I always tell my husband, I would much rather a set of premier sheets to jewelry, flowers or chocolate. But with so many different options, how do you know which ones to choose? I've been known to check the tags on the sheets in hotels to find out how I can get my own set of luxurious sheets. (I may have a linen addiction problem)
Between choosing a thread count and
picking fabric, purchasing bed linens can be a daunting task. Let’s break it
down to make it more manageable. It really comes down to a few personal
preferences: softness, breathablity, absorption, and the wrinkle factor. First
up, let’s talk about the importance of thread count (or the lack there of). How
is the thread count figured? The thread count is the number of vertical and
horizontal threads per square inch of the fabric. An uneducated consumer would
assume that a linen with a 600 thread count is better than a linen with a 300
thread count. Although this may be true in some cases it is not true in all.
The key factor is actually the quality of the fiber. A linen with a low thread
count that has high quality fibers beats out a high thread count with
low-quality fibers on grounds of feel and washability.
Now, there are many fabric options when
it comes to bed linens. I’ll cover the pros and cons of the main stream
varieties.
100%
Cotton: Cotton is an all-natural fiber that is known for being cool, light,
comfortable, absorbent, and breathable. It is also easy to clean and can
withstand high temperatures. The down side to cotton is it wrinkles easily,
shrinks with washing, and although it is easy to dye it is prone to fading with
time.
Egyptian
Cotton: Egyptian cotton has many redeeming qualities including softness,
durability (lasts for years), very little shrinkage if any, breathability, and
absorption. The one draw back is that it tends to wrinkle easily.
Cotton/Poly
Blend: Cotton/polyester blends are very versatile. They typically retain
the lightness and coolness of the cotton fiber while also having the durability
and wrinkle resistance of polyester. Two draw backs to adding polyester to
cotton is that it can cause the fabric to pill and also makes it unable to
tolerate high temperatures. In addition it is not as breathable as pure cotton.
Modal
Sheets: Modal is a type of rayon that is claimed to be more absorbent than
cotton, easily dyed and washed, and resistant to shrinkage and fading. The texture is smooth and soft but feels
synthetic to some people. Modal sheets are prone to stretching, fading, pilling
and often need to be ironed after washing.
Bamboo:
Bamboo has a softness comparable to cashmere. It’s machine washable and gets
softer with each wash, is pill resistant, breathable, and 3 to 4 times more
absorbent than cotton. In addition, bamboo has antibacterial and anti- fungal
properties and is also odor resistant. The draw backs to this fiber are that it
can shrink and it requires chemicals in it’s processing stage.
Now you have some basic knowledge and a
jumping off point to finding the right bed linens for you. Happy shopping!
