Home & leisure
Bed linen
Introduction
There's more to buying sheets than choosing the highest thread count. We look at what really matters when buying bed linen.
Thread count is only one measure of quality. Fibre, ply, weave and finishing all contribute to the final product. And finding the perfect sheets is also about finding what you like.
Thread count and ply
Thread count
Thread count simply means the number of threads (both vertical and horizontal) in a square of fabric - either per 10cm² or per square inch. Bed linen made and sold in New Zealand usually displays thread count per 10cm².
A reasonably high thread count (over 180 threads per 10cm²) is good, as closely woven fabric wears well and shrinks less. However - and this is where it gets confusing - a higher thread count doesn't always mean better quality or greater durability.
A thinner yarn produces a higher thread count as more threads can fit into each 10cm² of fabric. The fabric will be soft and smooth, but it's also more delicate and may not last as long. Durability depends on the strength and quality of the fibre and the quality of the weave.
Ply
This refers to how many yarns are wrapped together into a single thread - single-ply fabrics use threads made from one yarn, while two-ply fabrics are created using two yarns twisted together to make one thread.
Fabric that's two-ply (or more) is heavier, stronger and more durable than single-ply. The trade-off is that the fabric may not have the soft, silky feel of a high-thread-count, single-ply sheet.
Checking the label
It's standard practice to count each individual yarn when calculating thread count. So a sheet labelled "1000 thread count" could technically be 250 threads per 10cm², woven with four-ply thread.
When you're buying bed linen, check for the thread count and the ply of the yarn. If it's not specified, ask. That way you'll know what you're getting.
Egyptian cotton?
True Egyptian cotton is grown along the banks of the Nile River. Its long, fine fibres make a uniform, strong and smooth thread when twisted into yarn.
The words "Egyptian cotton" can simply be used as a marketing ploy. Much of what is labelled "Egyptian cotton" also contains cotton grown in other parts of the world.
So check the fine print. Unless the label says "one hundred percent Egyptian cotton" it may contain only a shred.
Gabrielle Hoffman, bed linen buyer for Christchurch department store Ballantynes, advises: "Price is usually a good indicator - genuine Egyptian cotton sheets will be more expensive".
But you don't have to rely solely on price to make sure you are getting the real thing - look for the Egyptian cotton "Authentic Seal of the Egyptian Government" on the packaging.
Other options
Cotton grown in Egypt is not the only high-quality cotton. Long-staple cotton grown elsewhere under similar climatic and geographic conditions is arguably of equal quality. For instance, pima cotton grown in the south-west states of the US.
And cotton seems to be shoppers' current fibre of choice. Gabrielle's noticed a trend away from synthetic threads towards natural fibres: "Although we always try to keep polycottons on the shelf, the trend is more towards 100% cotton".
Ethical threads
Have you ever thought about where your sheets came from? 'The Observer Magazine' in the UK has reported that child labour is rife in the cotton plantations of the Nile Valley. Children as young as seven are paid a pittance to work long days exposed to harmful pesticides, to satisfy the rest of the world's demand for luxury bed linen.
You can't buy fairtrade-certified cotton sheets in New Zealand but you'll find organic cotton sheets in specialist bed linen stores and online (try www.wallacecotton.com). Fairness is a founding principle of organic agriculture. Evidence of a rigorous organic-certification scheme provides some assurance that the working conditions of those who produced the fibre have been considered.
How to choose bed linen
- Measure up: Know exactly what size you're looking for. Measure the length, width and depth of your mattress. Modern mattresses have added depth from 'pillow-tops' - so to avoid sheets popping off the corners, make sure you get a good fit.
- Fibre: Natural fibres are best because they breathe. Cotton is the obvious choice: good-quality cotton sheets will get softer with wash and wear. But if you like your sheets wrinkle-free and hate ironing, a polyester-cotton blend may suit you better ... or look for cotton sheets with a non-iron finish.
- Feel: If there is no sample on display, take the sheets out of their packaging and see how they feel. Go with what feels best to you, remembering that fabrics feel different once they've been through the wash a few times.
- Fabric finishing: High-quality bed linen has usually been singed and mercerised. Singeing (burning the tiny fuzz from the surface of the fabric) prevents pilling. Mercerising (using caustic soda to swell then shrink the fibres) increases the lustre and strength of the fabric.
If the packaging doesn't state whether the fabric has been mercerised, ask before you buy. And if you don't like the thought of sleeping between chemically-treated sheets look for organic cotton. - Construction details: Check the seams on the wide hem of the top sheet and on the pillowcases. Stitches should be neat, tight and fairly small.
- You get what you pay for: Generally, best-quality bed linen comes at a price. A sheet with a sky-high thread count at a rock-bottom price is likely to be too good to be true. Aspects such as fibre quality and construction may have been sacrificed to achieve the bargain price.
- Sleep on it before you spend up: If you are looking at making a serious investment but you're not quite sure which linen is right for you, buy the pillowcases first and see how you like them.
The touch test
Different fabrics feel good to different people. We bought pillowcases in three different fabrics: inexpensive 250 thread count single-ply polyester-cotton blend, affordable 300 thread count single-ply cotton, and pricey 680 thread count two-ply Egyptian cotton.
Fourteen Consumer staff members ranked the fabrics in order of preference based solely on feel. We found each fabric was rated the best by at least a couple of people. The cheap polycotton blend was the favourite, closely followed by the expensive Egyptian cotton.
The three fabrics we selected are only a very small sample of what's available and our trial was by no means a scientific assessment. But we think it shows how important it is to touch before you buy.
Bedding basics
What some of the jargon means:
- Combed cotton: Fibres are combed and the short ones are removed to make a smoother fabric.
- Long-staple cotton: Varieties that grow unusually long fibres (27-29mm).
- Percale: A closely woven (at least 225 threads per 10cm²) plain-weave fabric (100 percent cotton or a polyester-cotton blend) with an equal or similar number of vertical and horizontal threads.
- Plain weave: The simplest weave structure: single vertical and horizontal threads woven under and over.
- Sateen: A weave that has more threads on the surface of the fabric - usually four threads woven over one thread. It has a smoother, silkier feel than plain weave fabric.
Treat your sheets well
Take good care of your sheets and you will enjoy them for a long time. Machine-wash in cold water using gentle detergent. For fresh-smelling wrinkle-free sheets line drying is best.
A clothes dryer is your only option? Then use a cool setting and take care not to over-dry.
More information
- Certified organic cotton sheets: www.wallacecotton.com
More from consumer.org.nz
Report by Libby Manley