How to Buy Sheets

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

10 Sep 2008 06:14 PM

Are you ready to find a luxurious set of bedding that will make you feel completely pampered, or are you more the practical type looking for something that will be durable yet comfortable? Buying sheets today requires a lot of decisions. There are choices to be made about thread counts, weaves, fibers percale, Egyptian cotton, green alternatives and more. Here is a quick guide to what you need to know when you are buying sheets.

Material

Pure cotton sheets can be strong and soft. Cotton breathes well, so you'll feel cool and dry, especially in the warmer months.

Easy care cotton (sometimes called wrinkle-free) is treated with chemicals to prevent wrinkling. The fiber still breathes, but the sheets can feel a bit stiff. This is a good choice if you prefer smooth ironed sheets without the need to actually iron them.

A cotton/polyester blend gives you a compromise because it can be very durable and yet inexpensive. The downside to blends is that they don't breath as well, so you may be uncomfortable, especially in the summer. Sheets made of a blend may pill.

Organic cotton has a lot going for it. To qualify as organic cotton sheets, the cotton had to have been grown in fields that have been chemical and pesticide free for at least three years. Environmentally harmful dyes and other chemicals are avoided in processing. The downside here is the expense, with the sheets costing as much as 50 percent more than regular cotton sheets. Organic cotton is also prone to wrinkling.

Bamboo is another green choice for sheets. Bamboo can grow quickly without the need for chemicals or pesticides. It is usually blended with cotton to prevent the sheets from shrinking and to provide some stability, and can be spun into a rayon. The cost is not too far off from regular cotton sheets. The downside for sheets made from bamboo is that there is a limited range of colors, and the sheets seem to be prone to wrinkling.

There is still more to cover. Check back soon!

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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deedee1231 (4030) 10 Sep 2008 09:14 PM

I got some bamboo sheets about a month ago and they do wrinkle but I just love them! They are so soft and cozy but they are shiny and pretty, too.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 11 Sep 2008 06:11 AM

Can you wash them in hot water?

deedee1231 (4030) 12 Sep 2008 08:45 AM

The label says "warm or cool wash" whatever that means. I tend to think of warm and cool as being almost the same thing, but maybe that is just me? Anyhow, I wash almost everything in cold water so I don't mind not washing my bedding in hot water. I think the bamboo fabric probably does shrink in hot water.

Kara (21390) 12 Sep 2008 08:50 AM

The bamboo shouldnt' be used with fabric softener or bleach because it will fall apart faster but can be washed in hot water. It is lovely fabric! It's soft even without fabric softener

Samual (11722) 12 Sep 2008 10:02 AM

I've only ever had organic sheets, you notice the difference when you stay at over peoples houses and it feels like sleeping on sand paper.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 12 Sep 2008 11:28 AM

I have non organic sheets that are pretty soft. They are the Charisma brand.

Samual (11722) 12 Sep 2008 12:35 PM

The chemicals they use in non-organic cotton stiffens the fibers, which is why if you are used to organic products, it is like being on sand paper. If I wear clothes that are non-organic they feel like rough towels that have been left out to dry for too long.

Kara (21390) 12 Sep 2008 12:44 PM

That's strange because I bought a organic crib sheet that felt like sand paper to me. Maybe it depends on what you grow up with?

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 12 Sep 2008 03:26 PM

Samual, was it easy care cotton? Those sheets are generally stiffer than regular cotton.

Samual (11722) 13 Sep 2008 03:22 AM

I have no idea, but it was brushed cotton.