I have read that we spend about a third of our lives in bed. Wow! That is a lot of time to be lying on or between sheets. Have you ever questioned what thread count means, what kind of fabric is the softest and how to decide what depth of fitted sheet to buy for your mattress?
As a professional organizer I have been asked these questions. Here are the organizing tips I have to answer these questions.
When I look at sheets the first thing that catches my eye is the color or the pattern and the next thing I check for is how soft they are. Softness is determined by two things. The thread count and the fabric they are made from.
Thread count means the number of threads, both horizontal and vertical woven into a single square inch of fabric. Usually the higher the thread count the denser and smoother the sheet will feel.
But thread count is not the only factor that will make sheets feel soft and assure it is a good quality sheet. Other important factors include the kind of cotton and type of weave.
Cotton is known for its softness, durability and natural comfort and is most frequently used for sheeting fabric. Now we know cotton is a great fabric we then learn that not all cottons are created equal.
Egyptian cotton is one of the highest quality cottons on the market. It is usually grown in Northern Africa. (So why did they call it Egyptian cotton is what I want to know). Anyway it is known for its luxurious softness and luster.
Pima cotton is grown primarily in the southwestern United States. It is a very strong cotton and is known for its softness and natural sheen. It has medium to extra-long staple fibers.
Supima is a trademarked name for products woven from 100% American Pima cotton.
Besides the thread count and the type of cotton how a sheet is woven has a large impact on its finish and feel.
Flannel is a medium weight, plain or twill-weave fabric made of cotton with a napped finish on one or both sides. It is super soft and cozy. I love winter to come so I can climb beneath flannel sheets, they are my favorite.
Percale is plain-weave fabric made from both carded and combed cotton yarns. They have a smooth finish and crisp feel.
Sateen goes through a weaving technique that results in an exceptionally soft feel and a smooth lustrous finish that resembles satin.
Now we need to look at the ply. Plying is a process of twisting strands of yarn together in the opposite direction than that in which they were spun. "Ply" refers to the number of yarns wrapped together in a single thread. The process of plying creates thicker threads which affects the feel and durability. Finer threads allow for higher thread counts and thus a softer sheet. Thicker yarns create a heavier yet stronger sheet.
A single-ply sheet results in a lighter weight fabric. Two-ply sheets are stronger, durable and have a heavier feel to them.
There are four different sizes of sheets; twin, twin XL (extra long), full (double), queen, and California king. Mattresses now come in many heights. The maximum mattress height a fitted sheet will fit is determined by its pocket depth. Before buying sheets measure the mattress height. Read the product description and if "pocket depth" is given add two inches to the number given to determine the mattress height the sheet will fit.
Now you know how to select sheets according to feel and size here are organizing tips on how to organize them in the linen closet. Three sets of sheets per bed will help minimize wear which will extend the life of your sheets. The exception for this is the guest bed where one is probably sufficient.
Label the shelves indicating the different sizes of sheets. Place the sheets inside the matching pillowcase to keep them together and take up less space. If you use seasonal sheets rotate the ones not being used to the back of the shelves.
Good night-sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.
Click here for more organizing tips on clutter control visit my videos.
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