What makes good bedding

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You can see our top performers here. The downside is these sheets may be more expensive and you'll have to trust the company's word; there have been instances of cotton being mislabeled as Egyptian. Though the fabric may have a somewhat synthetic feel, the polyester makes it inexpensive, more durable and less prone to wrinkling.

Manufacturing techniques can allow brands to make high thread counts without actually increasing quality. Our tests have shown that to is a sweet spot for softness and strength. You can find good thread-count sheets, but they may not be as comfy, and anything over isn't necessarily better. Your primary options are percale or sateen.

Percale is a basic, grid-like weave that feels light and crisp. Sateen in a satin weave and feels silky smooth. It's a matter of personal preference, though in our tests, consumers tend to favor sateen.

Standard sizes, like queen or king, don't account for mattress depth. So if yours is tall or if you use a mattress topper, make sure to measure before you buy. You should also account for some shrinkage after laundering. Read more about the best linen sheets. To keep cool in muggy, hot weather consider linen.

It wicks away sweat even better than cotton, making it ideal for temperature control in extreme heat, but its thicker texture will also keep you warm. If you prefer very soft, silky fabrics, you may not like the chunky feel of the fabric. Some people love the rustic, rumpled style of linen, but others will just think it looks wrinkled.

In our extensive research and long-term testing, we found that linen sheets can have durability issues especially with the bottom sheet. Good sheets can last 5 to 10 years if you care for them properly. Here are some factors to consider before investing in a set. Fit Check the size and depth of your mattress including a mattress topper before shopping.

Just another great reason to buy from a brand with a good return policy. The right fitted sheet will be taut on the mattress and require a little tug to pull it into place. For the best fit, the fitted sheets you buy should have at least 2 to 3 inches more pocket depth than your mattress in order to allow the excess slack to tuck under the corners and stay in place.

Just keep in mind that brightly hued or patterned sheets might be harder to care for than white sheets that you can bleach or use OxiClean on. Stains from kids, sweat, periods, or bedtime snacks will be harder to remove without these more aggressive cleaning methods. If you use acne cream , you may also want to consider white or light-colored sheets at least pillowcases , because the benzoyl peroxide can bleach the fabric.

In our experience, white or solid-colored sheets will always look newer longer than those with patterns, especially those with lots of contrast, which we have found tend to look dingy more quickly.

Set vs. However, we think that brands that also offer individual top or bottom sheets are smart. These days, many people are choosing to forgo the top sheet and sleep directly under a duvet use a washable cover if you decide to do this rather than making a traditional, two-sheet bed. Top and bottom sheets also often wear differently, since bottom sheets bear the weight of your body every night the harder job by far.

This can also be an issue with percale or sateen sheets if you or a sleeping partner have rough feet. Pillowcases also sometimes need replacing more often. Or, you may want to buy a few extra cases so you can change them more frequently than your other bedding without doing a load of laundry.

Thread count—the number of vertical and horizontal threads in 1 square inch of fabric—is often a good indicator of a quality material, but not always. A higher number of threads per inch usually means each yarn is finer, so more of them will fit in the square, creating a smooth yet strong weave. As we mention above, thread counts of to for percale, to for sateen, and 80 to for linen should indicate a good-quality fabric.

Beware of higher thread counts than these numbers, though, especially with sateen. If a fabric is made with two-ply yarn—when two individual threads are twisted together—manufacturers will sometimes count each ply, thus doubling their thread count artificially.

This can mean the sheets are made with the best-quality cotton, but not always. Great sheets including all of our picks, save the budget Target set are made from long-staple cotton. Staple refers to the length of each cotton fiber.