6 life hacks for making your bed better and faster

Fold a fitted sheet neatly with this tried and true technique.

While we're on the topic of fitted sheets, they're very hard to fold and store. Thanks to the elastic around the edges and the extra material to cover the sides of the mattress, these sheets usually become a crumpled, wrinkly mess.

Luckily, there's a special folding process so you'll have smooth, well-stored sheets in your closet for the next time you need them. Here it is, from our friends at Business Insider:

Try the "burrito" technique to get your duvet cover on effortlessly.

In my opinion, you should forego a duvet and simply buy a regular blanket. But if you insist on owning a duvet, the easiest way to change the covers is with the "burrito technique."

Instead of stuffing the duvet into the cover, you turn the duvet cover inside out, place your comforter on top, and roll it up like a burrito to the end of the bed. Invert and tuck the ends, and then you simply roll it back.

It'll make more sense if you watch this YouTube video:

The "hospital corner" will make your bedding look trim as can be.

The most important thing to make a bed look beautifully made is to make it look tight. And the best way to do that is to tuck the corners of your sheets underneath your mattress. It's what's done at hotels and hospitals, which is why it's called the "hospital corner."

Put the sheet on the bed, leaving the ends of the sides hanging below the mattress. Then lift a corner of the mattress and swipe one side of the hanging sheet underneath. Then do the same with the other side of the corner.

Clean My Space shows how to do it at 2:30 in the video above.

It's not about getting your pillow in your pillowcase — it's about getting your pillowcase over your pillow.

Instead of stuffing your pillow into your pillowcase, try this method. Turn your pillowcase inside-out, put your arm through it and grab the edge of your pillow, then roll the pillowcase over the pillow so that it's no longer inside-out.

This technique could be a game-changer:

Drying down pillows just takes a few tennis balls.

If you try to wash a down pillow just like any other pillow, you'll ruffle its feathers. They need to be treated with care.

Down pillows should be washed on a delicate setting, with less detergent than usual. That'll make sure it doesn't get too sudsy. Also be sure to wash it with other things — like another pillow — at the same time, so it doesn't toss around too much in the washing machine.

Drying is the really tricky part. The drying process can smash the feathers inside the pillow. And if it's not completely dry, mildew can easily grow inside and destroy it.

Luckily, it can all be solved with a few tennis balls and clean socks. Simply wrap your clean socks around the (preferably clean) tennis balls and throw them in the dryer on a mild setting to fluff up your pillows to perfection.

And yes, you should always be washing your pillows.