Between the sheets
The “Steals and Deals” of January are the “White Sales.” Retailers need to get you back into their stores this month after you’ve spent your cash on Christmas and are in no mood for spring clothes yet. So it’s back to the bedroom for some fine new linen.
But the choices out there are downright dazzling. Forget the patterns or the colors, what about thread count and the type of fabric? How do you care for the sheets once they are home? It’s all so confusing.
I am here to uncover the facts. With the help of Consumer Reports Magazine we figured out what’s worth the money and what’s not worth losing sleep over.
Watch the "Between the Sheets" segment on TODAY
Fact Sheet:
Thread Count: The number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch of fabric. So the higher the thread count, the softer and more luxurious the feel.
200-count pin point cotton:
This is the basic thread count. One over 2 threads. It’s not the softest, but Consumer Reports says for most folks it’s fine.
400 count cotton:
One over 4 threads. It’s softer and a bit more luxurious. You can wash it and spread it, no ironing needed.
600 count cotton:
You are getting softer here and maybe even a cooler night’s sleep but you will have to pay the price and that’s when it comes to maintaining the look you want. Dry cleaning or lots of muscle ironing will bring these babies back into shape. Worth it? You decide.
Or you can always hide your wrinkly, comfy sheets with a duvet or bedspread and no one will know!
You are not done yet. Now that you understand thread count, you will need a primer on fabrics.
Cotton:
Everyone loves the natural feel of cotton. Combed cotton is when the fibers are combed and the short ones are removed. This makes the sheet softer.
Percale:
It can be 100% cotton or cotton-polyester. It’s smooth, flat and closely woven. The more polyester, the rougher the feel. 10%-20% polyester probably won’t change the feel and will help keep the wrinkles away.
Sateen:
It’s the sleeker finish on the fabric. It’s smooth with a slight shine. It’s soft and comes in counts from 200 to 600 or even higher. It washes well.
Egyptian cotton:
It will cost you more. It is actually cotton that is spun in Egypt. It’s cotton that is grown along the Nile River and supposed to be softer and silkier. It’s higher quality cotton and is durable.
Organic:
“Green” is what’s hot these days and that has made its way into our bedrooms. It’ll cost you more than Egyptian. You will need to use chemical free detergent when you wash it.
Bamboo:
It’s a sheet made out of natural fibers. It’s durable, soft, and silky and breathes. They say it draws moisture away to give you a cool feeling. It’s a bit harder to find at mass retailers.
Shopping tips:
Consumer Reports recommends focusing on fiber. They like traditional cotton for easy care, comfort and durability. If you don’t want the wrinkles and don’t want to iron, stick to a cotton/poly blend.
Check out the fit of the sheet: CR found when buying thicker mattresses you should choose a sheet that is 20 inches to avoid “pop off.”
Look for elastic all around the edges of a fitted sheet. Elastic just on the corners should be your last choice.
Don’t worry about thread count: Thread counts between 200 and 400 should be fine. No need to spend more money on higher thread counts.
Check out the quality: When you are at the store, make sure all the pieces of the set are in good condition. If you are buying darker colors, buy extra pillowcases. Colors can fade after many washings.
Don’t be afraid to return: Save your receipts. If the sheets don’t hold up to washings you can ask for your money back.
Nite, Nite!
Product information:
Bamboo Dreams™ available at ziasleep.com ($220 for Queen Set)
The Mist Collection: Organic Duvet & Shams by Vivetique ($46-$210 for Queen Set from Vivetique.com)
But the choices out there are downright dazzling. Forget the patterns or the colors, what about thread count and the type of fabric? How do you care for the sheets once they are home? It’s all so confusing.
I am here to uncover the facts. With the help of Consumer Reports Magazine we figured out what’s worth the money and what’s not worth losing sleep over.
Thread Count: The number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch of fabric. So the higher the thread count, the softer and more luxurious the feel.
200-count pin point cotton:
This is the basic thread count. One over 2 threads. It’s not the softest, but Consumer Reports says for most folks it’s fine.
400 count cotton:
One over 4 threads. It’s softer and a bit more luxurious. You can wash it and spread it, no ironing needed.
600 count cotton:
You are getting softer here and maybe even a cooler night’s sleep but you will have to pay the price and that’s when it comes to maintaining the look you want. Dry cleaning or lots of muscle ironing will bring these babies back into shape. Worth it? You decide.
Or you can always hide your wrinkly, comfy sheets with a duvet or bedspread and no one will know!
You are not done yet. Now that you understand thread count, you will need a primer on fabrics.
Cotton:
Everyone loves the natural feel of cotton. Combed cotton is when the fibers are combed and the short ones are removed. This makes the sheet softer.
Percale:
It can be 100% cotton or cotton-polyester. It’s smooth, flat and closely woven. The more polyester, the rougher the feel. 10%-20% polyester probably won’t change the feel and will help keep the wrinkles away.
Sateen: It’s the sleeker finish on the fabric. It’s smooth with a slight shine. It’s soft and comes in counts from 200 to 600 or even higher. It washes well.
Egyptian cotton:
It will cost you more. It is actually cotton that is spun in Egypt. It’s cotton that is grown along the Nile River and supposed to be softer and silkier. It’s higher quality cotton and is durable.
Organic:
“Green” is what’s hot these days and that has made its way into our bedrooms. It’ll cost you more than Egyptian. You will need to use chemical free detergent when you wash it.
Bamboo:
It’s a sheet made out of natural fibers. It’s durable, soft, and silky and breathes. They say it draws moisture away to give you a cool feeling. It’s a bit harder to find at mass retailers.
Shopping tips:
Nite, Nite!
Product information:
Bamboo Dreams™ available at ziasleep.com ($220 for Queen Set)
The Mist Collection: Organic Duvet & Shams by Vivetique ($46-$210 for Queen Set from Vivetique.com)
Janice, Janice, Janice-----you mentioned that there are sheets made from bamboo "They're making sheets out of wood now"..... WRONG! Bamboo is not wood, bamboo is a grass with much different properties than products made from wood. (That's why you see bamboo spoons, kitchen utensils, bowls, carving boards, cheese boards. etc now rather than wood)
I heard that there is someway a consumer can tell if the sheets are really 200 thread count or higher and aren't just a sales gimic. Is there any way to tell if your sheets are really the thread count they say? I don't want to buy sheets that say they are 200 thread count or whatever and aren't.
Colby, as far as I know, the only way to verify thread count is to get a powerful magnifying glass and count the threads -- almost impossible. If you buy a brand-name sheet, you shouldn't have to worry about the thread count being as represented. Also, as mentioned in the article, thread count isn't the only thing to consider. I bought some 1000 TC sheets a couple of years ago, because the price was very good, but they weren't nearly as soft as the 400 TC sateen sheets I had been buying.
100% Bamboo sheets! Elegant Linens by Anna Rose has the best. Bamboo blankets, too! I have been using these sheets for two years winter or summer, they are the most comfort. My husband will not sleep on anything else. Great customer service!
I used to work for The Company Store and I disagree with your comment about 600 TC and higher. I sleep on 600 TC, they are fabulous and do not need to be dry cleaned or ironed. I can iron for a crisper look, but the same goes for all 100% cotton sheeting. I will say anything above 400 TC should be purchased from a reputable retailer. To answer Colby's question, the only real way you know TC is to have the fabric tested in a lab (which is what TCS does).
To avoid wrinkles - after washing the sheets - dry 1 sheet at a time - which doesn't take long - put the bottom sheet on and dry the top sheet --- I have a BnB and it works great!
Thread count and fiber does make a difference.
To avoid wrinkles - after washing the sheets - dry 1 sheet at a time - which doesn't take long - put the bottom sheet on and dry the top sheet --- I have a BnB and it works great!
Thread count and fiber does make a difference.
what is a BnB please.
what is a BnB please.
what is a BnB please.
A BnB is a Bed & Breakfast...
Threadcount does NOT have a lot of bearing on quality. You can have a 1000-threadcount Pima cotton and it won't match up to a 500-count Egyptian cotton. And a 300-count percale will feel different from a 300-count sateen. Why was country-of-manufacturer not mentioned? You want to look for "Made in Italy" vs. "Made in China/India".
Also, it was implied that organic cotton will cost you more than Egyptian cotton... you can actually find organic Egyptian cotton. A great company that offers the finest in sheeting (all Egyptian, many different weaves, including organic choices) is sdhonline.com. I have over 5 sets from them and they're fabulous! Try the Legna tree-fiber sheets (superior to bamboo), their unsurpassed linen sheets, and the "Purists" line, made with no chemicals, dyes or bleaches. Many companies use formaldehyde in the finishing process and other carcinogens so buy less-chemically processed goods for your health.
Doesn't Sateen sheets ball up after a few washings? I have been avoiding them and spending more on pure cotton.
thanks, Fran
A BnB is a Bed and Breakfast! Hotel comfort plus personal attention and luxurious touches of home.
I read all the comments about Janice's findings on bed linens. My family sleeps on Intellatex Allergen Control sheets that help with our allergies, etc. Our daughter has not had an asthma attach since we switched to these sheets. They can be purchased from amazon.com or www.myfavoritestyles.com
Ummm... thread count DOES matter. I refuse to let even my children to sleep on anything less than 400. Although, I have found that Egyptian Cotton is the only way to go. Pima feels rough and sateen pills too easily.
FYI, if you go up to 800 TC, be cautious, you WILL need to iron. (But it is so worth it!!)
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