Egyptian Cotton Bedding

As the icy winter nights start to draw in, it is in bed when most people start to feel the big chill. And if this Christmas time is half as chilly as last then we’re facing icy toes and tossing and turning all night, getting up in the small hours to find a blanket to put on.

Ask yourself honestly; when was the last time you purchased brand new bedsheets? Many people keep their bedding for years on end, slowly wearing them down in the wash and ruining their warmth and softness. What you thought were fine bed sheets 5 years ago might not be anymore.

Maybe you’ve been delaying buying new bed sheets. Coming to loggerheads in a shop with a partner over potential sheets or the mumbo jumbo about thread counts and different kinds of cotton may have put you off. But you spend almost one third of your life in bed; surely you deserve some good bedding after a long, hard day? Good quality bed sheets are definitely worth investing in, they will provide a good night’s sleep and durability. And choosing from the great deal of styles and materials out there might not be as confusing as you first thought.

Cotton is the most common bedding material. There are various varieties of cotton of different finishes and attributes. 100% cotton is a general term used to refer to any cotton of a non-premium quality. Organic cotton is an eco-friendly alternative to regular cotton, since it won’t have been produced using fertilizers or pesticides.

Egyptian Cotton has been the most desirable bedding for some time because of its luxurious soft feel and its durability. But just 8% of global cotton produced comes from the same species as the plant used to make Egyptian Cotton. The long fibres in this cotton create yarns which are smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that there will be more threads per square inch, creating a stronger fabric which is lightweight and breathes well. Egyptian Cotton is available in a sateen finish which adds a slight gloss to the fabric.

Silk sheets have a strong shine to them along with a luxuriously delicate feel. They are very pricey however, and not as warm as Egyptian Cotton sheets. Mulberry silk is where the silk worms which spin the silk are fed a diet of Mulberry leaves, which creates a much softer feeling fabric. Satin sheets provide the same sheen as silk but are much cheaper and less durable. They are also quite cool to the touch however, so unless you have a very warm house both are mainly suitable for summer use.

Modal is a durable fabric produced from beech pulp blended with cotton. There are also bamboo bed sheets, which blend the fast-growing Asian plant with cotton for an eco-friendly bedding.

In cotton sheets the thread-count indicates how many threads have been used to produce fifty four inches. A greater thread-count usually indicates a more luxurious and smoother feeling fabric. Higher thread counts are generally warmer, and experts recommend buying sheets of no fewer than a 200 thread count.

Crisp new bed sheets make the perfect Christmas gift for the person who has everything. They are the home furnishing used the most, yet least often replaced. Or how about treating yourself this Christmas? Bed sheets are the gift nobody ever receives yet we all need. Snuggling down in some high-thread count Egyptian Cotton bed sheets is a great way to stay warm this winter.