Mattresses

Before heading out to the store to buy bedding sheets, there are a few things you should know. Besides knowing the size of your mattress, it is important that you understand the different fabric weaves, thread counts and ply. Just knowing what you are looking for can save you time and money.

Sheet Size: Not What You Expect

What could be worse than waking up in the middle of the night with the fitted sheet bunched up beneath your hip? It just refuses to stay on that mattress. You thought that since you bought a queen size mattress that queen size sheets would naturally fit. Not so. You must measure carefully because not all brands are exactly the same size. Measure the length and the width of the mattress in addition to its depth. Also, when measuring the depth, include the thickness of your mattress topper and pad.

Mattresses used to average eight to twelve inches in height, but today’s can exceed twenty inches. This extra depth requires a deeper pocket than comes with most standard sheets. If your mattress is very thick, look for sheets labeled deep pocket or extra deep pocket.

Thread Count and Ply: Soft and Comfy

Since you do not sleep directly on that beautiful fabric covering your mattress, the fabric you do sleep on is very important. Cotton, the old hands down favorite, is durable, but the quality can vary greatly.

If you choose a beautiful bedding sheet with 180 thread count (the approximate number of threads per inch), plan on spending your nights in scratchy splendor. That sheet with over 300 thread count is going to be heavenly and last about six months or so. Less if you have a dog that likes to try to dig through your bedding to the mattress while you’re at work.

Longer threads and higher thread counts create a cotton bedding sheet that is softer and wears longer to a certain extent. However, beware of extremely high thread counts. This material is thicker and has a tendency to pill and split under stress.

Pima cotton is the most often type of cotton used to make bedding sheets. Supima cotton, a registered variety, is grown only in the USA. Egyptian cotton is considered to be the finest you can buy but watch the label. Any cotton that is grown in Egypt can legally be called Egyptian cotton, but it may not be the superior cotton you are looking for. Always double-check the feel of the fabric before investing.

The Weave: Putting It All Together

The way the threads are woven together is another part of the puzzle of buying sheets and mattress covers. Percale is the standard over one, under one weave that wears well, but it may not be as soft as you’d like. Thread count for percale start at about 200, the lower level for comfort. Sateen changes the way a sheet feels by smoothing out the surface with four threads over and one thread under. However, sateen’s durability is affected since the threads are exposed to more wear from rubbing.

Whatever your reason for buying new bedding sheets remember to measure your mattress carefully. Also, choose a quality fabric with a decent thread count. And finally, choose a weave based on whether you desire more softness or more durability.