Bed Sheet Guide

 What is a bed sheet?

A great bed sheet can make your sleep much better. A bed sheet is a piece of cloth that helps to protect your mattress, creating a barrier against your skin and providing a comfier surface for you to sleep on.

Whilst there’s not a vast variety of different types of bed sheets, it’s important to find ones that will help you sleep rather than keep you awake all night. Bed sheets are also known as bottom sheets or fitted sheets

Do bed sheets affect sleep quality?

The sheets you use can impact sleep quality. Using a high-quality set of sheets is essential because as we sleep, the human body expends heat, which means that you don’t want to have bedsheets that don’t trap the heat inside the material, making you hotter and uncomfortable

How to measure Mattress Height

It’s important to measure the size of your mattress to determine what type of bed sheets you need. Measuring your mattress is simple with any tape measure. Look out for pocket depth, which is the fancy term for mattress height and make sure to find the one that’s suitable for your mattress.

Egyptian cotton is the most expensive out of cotton bed sheets but also the most luxurious material.

Pure cotton is an all-rounder because it is breathable, hardwearing and easy to clean.

Linen sheets are also popularly known to be very breathable.

 Silk bed sheets – Silk bed sheets are great for keeping your warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They have a luxurious feel and look great in any room.

What does thread count mean?

Thread count is something to consider when purchasing new bedding! There isn’t an exact science to this number! Thread counts measure the total width and strength of a bedsheet in a room in an area. The bigger the thread number, the more threads there are in the fabric, which means the denser the bedding.

Bed sheets with a lower thread count don’t necessarily mean they are of worse quality. You can find some seriously great sheets with a 200 thread count; for example, what’s more, important is what type of fabric it is.

And sometimes lower thread count makes a bedsheet feel lighter and much airier. Fewer thread counts mean the sheet feel lighter and delicate, more like the ones in hotels.

Flat Bed Sheets

Flat sheets are like the base of your bedding ensemble. These can be made from any fabric and are typically used to cover the mattress. With flat bed sheets, you need to tuck them under the mattress and ensure they are secure, so they don’t move around at night.

Fitted bed sheets

Fitted sheets are the most popular type of bedding and come with a pre-made elastic band that fits around your mattress. These can be made from cotton, polyester, or natural fibres – and they fit snugly so the corners won’t slip off whilst you’re sleeping.

Contour Bed Sheets

Contour sheets are specially designed to fit around your body’s natural curves while you’re sleeping. They’re shaped in the same way as a fitted sheet but do a better job of staying on top of your mattress with their elastic band, providing a secure fit to the mattress.

Valance Bed Sheets

Valance sheets are also made with natural fabric like cotton or silk, but these typically only extend to cover the base of a bed. This style is perfect if you’d rather have a more minimalistic look for your bedroom since it doesn’t go entirely down to the floor!

Washing instructions:

Some people think it’s better to wash at 40 degrees, while others believe it’s better to do it a bit warmer at 60 degrees to help kill any lingering bacteria or germs accumulated on your sheets. It’s up to you what you find better.

Taking care of your sheets by following these simple steps can help you get the most out of them, and you’ll be able to use them for years to come.

1.) Don’t wash too hot. Warm water is best.

2.) Dry on low heat

3.) Ideally dry outside

 4.) Tumble dry on a low setting for a short period

 5.) Remove immediately after cycle ends

6.) Iron if necessary

 7.) Store away from direct sunlight

Washing too much can affect the fibres.

Washing too regularly can ruin their fibres and cause holes to appear, so you probably wouldn’t want your favourite sheets ruined too quickly.

This is especially important if they’re made with Egyptian cotton since it’s one of the most expensive types available on the market right now due to its fine quality and great features. Still, even traditional fabrics won’t survive harsh washing.

If stains are an issue, you can always buy a specific type of cleaner for bed sheets or take it to your dry cleaners instead of getting rid of grease stains at home, which might damage other parts during the process.

Drying machines can ruin their quality, so ideally, hand them outside if possible.

How to make bed sheets last longer

To maximise the lifespan, you should dry them as thoroughly as possible by leaving them outside in direct sunlight. Most flat bed sheets are made with cotton, and this material can wrinkle up quickly, so ironing is a great way to remove all these visual imperfections from your sheets and make them look new again.

Try not to use bleach which can be tempting in the short run but can cause white sheets to be yellow as time goes on. Avoid overloading your washing machine and separating whites. Treat staining immediately. Vacuuming regularly will also help you get rid of extra dirt that otherwise might compromise their appearance over time or cause minor holes.

Different types of sheet weaves

Different sheet weaves are unique in their own way. Each weave type has its positives and negatives so remember to keep your preferences in mind when searching for bedding that’s perfect for you!

Percale weaves

Percale bedding has a smooth finish, which makes it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin. However, this type of weave tends to be pretty thin, so it may not provide enough warmth during colder months.

Although percale is generally inexpensive, this type isn’t the most durable option – so you’ll probably need to replace your sheets more often than you would with other types meaning they will cost more in the long run

Sateen weaves

A sateen weave is created by combing cotton or silk threads into a sheath that’s then wrapped around another set of strands. This means the sheet will have an incredibly soft touch with a gorgeous, lustrous appearance.

The main downside to satin bedding is it can be difficult to clean – especially if it’s 100% pure! Satin isn’t as absorbent as other materials, so that that spills won’t be absorbed quickly. So if you’re prone to messes in your sleep, choose cotton instead!

Twill weaves

Known for its durable characteristics, it’s used in towels, camping equipment, or even military uniforms. It’s created by weaving fabric diagonally, which causes the threads so that twill bedding will have a more textured appearance with lots of ridges and valleys!

A great choice since these types are typically made from cotton or polyester fibres, both of which are excellent at maintaining body heat but aren’t super absorbent. Twill-patterned bedding may not be ideal for those who sweat excessively during sleep.

Dobby weaves

If you like the look of twill but prefer something even more unique, choose dobby bedding! This material is woven diagonally, except it has a textured appearance created by smaller threads creating small squares to give the fabric an overall patterned effect.

Sometimes manufacturers will combine cotton and polyester for this type of weave since both materials are solid yet lightweight. The drawback here is that these types aren’t as soft or breathable as other options.

What does ply mean?

Ply counts are the number of threads used to create one fabric—the more plies, the stronger the thread. There’s no need to be too concerned about ply, though, as some manufacturers will use more plies to make their sheets seem better than they are.

Single-ply yarns are typically weaker, so they won't last as long and might not be as comfy. These types are flat and thin, but they’re cheap enough to replace all the time.

Two-ply yarns are similar to single-ply options – except that they have an extra ply making them slightly thicker. They can feel slightly softer than single-ply yarns, but they won’t be as durable.

Three-ply yarns are significantly thicker, making them the best choice for those who want durable bed sheets. However, keep in mind that this type can feel much rougher against your skin!

Fitted sheets are designed to fit perfectly around mattresses, while flat sheets must be tucked under the mattress. Rectangular and square fitted sheets usually have elastic around the edges to stretch and stay in place. They are vailable in various sizes, so it’s easy to find fitted sheets that fit any standard mattress.

Fitted bed sheets are attached to the four corners of a standard-sized mattress using buttons, velcro, or elastic corners. The entire sheet must be tucked under the mattress to keep it securely in place throughout the night. Although these types typically cost more than flat sheets, they’re worth spending extra on! After all, what’s something like comfort if you can’t stay asleep at night because your cheap bedding keeps sliding onto the floor?

How often should you wash your bed sheets?

The proper care and maintenance also have a significant impact on how long they last. Whenever you buy any product that comes in contact with the body, it needs regular washing. And while it’s recommended to wash them every week, even when they’re not used, this can cause the fibres to wear out faster.

It’s essential to treat your bedsheets with care to prolong their life and feel as many things can degrade the quality. Washing bed sheets varies from person to person. There are various factors that can mean you may need to change your sheet more often.

You have allergies

Saliva

You sweat excessively / body oils

Pets in beds

Bed time eating

Not showering before bed

Naked sleepers

Ashmatic / sensitive to dust

What setting to wash bed sheets?

Bed sheets should be washed on a low setting. Ideally, you don’t want high temperatures that degrade the fibres and shrink the sheets. Most commonly, people wash them at 30 degrees celsius, which is often enough to get them clean. If your sheets are stained, or they’ve not been washed for a while, you might want to do it at 40 degrees celsius, but just don’t make a habit of it.

How to fold bed sheets

Folding bed sheets can be cumbersome, especially if you’ve got king-sized ones. Ideally, you’ll have a flat surface to lay them on, for example, a bed; you want to grip the two top corners together and run your other hand along the edge splitting the sheets in half. Once you’ve done that, repeat the process the opposite way (so it was from left to right, now it’s top to bottom) and then repeat until it’s neatly folded  

What are some early signs of bed bugs?

If you’ve found blood stains on your bed sheets this might not be caused by you. There’s often dark spots which can be fecal mater from the bed bugs or they may have died and been squished. To get rid of bedbugs 100% can be quite difficult, ideally you need to use a steamer to steam the mattress and especially the sides/corners. If you find bed bugs on your sheets it could be best to throw them away.

When we sleep, we often move around a lot which causes the bed sheet to move around become detached from the bed. The easiest way to stop this is to not move but this isn’t realistic. You can purchase bed suspenders also known as sheet grippers. These are designed to be adjustable and help provide stability throughout the week ensuring your mattress stays covered.<