Beyond Thread Count: What to Look for in Truly Natural Bed Sheets

Back in the day, when I’d shop for new bedsheets, the very first thing I’d look at was the thread count. The higher the thread count, the more expensive. And higher must be better and more luxurious. Right?

Surprisingly, the answer is often no.

There are a few reasons why thread count is no longer the sole measure of a high-quality bed sheet. Let’s talk about why, as well as what you really want to look for when you’re shopping for new sheets.

In this article

• What to look out for
  • Inflated thread count
  • Low-quality fibers
  • Sleeping with toxins
• Naturally soft bed sheets
  • Fiber and pattern
  • Organic cotton
  • Fabric options, beyond cotton
  • Real thread count
• Putting it all together: the ultimate bed sheets

What to look out for

If you’re looking for naturally soft sheets, there are three main qualities you’ll want to check on the label or website.

1. Inflated thread count

Thread count is supposed to be a measure of how many vertical and horizontal strands of fiber are woven together per inch, based on a single ply of thread. But as consumers like me (and probably you) began equating thread count to quality, manufacturers got clever.

Bedding brands that wanted to market a higher thread count, began weaving two or more strands of thread together to create a two-ply yarn. Since they used two threads instead of one, they began to artificially double the thread count of their sheets on the label. In other words, what was a 300 thread count sheet by traditional measure, was now marketed as a 600 thread count sheet.

While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) still uses the traditional definition of thread count, it isn’t always enforced and this tricky new practice is selling tons of lower quality bedding.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering? All else being equal, those 600-count sheets won’t feel any softer than the 300-count sheets. They also won’t last any longer. They’ll just cost more.

2. Low-quality fibers

For a single-ply of thread to make a soft and durable bed sheet without any help from harsh chemicals, that thread has to be made from cotton fibers that are naturally long, strong, and soft. But bed sheet manufacturers that use two-, three-, and even four-ply threads can get away with using thinner, low-quality strands since they will be woven together to ultimately form a thicker yarn.

This thicker yarn is often artificially enhanced in order to improve the durability and comfort of the sheets. And how is this done? You guessed it: with chemicals. Without the chemicals, this thicker yarn would not be as soft or last as long as the single, high-quality strand of woven fiber.

3. Sleeping with toxins

In addition to inflating their thread count and using a lower quality fiber, brands will often treat their fabric with “hand enhancers”, using silicone and/or chemical treatments. So when you poke your finger into the packaging to feel the sheets, they feel incredibly soft and you want to buy them.

When they use silicone, this soft feel is misleading since the silicone is washed away the first time you put the sheets through the laundry. Alternatively, if they used chemicals instead of silicone… well, those stay put and keep the sheets feeling soft.

Neither softening option is appealing if you ask me.

By the way, manufacturers also use chemicals to make their sheets look shiny (which we also equate to softer and prettier) and to make them more resistant to wrinkles, stains, and shrinkage. Obviously, this is a big problem for those with chemical sensitivities, though I’d think anyone who lays their face against their sheets for 8-hours a day would be bothered, knowing these contaminants were in there.

And by the way, these chemicals can also weaken the fabric, make the sheets rougher, and reduce the fabric’s ability to breathe. In other words, the sheets won’t last as long, they won’t be as soft, and they won’t keep us as cool and comfortable on warm nights.

Naturally soft bed sheets

When you’re shopping for high-quality bedding that is soft and cuddly (without the chemicals), there are a few factors to consider.

1. Fibers and pattern (meaning how the fibers are woven or knit together)
2. True thread count
3. Toxin-free manufacturing

1. Fibers and pattern

For cotton bedsheets that are naturally soft, check the package or website to make sure they are woven from a single-ply of longer fibers. If you’re willing to pay extra for premium bedding, look for the fibers to be described as “extra-long”.  These will often be labeled as Egyptian, Sea Island, or Pima cotton.

In terms of pattern, choose sateen, jersey, or flannel if you prefer a softer feel. Or opt for percale if you prefer crisp sheets.

For the best performance, choose a high quality fiber + low thread count over a high thread count + low quality fiber.

Fabric options, beyond cotton

Cotton may be the most common choice in bedsheets, but it isn’t your only option. Luxury bedding is also made from hemp and [tooltip tip=”Linen comes from the flax plant.”]linen[/tooltip].

• Hemp is considered a renewable resource and is easily grown without the use of pesticides. It is great for regulating body temperature, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.
• Linen is also considered a renewable resource. It’s incredibly strong, hypoallergenic, and naturally resistant to dust.

Both hemp and linen sheets can be soft, comfortable, and manufactured without harmful chemicals. And while some brands dye their linen and hemp (ideally using plant and mineral colorants), both are absolutely beautiful in their natural, undyed state.

2. True thread count

For cotton sheets, look for a thread count between 200 and 400. For reference, the highest count possible that a long, single-ply thread will produce is around 400. This is because only around 400 threads will fit on the loom. Anything over a 400-count isn’t going to offer you a higher quality sheet.

Linen is a naturally thicker fiber and doesn’t need as high of a thread count to feel luxurious. Expect to see a thread count between 80 and 150, if any is listed at all.

I couldn’t find any information from textile websites regarding thread count for hemp sheets. Neither could I find one listed in any product descriptions for brands that sell them. Given this, I have to assume that thread count isn’t a strong measure of quality for this hemp, so I’d judge it based on how it feels (in person) or by the reviews (online).

Anything over a 400-count isn’t going to offer you a higher quality sheet

3. Toxin-free manufacturing (organic is the way to go)

Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, are made with plastics and petrochemicals that can cause rashes or other skin issues. Cotton is a better choice, but the way in which it was grown and produced matters — a lot.

Conventionally grown cotton is dirty, dirty, dirty. It is heavily sprayed with pesticides and then chemically processed into yarn and fabrics. By contrast, organic cotton is grown without chemical inputs and, if the final product is also certified organic, then it has also been manufactured without harmful chemicals as well.

Putting it all together: the ultimate bed sheets

For cotton sheets (the most common), be sure to look for a 200 to 400 thread count of single-ply, long-fiber cotton that has been grown and manufactured to organic standards.

Whether you choose cotton, hemp or linen sheets, make sure they have not been treated to be resistant to wrinkles, stains or shrinkage, as these are all signs that you may be inviting chemicals into your bed. Along those lines, also check for wording that indicates they have not been bleached or dyed with harsh chemicals.

If you check these boxes, you should be able to find all-natural sheets that are high on quality and comfort, and free from tricks and toxins. Sweet dreams!

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• http://www.standardfiber.com/materials/bedding-basics/about-thread-count/
• https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/09/higher-thread-count-doesn-t-guarantee-better-sheets/index.htm
• https://solorganix.com/blogs/impact-the-world/understanding-thread-count
• https://www.holylamborganics.com/blogs/news/the-truth-about-thread-counts-organic-cotton
• http://www.truthaboutthreadcount.com/pure-linen.html
• https://www.tapetex.com/uploads/E.031721.v1%20-%20Linen%20-%20Renewable%20Resource.pdf
• http://www.refinity.eu/blog/material-loops-resource-biodegradable-recyclable

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