Question about High Thread Count Sheets

10 years ago

I have had two sets of very high thread count, very expensive sheets and they didn't last beyond a year. The threads just start coming apart. Has anyone else had this problem?

I have 40-year old percale sheet sets that still have lots of years of wear in them. And I really like the feel of the percale sheets when sleeping. However, it is hard to find percale sheet sets today.

I just know that I will never buy high thread count sheets again.

Comments (31)

sjerin
10 years ago
I think the problem with many sheets these days, as with women's clothes, is that the cloth is too THIN!! My mom too has old sheets that are nice and thick and crisp that I'm sure she bought for a song. I used to buy Costco sheets with a high thread count, but they didn't last long due to how thin they are. How do you find thicker sheets? I doubt the weight is listed on the label. :)
nicole__
10 years ago
I did some reading up on this. Silk is "very" high thread count for instance. Imagine sleeping on silk sheets, washing them and having them last......hhhhhhmmmm.

So far I've purchased 2 sets of 400 TC sheets(JCP). They're very heavy & are ok.

So ........I'm with you! I have a new set of 250TC sheets that are crisp, pretty and are my favorite set. I'd rather sleep on these.
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susanjf_gw
10 years ago
i bought 2 sets at costco and stil have them but hate sleeping on then as they wrinkle and bunch, and talk about washing? faded the first time and they were only a light brown...

know they're cheap and have to be sure to get the 15" "sides (for our thicker mattress) but have been buying jersey sheets from either wm or target...no bunching of the bottom sheet and seem to be as cool or better than "sheets"...and i don't feel bad paying under $30...(4pc sets) and they havn't faded, although i do have a small hole on an older set, lol....
pekemom
10 years ago
The higher count sheets are usually softer but also more fragile. Mine didn't last over a year either... partly because the peke put a rip in them, that's my fault...I got some 400 count with a stripe design in the same color that are doing well for now, they seem to be stronger.
dees_1
10 years ago
I've got some 600 thread count sheets I got from Target about 8 years ago and they're great! I found another set on clearance for like $20 and bought them but haven't opened them yet. I'll look for them and check out the label to see if there's anything special about them. They were not terribly expensive when I bought them (The problem is sometimes the higher thread count material just uses thinner thread. They can then state 1200 and you might think it's high-end and luxurious. But in reality, it's just a thin thread that's tightly woven. Those thin threads may not hold up.
amicus
10 years ago
I couldn't agree more! I have bought really 'top quality' high thread count sheets, and they always come out of my dryer extremely wrinkeld. They are very difficult to iron and I can only partially get rid of the creases even after going over them very thoroughly.

On the other hand, my 40 year old Percale sheets from Sears (a wedding present) are STILL in great condition. They are super soft and come out of the dryer with no need for ironing. I only bought the high thread Egyptian cotton sheets because I wanted some in different colours. Around here, Percale sheets are hard to find, but I noticed that Sears still carries them, so my next sheets will be nothing but Percale cotton.
linda_in_iowa
10 years ago
I had two sets that didn't last a year.The ones I have now are from LL Bean and seem heavier.
Georgysmom
10 years ago
I won't buy the higher thread count anymore. Much too difficult to iron and they get very wrinkly. I miss the percale, too.
pam_25f
10 years ago
I loved the old percale sheets. Nothing today comes close.
ruthieg__tx
10 years ago
I didn't know anyone still ironed sheets.....
ntt_hou
10 years ago
Uhhhh.... I think thread count is for comfort only. It has nothing to do with the quality of the fabric. You'd need to look at the fiber material used. Not all fibers are the same. Even cotton is not the same. The most preferred cotton is Egyptian cotton because of its supreme quality. It is also more expensive. The way a thread or yarn is processed gives its quality.
Fun2BHere
10 years ago
This is a very good article about what to look for when buying sheets.
http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/bedroom/when-buying-sheets-10000000684301/index.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Buying Sheets
jmc01
10 years ago
Vermont Country Store sells percale. I'm never going back to high thread count.

Iron sheets? Not a chance!
maxmom96
10 years ago
I've had a set of high thread count sheets, probably Egyptian cotton, for years. I can't remember because they're so old. They're a high quality name brand, patterned, and look so great with my comforter, so I hesitate to replace them, even if I had to. I almost hesitate to say it, but I strip the bed, wash the sheets, and put them back on the bed. Iron them? Never! Lazy maybe?

I love these sheets and they must easily be 15 years old and don't show any signs of wear and they do almost feel like silk.
sjerin
10 years ago
Don't get rid of them, maxmom!! You won't find another set like them. Good percale sheets don't seem to need ironing because they're substantial.

I recently bought some organic cotton sheets from Woot and althought they're thin, they're surprisingly comfortable so I also wash the and put them back on the same day. :) Looking for another set.
WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
Original Author
10 years ago
ntt_hou, both sheet sets I had that didn't last a year were very high quality Egyptian cotton. I am glad (and also sorry) to see others have experienced the same thing I have with the expensive high-thread count sheets.

Do you think the reason one seldom sees percale sheets anymore is that they are so long lasting, that the companies that make sheets decided they had to switch tactics and sell to the public the Egyptian cotton, high thread count sets, because it would increase profits since the "better" Egyptian cotton would not last very long?

Fun2BHere, thanks for the link. The article was very interesting and even speaks to the longevity of percale sheets.

jmc01, thanks for letting us know that Vermont Country Store still sells percale. Will take a alook.

This post was edited by walnutcreek on Tue, May 21, 13 at 13:28
jemdandy
10 years ago
You all are having the same experience with sheets as I am with mens long sleeve shirts. I have a few dress shirts bought 15 years ago from Penny's and those have stood up well. I can't say the same for shirts I've bought from Walmart over the past 2 years. The Walmart shirt looks ok at first, but after 3 to 4 washings, the collar pad will be peeking through a corner. With a few more wearings, the material begins to fail. That's unfortunate since the shirt was made well enough, but the frabric is poor and wears out prematurely.

I looked at the tags on the shirts at that Walmart store and all were made in China.
sjerin
10 years ago
Yep, we as a society want inexpensive, so cheap is what we get.
MiMi
10 years ago
A few months back I bought a set of sheets made by "Castlewood Manor", I got them at either TJ Max or Ross... can't remember which. They are 800 thread count, 100 percent cotton, not Sateen. I googled them on my phone in the store before I bought them, more good reviews then bad so I took a chance.... I absolutely love those sheets!...They are a nice heavy quality, not thin and lifeless. My husband says they are so comfy and feel wonderful. They come out of the dryer without one single wrinkle and are sized extremely well, the top sheet is almost too wide, if you can believe that. I wish I had bought 3 of these sets of sheet because just like most things in those two stores, when you go back it won't be there. I paid 47.00 for a king size set, fantastic price.
cruzinpattis
9 years ago
Dbfirewife

I too LOVE Castlewood Manor Sheets.
Don't remember when I bought them, several years ago...They come out perfect out of the dryer. No wrinkles at all. Plus they hold their size. Haven't shrunk. Sorry I didn't buy more.
They were worth every penny I spent.
katlan
9 years ago
You would have to PAY me to iron sheets, haha.
chisue
9 years ago
Acting on advice from the KT, I bought a set of Costco's Kirkland Signature 540 TC supima cotton sheets -- made in India. They have gone into the wash and back on the bed for two years now. While I prefer the crispness of percale, these are not *limp*, don't wrinkle much, and are comfortable.

I'd still like to find something comparable to the old Wamsutta percales I bought in the 1970's.
marie_ndcal
9 years ago
I look to see where they are made as I have had bad luck buying anything from India. Would love to go back to the sheets/towels made in US and using Calif cotton. They use to raise the cotton specially raised for fabrics as the threads were longer and stronger. This was in the Central Valley, not sure if they are raising any there or not.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
I was recently watching a video about sheets, fabrics and fitting. They said that the higher the thread count number the hotter the sheets will sleep. So if you are like me and sleep very hot it is not a good idea to go with a thread count over around 300.
IF you live where it is really cold then go for the 800-1000 or over range.

Have you seen the sleep tite sheets that have the elasticized sides, not just a band of elastic, but elastic up the sides? They are supposed to stay on the mattress no matter the size.
I have a cuddle bed mattress topper that has that type of sides and it is great, stays put and so easy to put on because of that.
Overstock has them and a little video to show how well they go on and stay. I have not tried them but if they work as well as the mattress topper I would love them.
ruthieg__tx
9 years ago
The Egyptian Cotton that I have I bought about 10 years ago right after we built the house...new house new sheets...They look terrible when they come out of the dryer, but they stretch out nicely on the bed...they were a high thread count don't remember now what but high...

I wash them put them back on the bed most of the time because they are cotton soft...I am way too lazy to iron a sheet and southern lady that my mama was. she was way smarter than that...

I think percale looks pretty but don't like the slick feel to sleep on...
nanny98
9 years ago
Like many others, I have old percale.... fancy at that, that are so comfy to sleep on, BUT, they don;t fit well over the deeper mattress. Bought some from QVC, high count and more wrinkles than I can count or want to sleep on. Seems like life was less difficult before we got 'taken in' by the luxurious sales pitch about high thread count. MY linen closet is looking pretty bare....
liz
9 years ago
I was given a really nice set of percales when we got married...in fact I'm still using them...AS PAINT DROPCLOTHES! and they still wont wear out...their over 34 years old now!! Now we have a big ole king with deep pockets and have three relatively good sets...one for the bed...one for the wash and one for the linen closet!

Thanks for all the tidbits about sheet buying...high count definitely doesn't mean good sheets!
cruzinpattis
9 years ago
I went to Marshalls to buy full set sheets....Very difficult to buy. Most are queen or king.
I did happen to find way in the back of the top shelf Castlewood Manor is queen...Bought it immediately...My favorite sheets...800 count thread for only $40...Fantastic deal...A set like this would be over a hundred dollars.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
9 years ago
This is a great thread (no pun intended) because I am researching duvet covers, never having had one before. I, too, have a percale flat sheet from the 60's, when sheets first came in colors. Mine is white with blue trim and little blue flowers! I can't believe it has lasted this long, but it is great!

Thanks for all the information. Hopefully I will make a good decision when picking out the duvet cover and future sheet sets!
jeaninwa
9 years ago
Iron sheets? Seriously? SMH over that one.
chisue
9 years ago
I'd iron 'em myself before I'd send them out to a laundry to be beaten and bleached to death, then have the wrinkles mangled in.

If I still had my mother's mangle -- and convenient *space* for it -- I might actually iron sheets. (Yeah, right.)

Question about High Thread Count Sheets

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