Author Topic: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?  (Read 7544 times)

ObviouslyNotAGolfer

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Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« on: September 18, 2017, 10:12:25 PM »
We were shopping today and quickly learned that thread count has little to do with softness. Some sheets we looked at (touched) were 680 count (Supima cotton) and felt much softer than some other ones we tried that were 1000 or 1200 thread count. I would imagine the softness/texture of the cotton itself is at least as important as how densely they are woven together. We didn't buy because the ones we liked at Macy's were not offered in the colors we wanted.

Any recommendations? We are willing to pay for softness, quality that will last.

Thanks

ixtap

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2017, 10:14:08 PM »
We love our beech sheets, which are like T shirt material. However, they do seem to develop a hole after just a couple of years.

letired

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2017, 11:35:54 PM »
I go for the crisp cotton more than soft sheets. My experience with soft sheets has been that they don't hold up well because the softness is cheaper to achieve by using shorter/fuzzier fibers that degrade more quickly.

I've liked Tommy Hilfinger 100% cotton sheets from Marshalls/discount store of choice, or Lands' End percale sheets (on sale, of course!)

I've tried knit sheets from Target which were nicely soft, but they did not hold their shape well at all. A set of Target organic cotton sheets became very soft over time (5+ years), but also became a bit thin after about 8 years of regular use.

schmerna

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2017, 08:26:47 AM »
I use LL Bean flannel sheets.  They have a high upfront cost but you only need one set of sheets.  I used one set for 10 years with daily wear and washing 2x per month.  I received my current sheet set as a Christmas gift.

RidetheRain

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2017, 09:52:35 AM »
So thread counts indicate the number of threads per square inch. Typically thinner threads mean softer sheets which add up to higher thread counts. However, some companies will do ridiculous things to artificially raise this number like using 2-ply thread vs single. Unlike your favorite TP, this is not a good thing - less soft. So 1000 thread counts are usually not worth the extra price. The best thing you can do is open the package and actually physically feel the fabric with your fingers as you did. I usually use 600 - 800 as the upper limit of probably good sheets, but it varies brand to brand.

EDIT: On the touch-test remember that 100% cotton will soften over time with washing
« Last Edit: September 19, 2017, 09:54:40 AM by RidetheRain »

GuitarStv

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2017, 10:01:53 AM »
Thread counts theoretically indicate the number of threads per inch, but an awful lot of manufacturers are dishonest in their counts.  You can have a 200 thread count sheet (100 x 100 threads) or an 800 thread count sheet (100 x 100 threads, where four cheaper/weaker threads are twisted together to make one super thread) and they'll feel exactly the same.  The 800 count sheet will not breathe as well as the 200, and the weaker threads will pill sooner making the sheets feel worse and wear out more quickly.

My rule of thumb is that good sheets are usually around 200 count plus or minus 20 for cotton.

I'm a big fan of smooth sheets though, and have enjoyed sleeping on bamboo (viscose?) for the past few years.  I've been looking for a reasonably priced set of silk sheets too.

Drifterrider

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2017, 10:11:07 AM »
I like 400 count cotton for the Spring-Fall and Flannel for the winter.

Not all high thread count is all cotton.  I have hard water so my sheets won't last forever (none do).  They are an expense and well worth it for a comfortable sleep.  I've never paid more than $50 for a Queen size set.  My sheets usually last 3 years (the fitted wears out before the flat).

I can't really feel the difference between 400 and 800 count so I don't pay for the extra.


retiringearly

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2017, 10:13:54 AM »
I am a big fan of Costco's Kirkland Signature sheets.  They go on sale ($15 off) a couple times a year.

ambimammular

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2017, 02:02:40 PM »
A trick I've learned to make cotton t-shirts feel softer is to soak them in salt water for 24 hours (or so). It worked well on DH's handkerchiefs. It should work on rough sheets, if you bought something sturdy for the lasting quality, but want them to feel better on the skin.

horsepoor

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2017, 03:21:22 PM »
I LOVE our set of Coyuchi organic cotton sheets, but they are pricey.  I would have bought more than one set if I'd known at the time how nice they were, and what a screaming deal I was getting.  Instead, we just wash the same set and put them back on the bed each week.  We use flannel for a little bit in the winter, so the cotton sheets see about 40+ weeks per year of use, and have not shown any wear after 2.5 years.  If they make it 5+ years, I'll pay the price to buy another set.  The thread count is lower (300?) but they feel nicer, and are much more durable.  I've bought cheaper 400-500 TC sheets and they wear in the middle and tear out at the corners quickly.  The feel is more satiny, but more prone to tiny pills than these Coyuchi sheets.

JLR

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2017, 04:43:58 PM »
However, some companies will do ridiculous things to artificially raise this number like using 2-ply thread vs single.

I agree with pretty much everything RidetheRain said.

I personally go for a cotton sateen sheet for summer, flannelette for winter. The cotton sateen is 100% cotton, but has a different finish so it feels cool and soft. The sheets I buy sell for from AU$200-AU$400, but I always wait for crazy deep discounts (down to AU$25-AU$45). A set has been lasting 8-10 years.

There seems to be less variation in flannelette sheets, but I have had better luck with slightly more expensive sheets lasting longer (Last winter I wore out a set from the late 90s).

katscratch

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2017, 07:04:22 PM »
Thrift store. Buy by touch, usually cotton. Don't have to worry about whether it will develop thin spots or get too soft, that work's been done for me :)

Hadilly

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2017, 09:21:24 PM »
I second LL Bean. I use their basic cotton ones in the summer and flannel in the winter. Sturdy and so comfortable. I think the quality is great.

For my kids, I do IKEA cotton sheets in the summer and LL Bean flannel again in the winter.

Poundwise

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2017, 05:14:53 PM »
I haven't bought sheets in years so I don't have a brand in mind, but I have noticed that I personally am more comfortable with a coarser weave-- 300 thread count percale.  They feel cooler than the 600 thread count sheets that I paid more for, and the smoothness is not an issue. The higher count sheets somehow are clingier. 

I also got a screaming deal on cotton flannel sheets at Amazon a decade ago, and we use those during the winter.

apoclater

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2017, 07:33:14 PM »
I used to look for Egyptian cotton with high thread counts, but you'll get burnt my dishonest manufacturers and marketing.

What I mainly look for is whether I wanted Sateen vs. Percale sheets.  Sateen is the buttery soft feeling sheets but sleep extremely hot IMO, so during the summer they are the worst.  I went with Percale - while they start out a little "crisp", the more you wash them the more they soften up.  They also breathe extremely well so if you sleep hot at night you can pass on the night sweats.

lbmustache

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2017, 07:50:08 PM »
I went with Percale - while they start out a little "crisp", the more you wash them the more they soften up.  They also breathe extremely well so if you sleep hot at night you can pass on the night sweats.

x2! I LOVE percale. They are "crisp" - they make some more noise than the average sheet and wrinkle a bit more, but they're so good otherwise.

NoStacheOhio

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #16 on: September 22, 2017, 06:25:38 AM »
I second LL Bean. I use their basic cotton ones in the summer and flannel in the winter. Sturdy and so comfortable. I think the quality is great.

For my kids, I do IKEA cotton sheets in the summer and LL Bean flannel again in the winter.

Another vote for LL Bean. We have their sort of midrange percale (I think it was 280 thread count), and I'm a big fan. My wife likes sheets a little bit softer (which they also have), so we may try one of the other sets when we replace our second set of sheets (bamboo: soft, but not durable).

The great thing about Bean stuff is that they have an unlimited return policy. If the sheets develop a hole in ten years, we can get new ones.

sparkytheop

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #17 on: September 22, 2017, 07:31:07 AM »
I use flannel year round (even in summer, when it is over 100 outside for weeks).  I do have a basement bedroom and central air though.  I think I bought them at Costco.  I have a few sets and they have lasted me 16 years (I bought all new bedding after my divorce).  No holes, no worn spots, still in great shape.

MiserlyMiser

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #18 on: September 22, 2017, 09:04:24 AM »
I splurged on a set of linen sheets about a year ago.  They were on sale at Restoration Hardware Warehouse, but were still about $100--about 3x as much as I've ever spent on sheets at TJ Maxx or Marshall's.  I love them.  Now I only use my other sheets for a day or so while the linen sheets are in the wash/drying.  I don't mind spending money on good quality things I'll use over and over, and these sheets fall into that category. 

katscratch

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #19 on: September 22, 2017, 01:52:10 PM »
I splurged on a set of linen sheets about a year ago.  They were on sale at Restoration Hardware Warehouse, but were still about $100--about 3x as much as I've ever spent on sheets at TJ Maxx or Marshall's.  I love them.  Now I only use my other sheets for a day or so while the linen sheets are in the wash/drying.  I don't mind spending money on good quality things I'll use over and over, and these sheets fall into that category.

Linen is my absolute favorite to sleep on and in. I have a linen duvet cover that placates my tactile side while my money side has me on the hunt second hand :)

Dicey

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #20 on: September 22, 2017, 02:20:16 PM »
My favorite sheets came from an Estate Sale. I wish I knew where they came from, but there are no tags. Probably a good thing, as I'm sure they were spendy for the original buyer. They are thick cotton and luxuriously delicious. Le sigh.

Blissful Biker

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #21 on: September 24, 2017, 06:10:09 PM »
Brooklinen sheets are decadent.  So comfortable that I crave climbing into bed.  The pricing is reasonable for such a high quality product.  They also come with a lifetime guarantee.

rdaneel0

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #22 on: September 24, 2017, 06:12:31 PM »
I bought expensive sheets from The Company Store, they were nice and lasted about 4 years. For my next set I went with cheap sheets from Target, they've held up for about 3 years now. The Target sheets don't have that high quality feel, but they're totally fine. I'm on team cheap sheets all the way. Pillows are another story, every time I've purchased cheap pillows they've totally flattened and fallen apart.

stashgrower

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #23 on: September 25, 2017, 05:49:39 AM »
I've seen pop-up stalls in shopping centres that sell ex-hotel sheets. They are soft and ridiculously cheap.

CanuckExpat

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #24 on: September 25, 2017, 10:04:34 PM »
We like our tshirt / jersey material sheets. Comfortable enough (my wife seems to prefer the tshirt feel to other sheets). As someone else mentioned, they do seem to develop holes after a bit, but nothing embarrassing or large. I think we have a couple pairs from the Target Essentials collection

expatartist

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #25 on: September 25, 2017, 10:40:24 PM »
I splurged on a set of linen sheets about a year ago.  They were on sale at Restoration Hardware Warehouse, but were still about $100--about 3x as much as I've ever spent on sheets at TJ Maxx or Marshall's.  I love them.  Now I only use my other sheets for a day or so while the linen sheets are in the wash/drying.  I don't mind spending money on good quality things I'll use over and over, and these sheets fall into that category.
+1!

Picked up a set of linen sheets on eBay. They were seconds so price wasn't too outrageous at ~US$150, their texture's divine, and so is their textured blue denim color. I live alone so use the bottom sheet and pillowcase in summer (with antique linen spread), and the top sheet and other case in winter (with blankets and duvet cover).

pbkmaine

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #26 on: September 26, 2017, 04:05:29 AM »
I get ours at Sam’s Club, $39 for a double size cotton sateen sheet set. Cat claws ruin our sheets in a couple of years, even though we keep the claws clipped, so cheaper is definitely better.

Frugal Lizard

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Re: Bed sheets--what do you recommend?
« Reply #27 on: September 26, 2017, 07:28:03 AM »
I bought some sheets when we got married 20 years ago.  The bottom sheet lasted nine summers.  Thread bare in two body shaped spots.  Next one lasted about 5 years.  The following one even less. The last one looked really worn after about a season and then next spring I put my toe through it getting into bed one night, exhausted.  That is a PITA.  Hubs was already asleep so I just tried to sleep with a big slice in the sheet.  Kept getting caught in it all night.  Gave me nightmares.
Now I am just buying bottom sheets - on sale from Sears - mid range thread count - going for a heavy weight of fabric but 100% cotton. 
We use flannel in the late fall to early spring and we are also on the fourth sheet set but fortunately my MIL likes to buy us them for Christmas so as long as I don't put a foot through it hopping into the sack, I don't really care about softness, thickness or thread count.
For those of you with crunchy sheets - reduce your laundry soap amount so that no soap residue remains after rinsing - it can make them feel crunchy.

 

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