How to Keep a Fitted Sheet on the Bed – Problem Solved!

how to keep a fitted sheet on the bed
Sheets that crawl off!

Update: This post was originally written a couple of years ago when I first discovered this simple solution. While our local Bed Bath & Beyond has since closed, the problem of keeping a fitted sheet in place is still very much alive—and luckily, so is the solution! Since it’s such a universal issue (and such an easy fix), I thought it was worth sharing again.

Does your fitted sheet end up halfway off the bed every morning? Same here—until recently!

After dealing with sheets that slid up, popped off, or bunched in the middle of the night, I finally decided it was time to fix the problem once and for all. And guess what? The solution is simple, affordable, and works like a charm.

The Problem

It was so simple to fix, I’m almost mad at myself for not doing it sooner! Every night, we’d go to bed with the fitted sheet tucked in perfectly. And like clockwork, a few hours later—there it was again—bunched up and crawling off the foot of the bed.

Now, we already have the deep-pocket kind, so size wasn’t the issue. I’d gotten into the habit of checking with my feet during the night to see if the sheet was still in place! And bless him, my husband has gotten up more times than he’d probably care to admit just to fix the sheet.

The Quick Fix That Finally Worked

After a quick internet search, we made a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond and picked up a set of fitted sheet straps. These handy little gadgets clip onto the sheets underneath the mattress—and that’s it. Problem solved! So easy.

sheet smoothers from Bed Bath & Beyond to keep a fitted sheet on the bed
Sheet Smoothers – Amazon Affiliate Link

How to Attach Sheet Smoothers

Now, these sorts of straps are nothing new. There are plenty of styles on the market, ranging from simple corner ties to 8-way attachments. My goal was to find something that worked without having to move the whole mattress off the bed.

Sheet Smoothers turned out to be just the thing. They attach to the sheet with a clip mechanism that reminded me of suspenders. Well—I say suspenders, but growing up, we called them galluses. I knew right away how to raise the little metal clamp, secure the teeth to the sheet, and lock it down. Easy enough!

Galluses and Jodhpurs: A Flashback

I had to wear galluses as a child—especially with these pants called Jodhpurs. Why my mother thought Jodhpurs were appropriate school clothes, I’ll never know. We did ride horses and a pony, but those snug-legged, baggy-seated pants weren’t exactly playground-friendly.

The elastic strap at the bottom went under your foot, and between that and the galluses pulling everything taut, it’s a wonder I didn’t take someone’s eye out. 😂

I had two pairs and hated them both. They were so tight down the legs, I couldn’t lift my foot high enough to get on the school bus. Mr. Leo Wallace, our kind bus driver, would actually get out of his seat and pull me up the steps. If anyone laughed at me, I didn’t notice—probably because I made it clear it wouldn’t be wise.

Galluses vs Suspenders

Curious, I looked up the difference between galluses and suspenders. Turns out, there really isn’t one. They’re all meant to hold your pants (or skirts) up. The terminology just varies—galluses in the South or from the French, braces in Britain, and suspenders in America.

Maybe there’s a little French heritage in the mix. 😉
What do you call them where you’re from?

The Solution

The problem of how to keep a fitted sheet on the bed was quickly solved with the help of these straps. So far, they’ve worked great! I’m even considering buying a second set to attach horizontally across the mattress for extra hold. They were so easy to put on, and I think the added support would be worth it.

Here’s a photo of the bed after we got up this morning—straps went on yesterday. What a difference!

fitted sheet after the application of sheet smoothers clips
Sheet Smoothers in Place

Wrapping it Up

Well, I never thought I’d end up blogging about my bed—but here we are! If I was wondering, “Why won’t my fitted sheets stay on?” I figured I probably wasn’t the only one.

So go ahead and explore some sheet “galluses.” 😂 There are plenty of options out there, and honestly, they’re well worth a few dollars for a night free of crawling, bunching, slipping sheets.

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fitted sheet before and after application of straps
The fitted Sheet Problem is Fixed!
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4 Comments

  1. I don’t know why I haven’t thought about these things. My dad’s fitted sheet doesn’t pull off but it gets wrinkles that annoy him at night so I will get some, I think I’ve seen them in Walmart, and see if that keeps his fitted sheet snug. Thanks for posting this today

    1. They have been a life saver Rhonda)) Thank you for following, I appreciate it)) We’ve been out of town for a few days, but back home now, time to get back to work)))

  2. Hi Jeannie, I’m a Subscriber to your Blog. Love all of your Blogs. I also always watched you and Carrie on Trendy Tree making your Beautiful Mesh wreaths. That’s how I got started making Mesh Wreaths! Ellen

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