Why Do My Fitted Sheets Always Come Off

Most people would agree that fitted sheets triumph over flat sheets any day. No matter how much you toss and turn during the night when you wake up, your fitted sheet will stay in place. But that is only if you put it on properly, which is something not a lot of people know how to do.

And while fitted sheets do come with a lot of benefits, they also cause frustrations. They can come off if they’re not placed properly, they are hard to fold, and it’s extremely hard to put them on a heavy mattress. But if you think the struggle isn’t worth it, you’re wrong.

A good fitted sheet with a high thread count will provide you with the comfort you deserve after a long day. And you don’t have to be frustrated anymore because we have the solutions to all of your fitted sheet-related problems.

Why are fitted sheets so hard to put on?

If you’ve ever owned a fitted sheet, you’ve probably asked yourself these questions:

• Why are fitted sheets so hard to put on?
• Why do fitted sheets never fit?

Well, you’re not alone. Millions of people have this thought every day.

The most common reason why you’re struggling with putting on your fitted sheets is that you don’t have the right size. Before you buy any sort of bedding, you need to know what bed size and mattress dimension you’re dealing with.

For instance, if you have a king bed but you buy queen-sized fitted sheets, you’re going to struggle with putting them on.

Another reason could be that you aren’t putting the sides correctly. You need to make sure you locate the tags that show the top, bottom, and side of the sheet (if there are any) and use them as a reference.

Why do my fitted sheets keep ripping?

While the question Why do fitted sheets never fit? is the most common one, another problem people face is their sheets ripping frequently. If you’re dealing with this issue, that doesn’t mean that you have poor-quality bed sheets. More often than not, the problem lies elsewhere.

Let’s go through some of the most common reasons why a fitted sheet is constantly ripping.

You’re not using the right size

As we already mentioned, if you don’t have the right-sized sheet, you’ll struggle with putting it on, but that’s not the only reason why the size of your sheet is important. If your fitted sheets are too small, you will constantly pull and tug on the corners of your mattress.

While this may not seem like a big issue, over time, this will cause the fabric to thin out, and ultimately your sheets will rip. There is also a possibility that you need deep fitted sheets.

You’re not maintaining them properly

Bed sheet maintenance is extremely important, and if you don’t do it right, you will cause a lot of rips and tears in your bedding.

If you want to ensure your sheets stay safe, here’s what you need to remember:

• Use the right temperature. Use cold water when washing your sheets because exposure to high heat will cause them to tear and fry much sooner. The same goes for using a dryer on high heat. If possible, let your sheets air dry after washing.
• Buy the right detergent. Some types of laundry detergents are harsher on fabrics than others, and this will cause them to break down over time. If your sheets are tearing frequently, it’s time to start using a more gentle detergent and see if it fixes the problem.
• Dry them properly. If you use your sheets before they’re completely dry, you risk them developing mould and mildew. Not only are there a lot of health risks related to mould and mildew, but they can also cause the fabric to tear much more easily.

You’re being too harsh when making your bed

If you notice your sheets are tearing and ripping at the corners, it’s probably because you’re tugging and pulling at them too much when making your bed.

Even though you may be doing this to make everything look nice and tidy, know you’re doing more harm than good. A few wrinkles are a much better alternative than having to buy new sheets every few months due to tearing.

And if you’re doing this because you’re struggling to make your sheets fit, as we already explained, your fitted sheets are simply the wrong size. Get yourself the right size of sheets and you won’t have this issue anymore.

You have bedbugs

While this isn’t a common issue, it’s still a possibility. Bed bugs are tiny insects that cause extreme damage to the fabric, and if you notice your sheets are ripping way too frequently in weird and uncommon sports, it’s time to call an exterminator.

How do you put a fitted sheet on a heavy mattress?

Modern mattresses are much more comfortable than the ones that were being made just a few decades ago, but one issue people have with them is that some of them are too heavy. This is especially true if you have a larger mattress or one made out of latex or memory foam.

But just because your mattress is heavy, that doesn’t mean you need to struggle with putting on your fitted sheets. The best way to tackle this problem is to have someone help you make the bed. Ask someone to lift the mattress and as they’re holding it, adjust your sheets.

If your bed is positioned against a wall, this task can be a bit trickier but still not impossible.

Here are all the steps you need to take:

• Step 1: If your mattress isn’t attached to the bed frame, simply slide it away from the wall. Most likely, the mattress itself will sit on the bed frame at an angle.
• Step 2: Put the fitted sheet on the mattress and tuck one of the corners into the appropriate corner based on what the tag says. You should start with the corner that is closest to the wall.
• Step 3: Tuck the opposite corner that is either on the diagonal corner or on the same side before you fit all of the remaining corners.

Step 4: Put back the mattress in place and make sure it fits securely.

How to fold a fitted sheet

Learning how to fold a fitted sheet is probably one of the most frustrating things related to bedding, maybe even more frustrating than actually putting it on your bed. Due to the odd shapes of the sheet, you’re often left with a scrunched-up ball of fabric that looks like a mess.

But worry not because there is actually a simple way to fold a fitted sheet. While there are multiple ways to fold a fitted sheet, let’s go through the easiest ones.

Method 1

The first method we’re going to talk about is the easiest one.

• Step 1: Lay it out on a flat surface with the elastic side facing upwards.
• Step 2: Take note of the end of the stitching on all corners as they will be your guide.
• Step 3: Grasp them and fold them inwards until you end up with a rectangle.
• Step 4: Once you have that rectangle, fold it in half until the corners meet, and then fold it once again.

Method 2

This method may not be the simplest one, but it’s still just as effective.

• Step 1: Take the sheet into your hands and make sure to hold it correctly. The top side of the fabric needs to be facing you and the long side of the sheet needs to go across your body.
• Step 2: Take one of the corners in your hand and tuck it into the other. It doesn’t matter what side you start from. Repeat it on the opposite side and you will have a sheet that is folded in half.
• Step 3: Repeat the tuck that you just did so all the corners are folded into each other.
• Step 4: Lay out the sheet on a flat surface and if you did the last three steps right, your sheet should be in the shape of the letter C.

Step 5: Fold the edges from the outside in, and as you go make sure to smooth out the fabric. Once you’ve done that, fold the sheets into thirds again from the opposite direction.

Benefits of fitted sheets

You may be wondering, if fitted sheets are such a hassle and you struggle with putting them on and folding them, are they worth the trouble? The truth is that those small inconveniences are a small price to pay when you take into consideration all the benefits these sheets provide.

Let’s go through some of them.

Fitted sheets are easier to remove than flat sheets

Flat sheets may be easier to put on, but they need to be tucked in tightly if you want to make sure they don’t move during the night, and even that isn’t a guarantee. But when the time comes to remove them, it can be a struggle.

But this isn’t the case with fitted sheets. They stay in place when you need them to, and when the time comes to remove them from the mattress, you’ll be able to do it in just a few seconds. This is a real time saver and won’t leave you frustrated.

They are much more aesthetically pleasing

Not many people care about the appearance of their bed, but nobody can deny that getting into a bed that looks nice also feels nice. And since fitted sheets are very hard to move and disturb during the night, as long as they fit properly, you can be sure they will stay flat and in place.

This guarantees that your sheets will look aesthetically pleasing until you decide to remove them. You can choose whatever design you want to ensure your bedding fits with your personal aesthetic, iron the sheets before you put them on, and you will have a beautiful bed at all times.

They protect your mattress

While not many people think about this, the type of bedding you use will significantly influence whether or not your mattress stays protected. If your sheet doesn’t cover your mattress properly, you’re more likely to cause wear and tear.

Just think about it. If you have a flat sheet and it moves throughout the night, you will be left lying on a bare mattress and with simple tossing and turning, you will cause small damage. This will add up over time, especially if you sleep with pets in your bed.

Let’s be honest, a mattress is an expensive investment you want to use for at least a decade or two. Don’t allow that investment to go to waste because you didn’t want to deal with the small inconveniences that come with fitted sheets.

You will get a better night’s sleep

Is there anything more annoying than being disturbed during the night by scrunched-up fabric at your feet or near your head? This is a common occurrence that happens to people who use flat sheets, and something people who use fitted sheets don’t have to worry about.

Besides the fact you don’t have to worry about the folds that often appear when using a flat sheet, you also don’t have to worry about uncomfortable wrinkles. As we already mentioned, once you iron out your fitted sheet and place it on your bed, it will stay that smooth until you remove it.

4 tips and tricks to put on a fitted sheet

Putting on a fitted sheet doesn’t have to be the nightmare you’re used to. Let’s go through some of the most basic tips and tricks that will make putting on your bedding easier than ever.

Pay attention to the tag

Some fitted sheets come with tags that conveniently show the top, bottom, and sides of the sheets. However, sometimes they come with a single tag which often leaves people confused.

• Where does this tag go? 
• Does it even have a designated place or should you just place it anywhere?

You’ll be happy to know that even with a sheet that has one tag, you will always know how to put it on. The secret is that the tag always goes on the bottom right side of your mattress, so no guesswork is required.

Buy sheets with patterns

Some people prefer plain sheets, but if you don’t, patterns can actually help you with the process of changing your bedding. Let’s say for example you buy striped sheets. Once you figure out thanks to the tag in what directions the stripes should point, you will always know where each corner goes.

This will work with any sort of pattern, buy whatever pattern you like and enjoy the aesthetics while also enjoying the fact that you can finally put on your fitted sheets without frantically looking for the tags. This will completely change your bed-making experience and you will also style your bed more easily.

Add an elastic band

Even though we have already gone through the different ways to put on your fitted sheets more easily, there are still some tips and tricks up our sleeve. One of those tricks is to buy elastic bands and attach them to the corner of your sheets.

You can attach them in just a few minutes by using a sewing machine and this will save you a lot of time in the future. Also, you won’t have to worry about your sheets slipping off the bed ever again.

Always start with the top corners

When the time comes to change your sheets, remember that you need to start with the corners that are against your headboard. They are the hardest to stretch a fitted sheet over, and once you have that out of your way, you won’t have any issues with stretching the rest of your sheet onto your bed.

Final thoughts

The type of bedding you choose will significantly influence your sleep quality. If you think fitted sheets aren’t worth the trouble, we hope we managed to convince you otherwise. Now you know how to deal with your sheets and all the issues they seemingly bring, so you won’t have any troubles.

Simply remember everything you read about here and you won’t have to worry about your sheets coming off. As an added bonus, you won’t have to worry about the best ways to put them on or the proper way to fold them. Thanks to the advice here, you will never go back to flat sheets again.