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There’s nothing like crawling into bed after a long day. And, of course, finding the perfect mattress is an integral part of creating a comfy bed, but what about your sheets? More specifically, the quality of your sheets. Between thread-count and cotton type, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and give up, deciding to buy a not too expensive, but not too inexpensive, set at your nearest home store. But you can do better!
We turned to Steph and Jimmy MacDonald of Authenticity 50, a USA-based premium bedding company looking to shake up the textile market, for some information we can trust. Turns out, transparency is kind of their thing. The name of the husband and wife team’s company was born from the fact that all of their products are authentically made in the 50 states.
Keep reading to learn five important facts about sheets that you need to consider before buying your next set, because after all, you sleep in your bed 365 days a year, and we all really, really love sleep, so yeah, it’s important.
Cost Doesn’t Always Guarantee Quality
Do your research before heading to the store to replace your sheet set. Buying the median, or even the highest costing set of sheets doesn’t mean they’re premium or going to last you forever.
The MacDonalds said, “High quality sheets begin with premium yarn that is expertly spun, woven, cut and sewn. Not all sheets are created equal, and you need to be remember that paying a high price for your sheet set does not guarantee you’re getting a premium product! You need to do your homework and find out what you’re spending your hard earned dollars on.”
Authenticity 50’s sheet sets range in price from $149 to $189, which is reasonable compared to the price of other luxury sheets.
When It Comes To Thread-Count, Higher Isn’t Always Better
Thread-counts mean something different for each type of cotton. Confusing? Yes. The thread-count of Authenticity’s Percale sheets are “an honest 250”. Just remember the below.
The MacDonalds said, “The easiest way to tell if you are being mislead with multi-ply yarns is to look at the numbers on the package. Anything over 350 for Percale and 500 for sateen is multi-ply thread and you should steer clear—the fabric quality will be dubious at best. If a brand isn’t telling you the truth about their thread-count, how can you trust their quality?”
There Are Pros And Cons To Every Type Of Sheet
Authenticity 50 sells percale sheets made of Supima® cotton, of which they are naturally biased. But if you’re a linen lover in the summer and crave a cozy flannel in the colder months (and have enough room for a linen closet!), go ahead and change your sheets seasonally.
“Flannel is nice in the winter but tends to pill easily, lose its durability, and become uncomfortable in the summer. Sateen may have the initial visual appeal, but the chemically-added shine fades with washing and it too is less durable; it also tends to restrict airflow and sleep hot. However, if you have highly sensitive skin, it may be a better choice, as it feels softer to the touch,” said The MacDonalds.
Okay, so we now know the pros and cons of other types of sheets, but what about Percale?
They continued, saying, “Percale is considered the best weave for 95% of people out there. It has a crisp, cool feel, is light and airy, and is comfortable to use year round. The structure of the weave allows air to circulate better—so your mattress can support you and your duvet/comforter can insulate you, without causing overheating to occur. There’s a reason why nearly all fine hotels use percale sheets!”
The Quality Of The Cotton In Your Sheets Is Being Regulated
Don’t fall trap to believing that Egyptian cotton is the highest quality stuff around. There’s no verification process, which means anyone can slap a claim on their label. Supima® cotton, on the other hand, is different.
The MacDonalds said, “It is a premium cotton, only 3% of the world’s cotton can be certified Supima®! It thus costs nearly three times the price of regular cotton to manufacture, and is used for only premium products. Also extremely important to note, Supima® is a verified cotton that is only grown in America, and certified by the American Supima Association, which monitors its production. Most so-called Egyptian cotton on the other hand, is actually grown in Asia (China or India), not in Egypt, and does not have any regulatory practice in place to verify its source.”
Noted.
Wrinkles Aren’t A Bad Thing
Many sheets are chemically treated to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, which doesn’t sound like a bad thing (hey, no wrinkles!), until you think about those precious hours of sleep you’re logging… with your face smashed into a chemically-treated pillowcase. Talk about a waste of investing in natural and organic skincare.
“Many sheet manufacturers use wrinkle-treatments and/or polyester yarns to minimize wrinkles, as consumers over the years have demanded this for visual appeal. Cotton, however, is a natural product with natural variations which will cause wrinkles. We don’t think having wrinkle-free sheets is worth resting your head on pillowcases that have been treated with harmful chemicals. We’d rather have a few wrinkles than sleep in formaldehyde!”
To learn more about Authenticity 50, visit their website at authenticity50.com.