6 Things to Consider in Choosing Bed Sheets for Your Comfort

In choosing bed sheets, you need to consider the following: fabric content; types of cotton; other fabric types; weave feature; techniques in manufacturing; and, thread count.

It's always nice to feel snug with clean, durable and nice bed sheets. In order to have the best, here are things you might want to consider:

Fabric content

Different types of  fabric consists of different grades of cotton. A cotton grade is determined by its staple or fiber length. A durable grade cotton consists of longer staple. A 100% cotton sheet is basically made of all natural fiber making it the softest and most breathable fabric. A fabric made of cotton and polyester blend is also an advantage because it will less likely wrinkle. And, it does not cost much too.

Types of cotton

Here are several types of cotton:

• Egyptian - is  a long staple cotton which is grown in the Nile River Valley. Outstandingly fine yarns are derived from this area because of its desirable climate conditions.
• Pima - the name comes from the Pima Native American tribe. This type of cotton has a long staple and is of good quality.
• Supima - this type of cotton is exclusively grown by certified farmers in the United States. Supima is an abbreviation for superior pima.
• Organic - a cotton that is organic is grown without the use of a pesticide, fertilizer or herbicide. An organic product such as organic sheets when certified should prove its authenticity by having the US government approved 3rd party certification.

Other fabric types  Other fabric types would include:

• synthetic - the most common synthetic fiber that is usually used in bed sheets is the polyester. Synthetic would mean those man-made materials. Although, a synthetic material is resistant to wrinkling, yet is is not as durable and as breathable as the cotton.
• blend - cotton/polyester is the most popular blend. It is basically a blend of the synthetic and the natural material to come up with a fabric that can be easily cared for.
• modal - this is a fabric made from the beech tree's pulp.  It has both soft and silky characteristics making it an ideal material for a draping quality.
• bamboo - this is derived from the bamboo grass pulp. This is hypoallergenic and is resistant to bacteria too.

Weave feature

When choosing a bed sheet, consider its weave feature too. Different kinds of weave are:

• sateen - it is very soft but not as durable as percale or pinpoint.
• pinpoint - sheets made of percale will eventually soften through several washings.
• percale - it is a durable type of fabric because the yarns are woven strongly.
• twill - aside from being wrinkle-resistant, it is also has a draping quality.
• jacquard - this is somewhat complicated to make since it is a patterned weave.

Techniques in manufacturing

Manufacturing techniques are highly considered such as:

• combed - short and uneven fibers are removed to create a strong yet soft yarn.
• compact - this is a process responsible for reducing the weak spots in a thread. The outside fibers are compacted inwards and twisted at the same time to come up with yarns that do not easily wrinkle.
• flannel - is made of cotton that undergoes a napping brushing technique giving it a fluffy look and making it an ideal bed sheet fabric for the winter.
• jersey - a sheet made of jersey is knitted and has a stretchy fit too.

Thread count

Another very important feature when choosing bed sheets is the thread count. It is the number of threads for every square inch of fabric. The best fabric would be the one with the higher thread count which should be about 200 and up.