A Quick Guide to Buying Cotton Bed Sheets

Gone are the days when you buy bed sheets based simply on the size of the bed. Nowadays, there are more options than you can imagine. The options can be quite confusing, but they don’t have to be—all you have to do is remember one thing: thread count.

What is thread count?

The thread count a measurement of the density of the fabric, how closely the stitches are made. The higher the thread count, the softer the fabric. The lower the thread count, the rougher the fabric will feel. The quality will also be poorer.

Of course, better quality costs more money, so expect to pay more for higher thread counts (over 600). Cotton bed sheets with lower thread counts make great “starter” sheets for college students, children’s beds or budgeting newlyweds, but they will show signs of wear quickly. It is best to buy many pairs you can rotate. This will slow the deterioration.

However, if you’ve got the money and demand the best in sheet quality, it is good to invest in high thread count sheets. They will be a joy to sleep on and will last much longer.

If you are concerned about your health and the environment, organic cotton sheets is a good choice. The cotton in most sheets is bleached and processed. This wears on the environment and leaves the customer sleeping on chemical-laden fabric. Organic cotton sheets haven’t been bleached and are much easier on the environment. Because of the lack of bleaching, the coloring usually isn’t as bright and vivid, but this is rarely a problem for people who are genuinely invested in health and green living.

It is possible to find cotton bed sheets in nearly every color and patterns imaginable, so there should be little to no problem finding the right kind for your personal and financial needs.