when buying sheets What types of sheets are available? -A Right Buy Guide -

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1 What to look for when buying sheets How to buy sheets What types of sheets are available? Your Ultimate Sheet Buying Guide -A Right Buy Guide -

2 BEFORE YOU BUY SHEETS! We ve put together some tips on what to look for when buying sheets read this before you do anything! True to our mission here at Right Buy, we ve kept this simple to save you time. We avoid jargon and explain in everyday language what type of sheets are available and what it means for you. Hopefully you find this guide of use - there is more to sheets than you probably thought! The Simple Summary: Cost Conventional $ 100% Cotton Egyptian Cotton $$$ Sateen (Cotton) $$ Combed Jersey $-$$ Cotton Cotton Polyester $ Blends Microfibre $-$$$ Percale $-$$ Allergy protection Easy Care Lifespan Breathability Index Bed Sheet Sizing What is Microfibre? What is a Cotton Thread Count? What are Sateen Sheets? 100% Cotton Sheets The truth about Egyptian Cotton Sheets What is Combed Cotton? Microfibre vs Egyptian Cotton Sheets What is Combed Cotton Jersey? What is Percale? What is Terry Cotton? 2

3 Bed Sheet Sizing Bed sheets come in Australia come in standard sizes of Single, King Single, Double, Queen and King. Even with mattress toppers, most fitted bottom sheets on the market today should still fit your bed. Pillow top mattresses do require you to find deep pocket sheets. Single size 92cm x 187 cm King Single 106cm x 203cm (buy this size if you have a Single Extra long 92cm x 203cm) Double 137cm x 187cm Queen 152cm x 187cm King 183cm x 203cm What is a Cotton Thread Count? Cotton and blends of cotton sheets come in different Thread Counts (TC). The higher the TC, the softer the sheets are. Be aware though that higher TC means it may not wear as well as the individual threads are thinner. 200TC or even 250TC is becoming more common now as the standard choice for sheets. Your cheaper sheets generally are lower in TC (e.g. 180TC). Unless you are an expert, most consumers won t notice the difference in quality when the TC is greater than 350. Labelling laws in the US means you won t see anything labelled above approximately 300TC whereas European Sheets can go higher in TC. You also may see products at 750 or 1000TC where the techniques used to make them boost the thread count without really improving the feel. So therefore when you are buying sheets, it s not just about TC but wearability, breathability and other practical factors. 100% Cotton Sheets 100% Cotton sheets have been historically the most popular and definitely look crisp and breathable and soften over time. They come in a number of varieties: conventional cotton sheets and the more expensive variations like Egyptian Cotton or Sateen Sheets. Conventional cotton sheets are subject to fraying or pilling over time. Of course all 100% cotton sheets are heavy and do have a tendency to wrinkle unless you take them out of a dryer or iron them! There is a newer fabric on the market which has all the advantages of cotton plus the wearability and practicality as well called microfibre see the section below. 3

4 What is Combed Cotton? Combed cotton is the result of a manufacturing method called combing. It results in a fibre much stronger than conventional cotton, a lot softer and less likely fray. As a result it is a little more expensive than conventional cotton sheets. It is also becoming more popular by sheet manufacturers because of its softness and strength. As a cotton sheet, these combed cotton sheets will have a thread count. What is Combed Cotton Jersey? This is a knitted cotton fabric (rather than woven) that ensures a real t-shirt like softness. As a result it is a little more expensive than conventional cotton sheets. It is still a 100% cotton product and ranges around 300TC. Combed Cotton Jersey sheets are often compared to flannel because of their softness but the advantage over flannel is that they can be used year-around due to their breathability. Who can go past Combed Cotton Jersey for comfort? They are the ultimate in winter warmth and cool in summer. Click here for our Combed Cotton Jersey Sheet Suggestions: What is Terry Cotton? A Terry Cloth is a type of woven or knit fabric that has uncut loops on a side of the material (looks like a shaggy soft pile!). Terry Cotton is generally 100% cotton and is very absorbent hence very suitable for towels and bathrobes (less so used in sheets). What are Sateen Sheets? For a little luxury, Sateen and Egyptian sheets are actually cotton sheets with different fibre constitution. Sateen sheets follow a particular method of production that means these types of sheets are instantly soft with a lustrous and distinctive sheen. Because of the production process it also means these types of sheets are more suitable for those with allergies. They are also cheaper to produce and easier to maintain than silk or satin (which is why silk and satin are less popular these days). Cheaper types of sateen sheets are available but they do lose their sheen over time. More expensive sateen sheets made under a different production method keep their sheen and are extremely durable. Click here for our Sateen Sheet Suggestions: 4

5 The truth about Egyptian Cotton Egyptian cotton is famous for its luxurious softness and comes in generally higher thread counts than Sateen. Make sure you buy products that are marked 100% cotton otherwise they are a blend of Egyptian cotton and other fibres. Out of interest, Egyptian cotton sheets are also not necessarily from Egypt as there are plantations around the world that produce this type of cotton. Egyptian cottons do look crisp and therefore initially feel coarse until they soften with age and washing. Sateen sheets in comparison are instantly luxurious although can look a little wrinkled. Egyptian cotton is generally more expensive than Sateen so it really comes down to budget and practicality for you. 5

6 What is Microfibre? If you dislike wrinkles (or hate ironing sheets!), polyester cotton blends are the best choice and generally more cost effective. Polyester has come of age these days and when blendedd can make sheets feel really soft. Historically polyester was known for not being breathable, however new manufacturing techniques these days has changed this. There are many benefits to polyester-based fabrics such as Microfibre that have been introduced to the market. Click here for our Poly Cotton Sheet suggestions: fitted-sheet-set-queen-bed/ Microfibre Sheets vs Egyptian Cotton Sheets The wonder of Microfibre sheets! They are generally quite wrinkle resistant and easy to care for. They are also much lighter than cotton, breathe just like cotton, dry quickly and last for many washes. They provide a luxurious feel and softness and being a synthetic are better for those with allergies. You can buy a high TC microfibre sheet set and compare it to a 1000TC Egyptian Cotton set and it could still feel softer. It also will generally be the same or a little lower in price than Egyptian cotton. Lower TC microfibre sheets however will be usually cheaper compared to Egyptian cotton and might have a greater tendency to pill over time so you need to aware of the quality you get with the price. Ultimately, it does come down to your budget and preference. Click here for our Microfibre Sheet suggestions What is Percale? Percale is a closely woven plain-weave fabric and can be 100% cotton or a blend. Any product with Percale usually means a 200TC thereabouts. It is unique and is a particular choice for those that know and want percale (or just came across it for a really good price!). Click here for our Percale Sheet suggestions 6