There's More to Getting Great Bed Sheets Than Just Choosing One Off the Shelf

main of There's More to Getting Great Bed Sheets Than Just Choosing One Off the Shelf

Despite having a fantastic mattress, sleeping on low-quality, unpleasant sheets will make it difficult to obtain a good night's sleep. As a result, it's critical to choose the greatest bed sheets possible. A perfect night's sleep begins with nice linens. After all, it's difficult to relax if the person is wrapped in a scratchy cloth or one that makes someone feel excessively hot. Having some long-lasting linen is another vital aspect because nothing is worse than investing in sheets that need to be replaced every few weeks. When selecting a quality set of bed sheets, numerous factors to consider, like the thread count, material, color and pattern all play a role in determining which pair of sheets will give the best results. There are many different brands and designs of sheets currently available, but not all of them are of the same high quality. Some sheets are just too thin, while others fail to deliver on the brand's assurances.

Thread Count and False Claims

When it comes to bedding, it is well known that the higher the thread count of linen, the better the quality; hence, the greater the cost. However, the issue is that most threads are constructed of numerous strands of yarn, and when producers assess the thread count, they usually count each strand separately. The manufacturers have put ever-higher thread count assertions on their packaging in a bedding armed conflict that challenged belief in recent years. Because of the Customs, ITC order, and Border Protection, agents can now test and confiscate questionable sheets at the border rather than allowing them to enter the country. It gets even more problematic when some producers use silicone to coat their sheets to make them feel smooth and soft in the packaging. Unfortunately, after a few washes, the coating wears off, making the sheets feel like burlap. To make matters worse, some retailers do not accept returns after the piece has been washed.

Common Fabrics Used

There’s several fabrics that sheets are commonly made from. Some of these include: 

  • Cotton - From pillow covers to sheet sets, cotton is used extensively in the bedding business. Long-staple cotton is suitable for bed linens because of its long filaments. Pima and Egyptian cotton are two types of long-staple cotton. Upland cotton fabrics are less expensive since they consist of shorter strands. Cotton linens are most commonly woven in sateen and percale weaves. Sateen sheets are more sumptuous and crease-resistant, while the percale sheets are more crisp linens.
  • Linen - Linen is denser and more firm than twill sheets because they are made of thicker cotton. The sheets have a lower thread count than the percale or sateen sheets. It is encouraged that people use a linen sheet with a thread count of 200. It may seem low, but it works for the fabric. 
  • Polyester - Polyester is a synthetic fiber made from petroleum. These sheets do not air as well as the cotton sheets; however, they are long-lasting and less expensive.
  • Satin - Satin is a type of vertical strand weave, not specifically a material. Whether made of rayon, bamboo, wool, cotton, or a combination of materials, satin sheets are usually always shiny and silky.

How to Keep Sheets Looking Their Best

First and foremost, a person must understand what the sheets are constructed of. To determine the fabric content of the linen, an individual should look at the maintenance label or box. If there are any particular requirements, taking a look at the manufacturer's care recommendations can be useful. Someone should consider that cotton-polyester blends will likely come out of the machine less creased than all the rest; bamboo, linen, cotton sheets, and silk sheets will almost certainly require extra attention. Separating the sheets from other garments is the best method to wash them. It allows the linens to circulate more freely in the water, allowing them to become cleaner. In addition to preventing damage from zippers and other fasteners, cleaning bed sheets alone minimizes the amount of pilling that can occur over time. If the laundry machine has a center agitator, a loose ball should be made out of each linen prior to dropping it into the basin. People should avoid using fabric conditioner since it lowers the fabric's aeration and can damage the fibers over time. For any stain, a stain remover should be used to handle the blemishes.