rough, large rectangle with one flat edge and two fitted corners showing.
2. Match all corners together. Match the remaining two fitted corners together in the same manner as before. This should leave you with something resembling a large rough shaped square to work with.
3. Lay on a flat surface. Lay the semi-folded fitted sheet onto a clean flat surface, and arrange the rough edges so that they are straight. This shouldn't be too difficult.
4. Fold in half, twice. Fold the largish square in half so that it is now a rectangle (you will want the edges you folded earlier to be on the inside of this rectangle). Fold the rectangle in half again so that it is a square once more. Between each folding make sure that you match up the corners as well as possible, and that you gently press down the fabric so that there are no obvious wrinkles.
5. Repeat. Continue to repeat the folding process until you have a square that is roughly the same shape and size as the flat sheet you folded earlier.
6. Inspect, smooth, and store. After having completed folding the fitted sheet double check to make sure that there are no obvious wrinkles, and that all the corners and sides line up. Set the folded sheet aside for later storage.

Storing sheets:

1. Wash, fold, and create packets. Never store bed sheets that are dirty or that haven't been folded properly. One of the easiest ways to store the folded bed sheets is to create packets. Do this by placing the flat sheet on top of the fitted sheet, on top of which you will also place all but one of your matching pillowcases. Place this entire pile of sheets into the remaining pillow case, and then set aside for storage.
2. Choose the right spot. Your bed linens should be stored in a cool, dark, dry spot. Usually the best place for this will be in a closet or chest of drawers.
3. Use the right container. In the event that you are not able to store your bed sheets in closet or drawers, then you will need to use something else. Make sure that the container you use is air tight, and waterproof. This will help prevent any bugs or other creepy crawlies from getting in and ruining your sheets.
4. Labeling can help. You can place a bit of masking tape onto the packets of sheets to help you identify which ones are which. For example, on these labels you can put the room they belong to, or which bed sizes they are for.
5. Prevent mustiness. Sheets can attain a stale air over time, and even become a bit musty. While you can always use some potpourri in socks or cloth bags as sachets to help prevent this, that method can also be a bit expensive. An inexpensive option is to place a couple of fabric softener sheets (in your favorite scent) on top of the sheets or in the drawer.