Recently, a reader reached out to me and asked for my help picking out some comfy sheets:
Mavis, please help me understand how to buy sheets. Thread count, fabric… I’m confused. I want sheets that won’t pill, feel nice to sleep on (not satin, thanks) and will hold up for years. Many thanks in advance. ~Karen
Karen was in luck because I actually spent quite a bit of time researching sheets a few years ago when I dove into the abyss that is the internet. I just wanted to know how to buy a good set of sheets and I found eighty bazillion articles on how to do just that. Did you know that thread count doesn’t matter? Seriously!! Mind blown, right? Since that was the way I had always chosen sheets in the past, I dug a little further and a wasted day later, I pretty much was a sheet buying expert {you’re accidentally welcome, Karen!}. But before I get into my sheet buying tips, I’ll walk you through what I currently use.
In the summer I like to use these basic Amazon microfiber sheets. They are soft and breathable. They fit perfectly on all of our beds and stay in place. I wash them {in cold water} and dry them regularly and I’ve never had a pilling problem. I also wash them by themselves which might help. The price is really great for the quality.
In the winter I switch over to 100% cotton sheets. These sheets are super soft and silky and I opt for them in the winter because they seem to be more insulating and warm that the microfiber sheets. I’m not a big fan of flannel sheets or I’d throw those on in the winter months, but they make me too sweaty. I never wake up clammy on cotton sheets, since the fiber wicks moisture away from my skin.
If money were no object and I was the type to splurge on things like sheets, I’d love to own a set of these linen sheets. Of course I’d have them monogrammed, too, because if I’m going to spend $200 on sheets, it’s almost a requirement. But seriously, these sheets are woven from fine Belgian flax and they just sound so luxurious I’d probably never get out of bed all day {so it’s probably a blessing in disguise that I’d never buy them!}.
Now onto some help when you’re on the hunt for a new set of sheets:
Thread count isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Basically, throw out what you always thought you knew about sheets. A higher thread count doesn’t mean you’re buying a better quality sheet. It simply means the number of yarn per square inch but thread count does not represent quality! It became this marketing stunt and we all bought into it but the problem is that thread count can be easily inflated by manipulating the process with a low-quality construction or thread. As a rule, you should buy sheets that are above a 200-thread count sheet, but anything over an 800-thread count really doesn’t matter.
Material makes a difference. Of much more importance than thread count is material. Look for material with longer fibers. Longer fibers mean a stronger material which leads to less pilling. Some great high-quality, fiber options are Egyptian cotton, bamboo, pima and supima, organic cotton, cotton-poplin, and some cotton-polyesters.
Know your weaves. A percale weave and a sateen weave are the most popular and both result in great sheets. Go with a percale weave if you’re looking for a crisper or cooler feel and a sateen weave for a softer feel with a little more warmth to it.
Where you shop matters {and so does where the sheets are made!}. Don’t expect to get a set of high quality sheets at Walmart. You will absolutely get what you pay for. Someone once told me that looking at the manufacturer origin is a good place to start. They said that a 200 thread count from France will result in much better sheets than say a 1,000 thread count from Pakistan. You can often find some really high quality sheets at a TJ Max, Marshalls, or on Overstock.com.
Processes matter, too. Having color and patterns added to a sheet after the fact can make sheets stiff and uncomfortable. If you don’t want to drop a pretty penny and buy sheets that are made of yarn-dyed fabrics, woven from colored yarns, you’ll need to wash and dry your sheets a few times before using. Also, if you have allergies or sensitive skin, beware that most sheets are treated with chemicals to keep them from wrinkling and shrinking, and many sheets with a sheen are treated with alkalis to produce that finish. To avoid that, you’ll have to pay a bit more for organic or pure-finish sheets, but your skin and health will thank you!
And there you have a few tips. What are you favorite sheets to use? Any brands you swear by?
~Mavis
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