What is the difference between Egyptian cotton sheets and regular cotton sheets?
It was thought for ages that cotton was cotton and thread count
was king when choosing quality sheets. That is no longer true.
Consumer guidelines for buying bedding suggest that cotton from
Egypt is superior to other cotton. Is this true and, if so, what is
the big difference? Egyptian cottons are used to create bedding of
all types from sheets to pillowcases to comforters. The long staple
or long fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton means that there is more
continuous fiber to use when creating threads or yarns. This yarn
is smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller
yarn means that more threads per square inch can be use to create
stronger fabric which is light in weight yet breathes well. More
threads per inch mean that the thread count on the bedding label
will be higher. Many buyers think that choosing high thread count
sheets is the only gauge of quality. This is not true, but in the
case of cotton grown in Egypt, the higher thread count means the
fabric will be incredibly strong and will last for years and years.
If cared for properly, Egyptian produced cotton fabric used for
creating bedding products can last for decades. The hand or feel of
the sheets created from Egyptian grown cotton is a bit harder than
other cottons when the bedding is new. However, with every single
laundering, the cotton sheets from Egyptian fibers become softer
and softer. Like a fine wine, age improves the Egyptian fiber
cotton bedding and, unlike many products, you will prize your
Egyptian fiber sheets of cotton more and more as they age and
become soft and cuddly. Cotton grown in the Egyptian fields will
also produce less lint and therefore will not pill after repeated
washings as some materials may do. At one time, the only way to
obtain Egyptian fiber cotton sheets was to shop in high-end
expensive stores. This is no longer true and most department stores
and online bedding stores carry a selection of Egyptian produced
cotton sheets and other bedding items for the buyer seeking this
quality product. King Cotton was once the name for the cotton grown
in the Deep South of the United States. This cotton has much
shorter fibers or staple than the Egyptian produced cotton.
Egyptian fiber is now considered the king of all cottons for its
durability and luxurious feel. After all, we spend almost one-third
of our lives in our beds and our bedding should be comfortable and
durable. Choosing the right sheets made from the king of cotton,
Egyptian produced fibers, you will experience a bed that is
comfortable and cozy.