Does the thread count of your bed sheets really matters
Blessed are the ones who can immediately sleep as they lie down. However, does sleep keep evading you at night even after a hectic day at work? Do you keep tossing, and turning till the wee hours of dawn or wake up feeling irritated, and restless? Sleep-related challenges have become quite common nowadays given the extremely stressful circumstances, and sedentary lifestyle choices. Apart from these factors, your bed sheets also play a pivotal role in dictating your sleep patterns, and quality of sleep. In this blog, we have briefly covered an important aspect of bed sheets - the thread count.
If you want a sound sleep, you would have to buy high-quality bed sheets. When it comes to the quality of sheets, thread count is monumental. The thread count is one of the measuring factors when it comes to determining the softness, comfort, and quality of the bed sheets. And, bed sheets with reasonably higher thread count are regarded to be of premium quality.
While thread count is definitely a crucial aspect to consider while buying double bed sheets, other aspects such as the quality of the fibre, size of the yarn, types of weave or ply count must not be ignored. Understand the importance of thread count for sheets and choose the right one to avail of that much-needed good night's restful sleep.
What is the thread count in bedsheets?
A bed sheet thread count measures the numbers of the threads or yarns woven in a single square inch of fabric. Both the vertical threads (warp) and the horizontal threads (weft) are tallied up in material to determine the thread count.
Thread count is often a common indicator of the quality and softness of cotton fabric, and also determines the durability of the sheets. It will get softer or wear well over time. A fabric that is finished with a high thread count with non-certified cotton still will be very comfortable. So, the next time you plan on buying bed sheets online, do check out the thread count!
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What's the best thread count for bed sheets?
A thread count between 200-400 indicates a good quality fabric. The most important factor is, bed sheets with a higher TC tend to be highly durable, and do not lose their quality or shine even after multiple wash cycles.
A thread count below 200 won't feel nice to sleep on.
Some sheets claim to have 800 thread counts or 1000 thread counts, however, a sheet with a higher than 400 thread count may turn out to be stiff and heavy. It might just be a sheet with a multi-ply thread. The quality of the sheet depends on the textile and the weave. If you buy a 600 thread count sheet, then it's truly a 200 thread count sheet which is the cheapest and has 3-ply yarn instead of single yarn quality.
For cool and soft sheets, 180-280 thread count is a perfect range that holds for many years. 1,000 thread count sheets are worse quality than the 300 thread count. To achieve a high thread count, factories use multiple-ply yarn. Cheap and less quality multiple-ply yarn weaved together result in a scratch, heavy and less durable bedding fabric.
The thread counts between 200-400 offer a lot of benefits. These sheets will last longer and you can clean them frequently without any damage. The cost of these sheets is comparatively higher. However, these sheets are worth every penny and turn out to be an impeccable investment.
Choose fine cotton double bed sheets that are more comfortable and easy to care for. The most common fine sheets are percale and satin sheets. Also, check if the material is made from extra-long-staple cotton or long-staple cotton. At last, it's your choice of weaves, weights, and textures of bedding, so pick the best quality that gives you a warm and luxurious feeling when you lie.
Ply in thread count
The ply determines the number of layers and explains how the thread count is derived. It is also one of the prime indicators of the quality of sheets than thread count.
The ply refers to the numbers of yarns in each thread in a fabric. A single-ply thread has only one strand of yarn in each thread. The two-ply thread has two strands of yarns combined in each thread. For three-ply thread, the number of yarns is tripled.
To avoid a ply greater than two yarn, manufacturers inflate their fabric thread by cheaper multiple-ply yarns.
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Is a high thread count better?
Yes, 400 thread count and 600 thread count sheets feel softer and cooler than 200 thread count. A higher thread count over 1,000 is an indication of lower-quality sheets, where manufacturers count multi-ply yarns that have the lower and rougher quality to boost their fabric thread count.
The ideal thread count sheet is taken into account along with the cotton quality, type of weave and types of play. When you purchase quality sheets, consider the thread count, weave, fabric material and ply count key things.
The long-staple cotton fabric denotes the length of the single cotton fibres that are woven together to make every thread. The long length cotton fibres create smoother, stronger and last longer threads. Combined cotton is a process by removing shorter fibre from the cotton before it spun into yarn. Lots of varieties in fabric quality like linen, Egyptian cotton, bamboo, and Supima cotton are available in the market. The bed sheets manufactured by any of this fabric feel more superior and softer than polyester sheets.
Percale sheets use plain weave, whereas weft and warp threads are woven like a checkerboard pattern. Percale sheets are cooler and crisper than satin and are best for hot or warm temperatures. Percale sheets have 250-500 thread counts.
Satin sheets use a satin weave process, where the horizontal threads lie across the vertical threads at a time. High-quality satin sheets need higher thread count between 300-600, to reduce snags along the vertical threads.
Why does a higher thread count cost more?
There are two important reasons behind the high cost. The first reason being the manufacturers, they know the people's mindset of buying higher thread count sheets and increasing the price accordingly.
The other reason being using finer yarn to fit more threads. The higher thread counts are proxy for quality. More the threads that are woven in good yarn to manufacture, the more the sheets become softer and stronger.
Which is better for you?
Avoid the sheets with a thread count below 200 and above 1,000, where manufacturers can play tricks. Purchase bed sheets made from single-ply, high-quality long-staple cotton sheets with a thread count between 200-600, which will give you more comfort and lasts longer than polyester sheets. Ensure that the thread count, ply count, weave and fabric are all of high-quality before choosing your loved sheets. Pick an ultimatum comfort and warm option to get a good night's sleep.
FAQ
What thread count sheets do hotels use?
Remember your last hotel stay? What stood out to you instantly? The fluffy, comfy bed that seemed like a dream come true? Well, the thread count of the bed sheets is the aspect you should be grateful to. Yes, hotels, luxury ones, and otherwise, often use bed sheets with a higher than 250 or 300 thread count, which is an indicator of soft, breathable, and super comfortable sheets.
Does higher thread count mean thicker sheets?
Thread count is nothing but the vertical threads (warp) and the horizontal threads (weft) in a square inch of fabric, which is a common indicator of the quality of sheets. Sheets with higher TC mean a higher number of finer yarns are included in each square inch of the fabric, which no doubt contributes to the quality, softness, and also thickness of the double bed sheets. However, this does not have a negative effect on the quality of the sheets.