subject: Egyptian Cotton Bed Sheets, The Perfect Christmas Present For The Person With Everything [print this page] As the freezing winter evenings draw in, it's in bed when most of us begin to feel the big chill. And if this Christmas time is as chilly as last then we're facing icy toes and tossing and turning all night, getting out of bed in the small hours to find a blanket to put on.
Ask yourself ; when was the last time you purchased new bed sheets? 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 putting off buying new bed sheets. Coming to loggerheads in a store with a partner over prospective sheets or the mumbo jumbo about thread counts and various varieties of cotton may have put you off. But you spend almost a third of your life in bed; surely you deserve some good bedding after a long, hard day? Quality bed sheets are definitely worth investing in, they will offer a good night's sleep and durability. And choosing from the wealth of styles and materials out there may not be as confusing as you first thought.
Cotton is the most common bedding material. There are various types of cotton of different finishes and qualities. 100% cotton is a general term used to refer to cotton of a non-premium quality. Organic cotton is an eco-friendly alternative to regular cotton, because it won't have been produced using fertilizers or pesticides.
Egyptian Cotton has been the most coveted bedding for a long time because of its luxurious soft feel and its durability. But just 8% of worldwide cotton produced is from the same species as the plant used to make Egyptian Cotton. The long fibres in this cotton create yarns that are smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that there will be more threads per square inch, creating a durable fabric which is light-weight and breathes well. Egyptian Cotton can be purchased in a sateen finish which gives a subtle sheen to the fabric.
Silk bed sheets have a strong sheen to them along with a luxuriously delicate feel. They are very expensive however, and not as warm as Egyptian Cotton sheets. Mulberry silk is where the silk worms which spin the silk are provided with a diet of Mulberry leaves, which creates a much softer feeling fabric. Satin sheets provide the same sheen as silk but are less costly and less durable. They are also quite cool to touch however, so unless you have a very warm house both of them are mainly suitable for summer use.
Modal is a tough fabric made from beech pulp blended with cotton. There are also bamboo 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 indicates a more luxurious and smoother feeling fabric. Higher thread counts are typically warmer, and industry experts suggest buying sheets of no fewer than a 200 thread count.
Crisp new bed sheets make the ideal Christmas present for that person who has everything. They are the home furnishing used the most, yet least often replaced. Or what about treating yourself this Christmas? 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.
