| It's time to wake up and feel the sheets. You spend roughly 3,000 hours a year (one third of your life) in bed. Consider your cost per use when buying bed linens. It's an investment with a great return. Sleep on quality sheets and experience the sensual bliss.
How can you spot the good ones? First, there is the highly subjective "feel." Don't rely on sticking your hand in the package. Some manufacturers use a sprayed on finish to create softness. It washes out and leaves you with scratchy sheets. Read consumer reviews and ask friends for recommendations.
There are different strokes for different folks. So you want to know the proper terminology for your preferences.
Percale: Cotton or cotton/poly blend with crisp feel.
Combed Cotton: Fibers are combed and shorter lengths are removed in order to smooth fabric.
Jersey: A cotton knit much like your favorite t-shirt.
Egyptian: Cotton grown along the Nile River. The year-round warm climate allows the cotton to grow to exceptional lengths. Longer fiber translates to smoother and more durable sheets.
Pima: Cotton grown in the Southwest U.S. Similar qualities to Egyptian cotton.
Polyester: A durable, wrinkle resistant synthetic fiber. It doesn't breathe as well as cotton.
Sateen weave: A weave that creates a silky soft glossy surface.
Flannel: A fall and winter favorite. It's usually a cotton weave with a napped finish on one or both sides.
Second, you want to examine craftsmanship. You can't rely solely on thread count (the number of threads per square inch of fabric) because many brands use creative calculations in reaching their numbers. They count two-ply threads twice. You want a single-ply count above 300. A higher thread count ensures softness and durability. However, when you move toward the 1,000 marker, you're getting a heavier, more substantial sheet. Not everyone likes that bulk.
Also, the higher thread counts can lead to major wrinkling. QVC offers a patented wrinkle defense process I adore. Other manufacturers use a spray on treatment that washes out very quickly.
Third, look for pre-shrunk over-sized flat sheets and pillow cases. You want deep pockets and a woven elastic all the way around the fitted sheet for a snug fit. Rubber elastics melt in the dryer.
If you're getting a deeper color, fading can be an issue. QVC performs two tests in their quality assurance labs to ensure colors resist fading and bleeding. I was thoroughly disappointed with a famous designer's red sheets, but my deep crimson Amadeus sheets have stood the test of time.
My advice: Read the label and know the return policy. At QVC, you have 30 days - whether you've used the sheets or not.
Note: Jersey and flannel do not have thread counts. Gram weight is the key here. Anything over 500 is fab.
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