Fitted sheets

It sounds to me that you have been buying for a 4 foot 6" double or am I wrong?

My mom had arthritis and had a difficult time with the sheets. I opened the seams on the 2 corners at the foot and applied 2 fabric strips on each side of the corners (8 strips total). Tie the sheets, voila.

Snap. I now buy flat sheets and sew the corners - after shrinking first. Add a bit if thin elastic et voilà.

A 5' wide bed is king sized, but even if you've been buying double ones by mistake that doesn't explain why the sheets (presumably) fitted fine before you washed them...

I buy poly cotton fitted sheets for my double bed as I loathe ironing and mine do not shrink- maybe it is only the pure cotton ones that do.

Feel your pain! I have been the same but mostly in my left thumb and wrist.
When I change my sheet I wedge the mattress right up on my leg and use both hands to get the corners over, it's a palaver four times but I find it easier than trying to lean over. It makes it higher and more manageable to me.

I wash M and S cotton sheets at forty. I haven't had any problems with our fitted five foot bed sheets. Could they possibly shrink if washed at higher temperatures?

It may be because your mattress is too deep for the sheets you have. John Lewis (and most places!) sell extra-deep fitted sheets, these are so much easier to wrestle with and you have at least a fighting chance! Make sure you get king size or, if you think they might shrink, go for super kings.

I bought a brushed cotton fitted double from Dunelm which barely fits, I think they are cutting corners!

I always buy flat sheets, can't stand all the need to pull and stretch the fitted ones, hard work!

We have some fitted sheets for a deep mattress, DH loves them as they don't ruck up at all. I hate the bliddy things as they are so tight to fit over the corners that they are a pig to put on and I knacker my wrists in the process. roses has a good idea, decent sized flat sheets but do them with hospital corners then they don't ruck up at all. Plus they are easy to iron for those of us who do.

Forgot to say try soak and sleep sheets, they are best bought at sale prices as are quite pricey but great quality and haven't shrunk for me. I g

I get extra deep fitted sheets from Debenhams, they do 5 foot widths. They are poly cotton, nice quality - I don't iron them. I wash them at 40, and they don't shrink. They are quite easy to get back on, but you do always have to pull the final corner on a little bit.

Thanks everyone. Yes, they are king size sheets. They fitted perfectly until I had washed them a couple of times at 40 as per instructions.

It's not to do with the depth of the mattress either because you can't even get them to go over the final corner. I try lifting as dogsmother does and wedging the mattress against my leg but it still knackers my wrist.

Alima I used to have flat sheets and did hospital corners but they still ruckled up. When I say I thrash about I mean thrash about .

Perhaps it is hoping for too much that sheets don't shrink...

Oh well, I have left my husband tugging and grunting (that sounds bad) with the corner. Will probably have to go and help as it takes two of us usually.