Fibers, thread counts, alternative fabrics…buying sheets today can be daunting and confusing. The best combination for your good night’s sleep is out there. Here is a buyers guide on how to buy sheets.
Thread Type
You can choose between two different types of thread for your sheets: cotton (two kinds), synthetic or green alternatives. Each has its own pluses and minuses.
100 percent or pure cotton has the benefits of being strong, yet soft. Because cotton breathes, you feel cool. The downsize of cotton is that it can wrinkle easily. To reduce the amount of wrinkles, dry your sheets on moderate heat and remove the sheets first the dryer right away, or line dry them.
Easy care cotton, also called wrinkle-free cotton is still cotton, but the thread has been treated with chemicals to make it less likely to wrinkle. These sheets will still breath, but they may seem stiff, and more than any other type of thread, they will need to be washed first before use (it is a good idea to wash most bedding before use anyway).
A cotton and polyester blend is extremely durable and easy to care for because it does not wrinkle. It is also very inexpensive. The downside of a blend is that it doesn’t breath well and may make you feel hot. Also, this type of thread tends to pill.
Bamboo is a relatively new thread type for sheets and may not be as readily available as the other types. The pros of buying bamboo is that it grows quickly without chemicals or pesticides. Bamboo is woven with rayon (which is also a natural fiber) to produce a soft, silky and absorbent sheet. It can also be blended with cotton to reduce shrinkage and make it more stable. It does tend to wrinkle, and is only available in a very limited color range.