There’s nothing better than collapsing into a soft, welcoming bed at the end of a long day, and your bedding and sheets contribute greatly to this. Skimping on the cost of bedding often means you’ll be lying on sheets that don’t offer the best comfort, and because sleep contributes so much to your overall health and wellness, you should be trying to get the best sleep you can. Let’s look at some of the reasons why you shouldn’t be opting for the cheapest bedding, and rather spending some money on it. Let’s look at some of the reasons why you shouldn’t be opting for the cheapest bedding, and rather spending some money on getting an affordable mattress.
They Use Inferior Quality Fibers
The basis of any good set of bedding is the fiber it’s made from. Organic cotton and other natural organic fiber alternatives as noted in this post are definitely the preferred choices. Try and stay away from cheaper styles of manufacturing bedding, the most popular of which is cotton-polyester (sometimes called polycotton) blends as they don’t offer the same level of comfort and features as pure cotton bedding.
The Weave is of a Lower Quality
If there’s anything that will directly influence how a sheet feels more than anything else, it’s the weave. It can also contribute greatly to the bedding being low-cost or on the more premium end. The most basic of weaves, which are made by weaving the same number of horizontal threads as vertical threads are the most cost-effective, followed by a weave pattern called percale. Usually, this is where you’ll want to start, as percale has a thread count of 180 or above. There are other weave types, each increasing in complexity and cost, but adding more comfort to the bedding.
The Thread Count Is Lower
Thread count certainly isn’t everything, but it makes a marked difference in the comfort and feel of your bedding. For the greatest comfort, your thread count should be between about 400 and 1000, but be aware that the higher the thread count of your bedding, the heavier it is.
In fact, thread counts of 800 or more are often double-ply, meaning your bedding is going to be twice as heavy as a 400 thread count one. While you’re looking at thread count, consider the type of cotton used too. Long staple cotton, like Egyptian cotton, offers softer and much more durable bedding than short staple alternatives.
They Are Finished with Harsh Chemicals
Price doesn’t always dictate the finishing process of bedding manufacturing because most bedding is finished using chemicals of some kind. These chemicals aid with softness, sheen, locking color into the bedding if it is dyed, and stop them from becoming creased or losing their original shape.
Some brands offer a range of sheets that are not finished with chemicals at all. You’ll see these sheets referred to as ‘pure finish’ or similar. There are some downsides to this process which might mean you’ll be spending more time keeping the wrinkles out of your bedding, but if you’re someone that suffers from allergies, this might be beneficial to you.
The Dying Process is Done After Manufacturing
In cheaper bedding, all of the patterns and colors are added via dye after the manufacturing of the bedding. In more premium bedding, these colors are created by using yarn-dyed fabrics. This means the fabric comes to you softer and needs less pre-washing to become comfortable.
As with most things in life, often buying something cheaper will end up costing you in the long run. With bedding, you’ll likely end up replacing your bedding more often or getting inferior quality night’s sleep. Since you spend so much time sleeping, it should be a priority to put real time, thought and budget for a few good quality sets of bedding.
