Egyptian or Pima? Sateen or percale? Sheets made from bamboo?
If the seemingly endless choices of bed sheets have gotten you all wound up, never fear. Read on for a de-mystification of bed sheet terminology and some useful tips to help you find the right the sheets for a well-deserved, good night’s rest.
It’s all in the touch
How you do want your sheets to feel? After all, they’re going to be against your skin for many hours at a time. The most important factor in determining the feel of the sheets is to consider the material from which they’re made:
Still the most popular, 100 percent cotton sheets are always nice and soft. Cotton made with longer fibers lends itself to a luxurious and more durable grade.
Egyptian cotton is grown in — yep, you guessed it — Egypt. Its long fibers create the ultimate in luster, softness and durability.
Pima cotton was developed in the southwest of the U.S. and its fibers are almost, but not quite, as long as the Egyptian cotton. You might see sheets made from SuPima cotton — cotton grown in the southwest by members of the SuPima Association of America (as opposed to Pima cotton grown in other locations).
Combed cotton refers to a cleaning process that gets rid of impurities and shorter fibers, adding to the softness of the finished product.
Flannel sheets are made from cotton and have a special nap on one side that gets softer with each washing. Warm and cozy, these sheets are perfect for cold winter nights and are quite sturdy.
Cotton sheets will come out of the dryer with wrinkles, so if you don’t like the wrinkled look, you’ll be spending some time at the ironing board. Also, unless they are pre-shrunk, cotton sheets may shrink up to seven percent.
If you want a crisp feel and no wrinkles or shrinkage, consider a cotton/polyester blend. Did images of scratchy, avocado-green paisley sheets just pop into your head? Well, polyester’s come along way, baby, and today’s poly can feel soft and fine when blended with cotton. If you’re on a budget, this is a great choice. Because cotton/poly sheets are more durable, they’re also a smart buy for children’s bedding. Just be sure to check the thread count (see more on thread count below); cotton/poly blends with a thread count below 180 tend to pill more easily.
Looking for ultra-luxurious bedding? Consider luxury fibers such as satin, silk and super-soft micro fibers. These sheets tend to slip off the bed if you toss in your sleep, but they’re great for a special treat. After all, what’s more sumptuous than slipping between a pair of deliciously cool silk sheets?
A Green Night’s Sleep
Before we move off the topic of fabric entirely, here are a couple of “green” options. These eco-friendly sheets are better for the environment and for your health.
Organic cotton sheets are made from cotton that has been grown on land free from herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals for at least three years. White organic cotton sheets aren’t bleached; instead, hydrogen peroxide is used. You can also get colored sheets from cotton with colors grown “on the stem” (the cotton grows in different colors). This protects you from harmful chemicals used in the dying process. While you don’t have the dazzling range of colors of dyed cotton, you can still find lovely shades of browns, greens and yellows, and, unlike dyed colors that fade in the wash; these will actually deepen over time.
Relatively new to the market, sheets made from bamboo fibers are getting rave reviews. Fast-growing and self-sustaining, bamboo is a great renewable resource. Even better, bamboo sheets drape like silk and are sensuously soft to the touch. Another plus — they keep germs at bay, thanks to the bamboo plant’s inherent antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Count Threads, Not Sheep
The thread count is the number of threads per square inch that run in both directions of the weave. It determines how soft and how durable the fabric is. The higher the thread count, the less space there is between individual fibers. This means that the material is softer to the touch, but also less tolerant to stress. Sheets with lower thread count usually involve thicker threads and are longer lasting.
If you want a soft sheet that will last a while, choose one with a thread count between 175 and 250, but keep in mind that the type of material your sheets are made from will be more important to its feel than just the thread count. For example, a sheet made from Egyptian cotton with a 175 thread count will be significantly softer than a cotton blend sheet with 175 thread count. Plus, flannel sheets tend to have low thread counts, but are perfectly soft because of how they are finished.
Here are some related terms with which you will want to be familiar:
Sateen: A weave with the most threads on the surface of the fabric. Buttery smooth and not very durable.
Pin Point: Fewer threads on the surface make this fabric more durable but not as soft.
Percale: Sheets with 200 thread count or higher. Can refer to cotton or cotton blends.
Know the Size of Your Bed
That might sound obvious, but bed sizes are not always consistent. You could find that the Standard King sheets you just bought don’t fit your California King bed. Also, pillow-top mattresses might need larger sheets; look for deep pocket sheets to ensure a better fit. The best solution is to measure your mattress before you go shopping.
If you’re not going to break out the measuring tape, then you’ll want to consider buying fitted sheets with the elastic that runs all the way around. These are more expensive, but you’re pretty much guaranteed that they’ll fit your bed. The next best option is to get the kind with the elastic on the sides.
Fitted sheets with elastics only on the corners are the hardest to put on the bed, but if you’ve measured carefully, you should be fine.
Smart Sheet Tips
Buy a pillowcase first if you’re not sure what kind of material you want. Test how it feels and how it washes. If you like it, go for the whole set.
Check the laundry instructions before you buy. If you’re buying everyday sheets, you’ll probably want to be able to throw them in the washer and dryer and not have to take them to the cleaner each week.
Read the fine print. A set of sheets might be advertised as Egyptian cotton, but check to make sure it’s 100% Egyptian cotton.
Beware of overly-high thread counts. As noted earlier, the higher the thread count, the less durable the fabric, so it’s not terribly practical to buy sheets with a thread count of 500 or higher; these sheets tend to rip easily.
Buy several sets. Once you’ve done all the hard work of researching and picking out a set of sheets that are just right, buy several sets, especially if they’re on sale.
