I am glad this drives someone else nuts too! I am also OCD about how my beds are made up and you are absolutely correct that the flat sheet is never large enough to allow you to tuck in the flat sheet on both sides, even though I buy expensive sheets for my guests. This is a pet peeve of mine that somehow they advertise the fitted sheet for deep pocket corners but have neglected to include a top sheet that is large enough to tuck in.
I have purchased the Peru Pima sheets recommended for both of my units and Vermont Country Store’s “Clothesline Crisp Cotton Percale Sheet Set” among others and the same holds true for all. I wish you had an option on these good quality sheets to purchase a queen fitted and a king top sheet. For the life of me I don’t know why they don’t provide the extra material to allow you to make a bed properly. I guess they don’t want to add the expense on their end to make the customer truly happy. I can’t imagine it would cost the manufacturer that much more to make a proper sheet set and they pass the cost on to consumer anyway.
In regards to good quality sheets, I highly recommend Vermont Country Store sheets, but beware when I first opened these sheets I was shocked and a little scared, in that they were stiff as a board and could practically stand up on their own, but they are now my absolute favorites. It took a couple of washings with baking soda and vinegar in a warm wash to soften them, but they are now just as advertised “just like your Grandmother’s sheets”.
My guests rave about the comfortable linens and that includes the Peru Pima but Vermont Country Store’s sheets are just better quality. Also, with these cotton percale sheets it does take some ironing of the pillowcases and the top third of the top sheet to make a perfect bed. I iron the top sheet that is exposed once the bed is made with a little starch to help getting the wrinkles out.
I also just discovered Downy’s Wrinkle Guard, which you add to the wash and it does help with releasing some of the wrinkles, for others that are OCD about bed linens too. Expensive but reduces time spent making a perfect bed and making my housekeeper crazy.
I also just went back to an old school detergent additive, Borax 20 Mule Team, for my white sheets to keep them white and it does help a lot along with using bleach. If there is a stain (usually blood) on these expensive sheets, after I scream a little, I mix up a little Borax and cold water and soak the affected part of the sheet for a bit before I launder and it appears to do the trick – so far. I used to request guests strip beds but now I don’t because I want to inspect the expensive sheets for stains so I can attack them right away vs. throwing them in the wash and noticing after they have been washed and dried. My housekeeper is quite amused by my OCD where it comes to sheets and now texts me, “Houston, we have a stain” – LOL!
Sorry, for my long response but sheets are just my thing these days along with comfortable bedding. It goes a long way in pleasing guests and my reviews reflect this 90% of the time. I also accept pets and those with many children (more than 1) and pets do not get the truly expensive sheets, which has proven to be a wise decision 99% of the time.
