hacks Archives - You Make It Simple

Simple Fitted Sheet Hack / How To Mark Which Direction It Goes

When it comes to making your bed, it can be so frustrating, especially when making a king-size bed, to know which direction a fitted sheet needs to go. In this post, I’m going to give you a simple fitted sheet hack and a secret that works like a charm.

What’s the fitted sheet hack secret?

Fitted sheets that you purchase from the store have a sewn-in tag in one of the corners. The corner with the tag always goes on the BOTTOM RIGHT side of your mattress or the TOP LEFT CORNER. Who would have known?

How to Mark Your Fitted Sheet Another Way

Once you’ve located which direction it goes, I recommend applying a big safety pin on the bottom or top side of the sheet. Then you can quickly see which side is which without spending time searching for the tag. The safety pin can be left on while laundering.

How Often Should You Change Your Sheets?

Here is a post that I found interesting. It has several good tips that I’m passing on. They stated that according to a recent survey by Mattress Advisor, the average person changes their sheets about every 24 days. That seems really discussing to me. But they go on to recommend changing your sheets weekly. That is what I do. How about you?

Check out the post here.

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

bedding fitted sheet hacks sheets tips and hacks

How To Fold a Fitted Sheet the Easy Way | Simple Hack

Knowing how to fold a fitted sheet in a way that looks nice and is easy to do can be a little frustrating. I’ve tried several different methods over the years and the fitted sheet usually just ended up in a wad underneath my top sheet, because I just didn’t get it.

After doing some research and a lot of practice, I have combined a few different methods and I have come up with something that works like a charm. It’s easy, only takes a minute (if that), and the results are amazing!

You’ll end up with a folded sheet that looks nice on your linen closet shelf, and you’ll have a lot fewer wrinkles on your sheet.

In the video, I demonstrate on a king, full and single size sheet so you can get an idea of what it is supposed to look like. This method of folding a fitted sheet is doable even with a king-size sheet.

INSTRUCTIONS: How to fold a fitted sheet

1-Place fitted sheet on a bed or table with WRONG SIDE FACING UP

Locate the long side of the sheet and place that edge closest to you. Stick your hands inside the two corner pockets with the seams exposed.

2-Bring corner pocket seams of the fitted sheet together.

Flip the left corner pocket over the right corner pocket.

3-Switch hands

Put your left hand in the pockets you just aligned. Slide your right hand down the edge of the sheet to find the other two pockets.

4-Bring all four fitted sheet corner pocket seams together

Flip the left two corner pockets over the right pockets and line up all four seams.

5-Switch hands again

Place your left hand in the corner pockets and take your right hand and line up the two folded ends of the sheet.

6-Flip the fitted sheet over on the bed and pull out the folded edge and flatten out the sheet.

7-Fold right side of the fitted sheet over to form a “c” shape

The left side of the sheet should form a right angle as shown in the picture above. Smooth out the fitted sheet.

8-Fold the right side over 1/3 of the way

Smooth out the sheet.

9-Fold the left side over and line up edges.

10-Flip the sheet and fold the puffy side of the sheet over 1/3 or 1/4 of the way.

You can fold the sheet in thirds or fourths.

11-Fold the left side over

Tadah! You have a nice folded sheet.

How to make a fitted sheet/flat sheet/pillowcase bundle

You can store your fitted sheet under the top sheet or you can make a bundle with everything. That way, when you go to make your bed, you have everything right there.

Place the folded fitted sheet and the pillow cases on top of the flat sheet. Fold the flat sheet around them.

There you have it, your fitted sheet, pillowcases, and top sheet. Everything is bundled together and neatly stored.

If you want to learn an easy way to put on a duvet cover, check out the tutorial HERE.

Have fun folding sheets, the EASY WAY!

If you want to learn a great tip on how to neatly tuck in your top sheet using “hospital corners” check out this blog post. Just another way to improve your bed-making.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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How To Take in Jeans at the Waist | Simple and Quick Hack

Jeans that don’t fit are so annoying! In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to take in a pair of jeans at the waist for a perfect and adjustable fit.

This is something you can do even if you don’t know how to sew.

This doesn’t apply to just a pair of jeans, you can do this with any pair of pants.

What I love about this method is that you can adjust it on those days when you might be a little bloated and need that extra room.

This is a quick and simple hack that I hope you find helpful. It really is a quick project. I filmed the whole process and you can watch the video below.

This method involves applying elastic inside the existing waistband to cinch up the waistband without adding a lot of bulk.

Materials & Items Needed

Scissors
Measuring tape
Safety pins (2)
Needle and thread
Elastic (3/4 inch/2cm – 1 inch/2.5 cm)
Sewing machine optional
Small button
Seam ripper (optional)

Instructions

Measuring Waistband

Take the elastic and wrap it around your waist where the waistband of the pants is.
Mark the point where it fits snug.
Now subtract about 4 inches and cut the elastic. You may need to cut off more a little later.

Removing Labels

If your jeans have a label that is sewn along the waistband, like this Levis label, you will need to unpick a portion of the label so the elastic can slide through.

Simply take a seam ripper and unpick just the sides of the label where it’s blocking the waistband. (You’ll sew it back up later).

Cutting Elastic Slits in Jeans

To make the slits in the waistband where the elastic will be applied, take your seam ripper, and just outside the existing button, make a little slit.

DO NOT CUT THROUGH BOTH LAYERS OF FABRIC, JUST THE INSIDE LAYER!

Once you have started a little slit, take a pair of scissors and continue clipping very carefully until you have a slit that the elastic will fit through.

Do the same thing on the buttonhole side of the pants.

Inserting Elastic

Take a safety pin and apply it to one end.

Thread it through one of the slits and continue to feed the elastic through the casing until you reach the other slit.

Securing Elastic End In Place

Fold the end of the elastic under ¼ inch and sew to the waistband using a sewing machine or needle and thread. (Sew through all layers using a straight stitch).

NO-SEW METHOD

If you don’t have access to a sewing machine or a needle and thread, you can just apply two safety pins at the ends of the elastic on the inside of the waistband.

Would you like some great tips on how to sew simple stitches using a needle and thread? Check out this post?

Finishing Elastic

Pull the elastic out the other end so there are about 8 inches of elastic exposed. Try on the pants and pull the elastic taut but not stretched. Mark this point with a pin to indicate the place where the pants are not cinched at all. Cut the elastic at this point.

Fold the elastic end under ¼ inch and hem using the sewing machine or needle and thread.

Sewing On the Button

Apply a small button just outside the existing button on your pants. Double thread a needle and knot the end and then sew on the button.

Cutting Button Holes

Measure 2 inches from the end of elastic and mark with a pin. Mark two more places, each 2 inches apart.

Fold elastic in half lengthwise and make a little clip on the fold of elastic. Open the elastic and finish cutting a slit that will fit your button through.

Do this for each mark until you have 3 button holes. (Be sure not to cut too close to the elastic edge or it may fray through).

Sewing Label Back On

If you unpicked a label from the waistband, re-sew the label. Using a corresponding color of thread, double thread a needle and sew the label back in place. I prefer to use a needle and thread. It’s quick and easy to do.

Take in Jeans at the Waist to Fit

Now you can adjust the waist to fit your current waist measurement. You know, there are days when you are a little bigger in the middle than others. Having this option to take in jeans at the waist and adjust the waistband in and out is a game-changer.

I hope you found this helpful!

If you have jeans that no longer fit, don’t throw them out just yet! Check out this post where you can get a few FUN ideas of what to do with UPCYCLED JEANS.

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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NO FOG FACE MASK | Simple Hack That Really Works

Wearing a face mask with glasses stinks! Fortunately, I’m not one of them. However, there are so many people out there that do have to wear a face mask all day and they wear glasses. The CONSTANT glass fog is a BIG issue! My husband, who wears glasses, came up with a simple NO FOG FACE MASK HACK that really works.

We, my husband and I, created a short video demonstrating just how to take care of this issue. It seriously is so simple. The video link is located at the end of this post.

No fog face mask Materials and items needed

Tissue or Toilet Paper! (Yep, that’s it)!

TISSUE VERSION

Take a tissue and place it on a table with the natural fold that it has coming out of the box be in place.

Fold the sides in about 1 inch (2.5 cm) on both sides.

Then fold it up from the bottom 1 inch (2 times).

Simply place it inside the brim area of your mask. Apply the mask with the folded tissue sandwiched between your nose and the mask.

This creates a barrier that traps the air and the moisture, keeping it from fogging up your glasses. It still allows air flow out the sides of your mask.

IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM!

TOILET PAPER VERSION

This can be done with a strand of toilet paper as well. (4 squares of toilet paper).

Fold the toilet paper strand into thirds and then proceed folding from the bottom.

BAM! Now wasn’t that SIMPLE? This no fog face mask hack is the best and I hope it saves all you glass wearers a lot of grief.

Be sure to check out the entertaining video (my husband’s gift) below.

VIDEO TUTORIAL

IF YOU NEED A FACE MASK AND WANT TO MAKE YOUR OWN….. check out these posts!

If you want a good quality mask, but don’t want to make your own, I recommend this mask.

Stay well, keep smiling behind that mask and have a wonderful week!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

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Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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face mask hacks tips

Get Your Money’s Worth: How to Get Every Last Drop Out of the Container

A lot of the products we use are packaged in a way that make it difficult to use every last drop, like toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Here are a few tips on how to get to, and use the UN-accessible to get your money’s worth.

Pump Body Wash or Hand Soap- Every Last Drop

When you find no more soap coming out of your soap pump containers, don’t throw it away quite yet.

Add a little water to the container and swish it around. You’ll get several more applications of soap.

Toothpaste

The scenario: It’s time to brush your teeth and there is no toothpaste. You squeeze, squeegee, and twist that tube but nothing is coming out. You know there is something left in there, but can’t get to it. If you have spent a lot of money on organic or natural toothpaste, you want to use EVERY DROP! I have tried many NATURAL and organic toothpastes that don’t have fluoride and all the other toxins, and there is one particular one that I love. Send me a note if you would like to know what it is.

Here is an easy way to get every drop.

Using a pair of utility scissors, cut the toothpaste tube in half.

Look how much toothpaste is still in there! Simply dab your toothbrush in there.

Dish Soap

The same thing goes with dish soap. No matter how much you squeeze that bottle, you are not going to get it all out. When you buy GOOD dish soap, you’ll want to make it stretch.

When you are running the hot water for your dish cleaning, just add a little water, swish and squirt.

You may only get one or two more sink loads, but at least you know you have used every drop!

By the way, don’t throw those dish soap containers away. I will be showing you in an upcoming post how to make your own non-toxic cleaners and these jars will come in real handy!

Essential Oil Bottles

Do any of you have a sweet smelling drawer full of empty essential oil bottles? As you know, essential oils can be expensive. Some of oils are LIQUID GOLD! Expensive or not you’ll want to use EVERY DROP. I love using essential oils and when a bottle of essential oil is empty, I have a hard time throwing the bottle away. I just put it my drawer hoping I will find a use for it.

Well, I have found one use for these sweet-smelling babies…. make a little spritzer bottle. Research shows that cold-air diffusing or spritzing certain oils may reduce bacteria, fungus, mold, and unpleasant odors, relax the mind and body, relieve tension, clear the mind, improve concentration and mental clarity and dispel odors. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ESSENTIAL OILS!

There is a spritzer attachment that will fit a 5, 10, 15 or 30 ml glass bottle. You can purchase them HERE for only $1.33 a piece.

So to make a little spritzer bottle here is what you do:

Measure how long the suction tube needs to be. Most likely you’ll have to cut off a portion because it will be too long. Cut it so it will reach the bottom of the bottle.

By the way, there is still quite a bit of oil left in a bottle, even when you think it is empty.

These little bottles are perfect to throw in your purse or travel kit. I use lavender oil to help me relax. Just a few spritzes on my face, or my pillow. Awwwwww. Lemon, Tea Tree (meleuca), Cinnamon, and clove are great for surface cleaning. (Good to have on hand don’t ya think? Oh, one more thing, peppermint oil spritzed on the face is a great pick me up. Try it!

So, there you have it. A few tips on how to use every drop and to get your money’s worth.

If you have any other great ideas, please chime in. I would love to hear your comments.

Keep smiling!

Jan Howell

My intention for this website is to share tips and tutorials that I have found on my journey of life that has brought me joy, improved health, and peace, in hopes that it will do the same for you. I hope you'll join me on this journey!

Share:

Connect:

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

What’s the fitted sheet hack secret?

How to Mark Your Fitted Sheet Another Way

How Often Should You Change Your Sheets?

Other Posts You May Be Interested In

Jan Howell

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Jan Howell

Related Posts

INSTRUCTIONS: How to fold a fitted sheet

1-Place fitted sheet on a bed or table with WRONG SIDE FACING UP

2-Bring corner pocket seams of the fitted sheet together.

3-Switch hands

4-Bring all four fitted sheet corner pocket seams together

5-Switch hands again

6-Flip the fitted sheet over on the bed and pull out the folded edge and flatten out the sheet.

7-Fold right side of the fitted sheet over to form a “c” shape

8-Fold the right side over 1/3 of the way

9-Fold the left side over and line up edges.

10-Flip the sheet and fold the puffy side of the sheet over 1/3 or 1/4 of the way.

11-Fold the left side over

How to make a fitted sheet/flat sheet/pillowcase bundle

Jan Howell

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Jan Howell

Related Posts

Materials & Items Needed

Instructions

Measuring Waistband

Removing Labels

Cutting Elastic Slits in Jeans

Inserting Elastic

Securing Elastic End In Place

NO-SEW METHOD

Finishing Elastic

Sewing On the Button

Cutting Button Holes

Sewing Label Back On

Take in Jeans at the Waist to Fit

Jan Howell

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Jan Howell

Related Posts

No fog face mask Materials and items needed

TISSUE VERSION

TOILET PAPER VERSION

VIDEO TUTORIAL

Jan Howell

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Social Media

The Latest

Jan Howell

Related Posts

Pump Body Wash or Hand Soap- Every Last Drop

Toothpaste

Dish Soap

Essential Oil Bottles

Jan Howell

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The Latest

Jan Howell

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