| With all of the hype surrounding thread counts, and | | | | the supple fabric possible. You need to watch out |
| some of the questionable tactics some | | | | when you see manufacturers say something is |
| manufacturers use in order to say they have 1000 | | | | Egyptian cotton. That may well be partially true, but |
| threadcount bed linens, it would be a great idea to | | | | it could be blended with other shorter cotton fibers, |
| take a look at what you're really getting for your | | | | resulting in supposedly Egyptian cotton bed linens that |
| money. | | | | just don't perform well or last as long. |
| Threadcount is supposed to be how many fibers you | | | | I can't tell you the number of times I've gotten |
| can get into a square inch of fabric both horizontally | | | | e-mails from people that insist that the sheets that |
| and vertically.This means there really is a physical | | | | they bought were actually 100% pure Egyptian |
| practical limit to the numbers possible.That limit is | | | | cotton, and they're wondering why they are pilling |
| pretty much maxed out at 500 threads per square | | | | and stiff. The real deal will last for many many years |
| inch. | | | | if properly taken care of. And that means wash them |
| Some companies try to tell you that they can get | | | | in cool or lukewarm water only. Oxygenated bleach |
| twice that number of fibers, but when you look at | | | | on occasion only when absolutely necessary to |
| this issue closely it's just not possible -- unless that is, | | | | remove stains that otherwise just will not come out. |
| you make those fibers half the size and then twist | | | | And take those sheets out of the dryer befor they |
| them back together. | | | | get bone dry people. Heat, whether it's from hot |
| What you have then is thinner, somewhat weaker | | | | water or your dryer will break the fibers down on in |
| fibers by at double the density. Kind of a sneaky | | | | the fabric faster than you can imagine. Get them out |
| marketing ploy. | | | | while they're slightly damp and just hang them up. |
| I think it's a better idea to shop for 100% pure | | | | Your sheets should get softer and more supple and |
| Egyptian cotton in a percale or a satin weave... with | | | | even more of a delight to sleep in as time goes by. |
| thread counts around 400 being as high as I would | | | | So there you have it... the perfect way to get truly |
| probably go. The point is to look for the Egyptian | | | | luxury sheets and bed linens without falling for all of |
| cotton because it has the longest and strongest | | | | the marketing ploys out there trying to convince you |
| fibers hands down. | | | | to part with your hard earned money unnecessarily. |
| And it will produce the strongest, most durable and | | | | |