Thread Count Doesn't Always Matter: Things To Look For When Buying Sheets (Image credit: Adrienne Breaux) First you need to decide what you want your sheets made of. Cotton is the most common and basic, but there's also linen, silk, bamboo, microfiber, etc... (I won't even get into all the blends out there.) Every material has its pros and cons: Linen is softer, more breathable ,and textured than cotton, but tends to wrinkle more. Silk is soft but more slippery. Microfiber is manmade versus natural. The list goes on, so you have to decide what feel you'd like. This number is determined by the number of threads running both horizontally and vertically in a square inch. The higher the thread count, as the theory goes, the softer the sheets. A few considerations to keep in mind: You can only have so many threads per square inch, and with cotton, 400 seems to be a good number to look for. Once you hit a certain threshold, it really doesn’t matter and you won't notice the difference.
(It’s almost like SPF ratings on sunblock or camera pixels.) There are ways for manufacturers to "increase thread count" without actually increasing the quality. It stands to reason that the number of threads you can squeeze into a specified area is dependent on the fiber that’s used. The thinner the fibers, the higher the thread count. Bamboo and silk have thinner fibers, so thread count can't be compared to that of cotton. The best sheets are made from longer fibers that are stronger when made into thread. Egyptian, Sea Island, and Pima cottons are recognized as the best with the longest fibers, and sheets made with them are usually labeled as such. If the packaging simply says 100% cotton, chances are good they were made from shorter fibers. If the sheets are made from shorter fibers, thread count won't really matter that much. Over time those short fibers will break, produce lint and pilling, and become less soft to the hand. How the threads are woven together has a big influence on how sheets feel on the bed.
The most common are percale, sateen, satin, microfiber and jersey, for starters. Percale sheets, for example, are a simple weave and usually on the crisper side. Sateen sheets are softer, and have a shiny quality. Jersey sheets are stretchier, etc... Price will go up depending on the complexity of the weave pattern used, with jacquard sheets being on the pricier end of the scale. Get to know what you like, and buy what you can afford. Many, many sheets are chemically treated after they are woven, to increase their strength and decrease wrinkling. If you want to avoid this (and the use of chemicals in general), look into treatment-free organic sheets. To sum up, there are other factors than go into making quality sheets, and you can achieve softness a variety of ways. Don't let promises of high thread count sway you into ignoring those other elements.How do you wash Fieldcrest Charisma towels? Care for your Fieldcrest Charisma towels by sorting them out from other clothes, washing like colors together, minimizing detergent use, moving them to drying promptly and avoiding overdrying.
Doing all of these protects the color, softness and longevity of your towels. How do I keep fabric colors from running? How do you get a sour smell out of towels? Why do my towels smell bad when they get wet? Sort laundry correctlySince they need a little extra care, always wash towels separately from other laundry. Also, sort by color to minimize bleeding from the dark towels. White towels should be washed separately from colors so they stay bright and do not get grungy.Load towels into machineKeep your loads of towels small to medium sized. Putting too many towels in your machine makes it harder for the detergent to dissolve and get fully rinsed out.Add quality detergent and vinegar if desiredUse less detergent than recommended for your towels. Detergent build-up is one of the primary reasons towels get stiff. Every few washes, or every time if you want, wash your towels with a cup of white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. The vinegar helps remove any detergent that has built up in the fibers.
It also restores the towel's ability to absorb water.Move towels to drier or line dryTowels mildew quickly if left wet in the washing machine. Do not overload the dryer. If there are too many towels in the dryer at the same time, the towels do not fluff enough and are not at maximum softness. If possible, avoid using fabric softener because it coats the fibers of the towels and prevents absorption. If softener is necessary, use as little as possible.Remove towels promptly from drierOver-drying your towels breaks down the fluffy fibers, and the towels do not last as long. Dry at a low heat setting until completely dry. If possible, let your towels dry in the air to prolong their useful life. Learn more about Laundry How do you wash towels? According to Better Homes and Gardens, colored towels should be washed with warm water and color-safe bleach every three to four days. White towels should ... Will towels get a burnt smell from being in the dryer too long? Unless a clothes dryer is malfunctioning, towels generally do not develop a burnt smell from being dried too long.
Clothing that smells burnt after drying ... At what temperature setting should you wash your towels? White towels should be washed on the hottest water setting. Colored towels may be washed in hot water, but the color may bleed or transfer to other lighter... How do you care for silk clothing? Care for silk clothing correctly to maintain the life of your garment. To launder silk, use cold water, a mild detergent, hair conditioner, a clean towel, ... What are some good laundry carts with wheels? Does Conair have manuals for fabric steamers online? How do you get water-based paint out of clothes? How do I prevent clothes from bleeding? How do you wash a chenille blanket? What are some non-ionic detergent brands?Washing a mattress pad, even a down one, is not as complicated as it might seem at first. The first place to look for instructions about cleaning is always the care tag attached to the mattress pad. If there is no care tag, however, the process might feel a little intimidating.
Caring for mattress pads just takes a little bit of common sense, and an understanding of the materials involved. Mattress pads help to protect the mattress, both from wear and from possible staining. They also help to ensure that sheets stay on the bed instead of shifting during sleep. In the case of other mattress pads, such as foam, feathered, or heated pads, the pad serves to add comfort or warmth to the bed. Most mattress pad manufacturers recommend washing the mattress pad at least once a month. If the mattress pad is on a child's bed, which might be subject to accidents at night or during naptime, more frequent washing is likely in order. Guest beds may not need mattress pads washed as often. Usage plays a big factor in how often mattress pads need washing. Before tossing a mattress pad in the washing machine, check to see if it has a care label. Some mattress pads need washing in warmer water, while others can only tolerate cold water. Use mild detergent, and avoid using fabric softener.
With a mattress pad, it is not necessary. If the care label says that putting the mattress pad in the dryer is okay, use only the highest heat setting recommended. Otherwise, it may be best to hang to dry. Each type of mattress pad has a specific purpose. Some may not be needed year round, such as heated mattress pads, whereas others are useful any time of year. Similar to a fitted sheet, with elastic in the pockets. Made from cotton usually, or other fabrics such as polyester. Can sometimes have a plastic backing, especially if intended for a child's bed. A flat pad with elastic bands on the corners to fit over the corners of the bed. Thin layer of memory foam. Most commonly just sits on top of the mattress. A feather-filled mattress pad, often with elastic bands to hold it in place. Foam carved in the shape of the inside of an egg crate, with peaks and troughs. A mattress pad similar to an electric blanket with heating elements and electronic controls.
Sometimes combination mattress pads are available that combine features of each type. One example of this is a feather mattress pad layer over a memory foam core. Before cleaning a down mattress pad, check for any rips or tears that could lead to escaped feathers. Check also for a care label that indicates whether washing in a machine is okay. If you cannot wash the down mattress pad in a machine, take it to a dry cleaner for cleaning. In a machine, use mild detergent. Use the delicate setting, and set the machine for an extra rinse, if possible. If the machine does not have this setting, simply run a second rinse cycle once the first wash cycle completes. Put the mattress pad in the dryer with two to three tennis balls to keep the feathers fluffed. Use the lowest heat setting and make sure the pad is completely dry before putting it back on the bed. Look for a care tag on the mattress pad. Some foam can stand up to washing in the delicate cycle of the washing machine, but others have to be hand washed.