Is Egyptian cotton better than 100% cotton?

If you’re not familiar with Egyptian cotton, then you might find yourself asking whether it really is better than 100% cotton. After all, it’s all cotton, right? You might be surprised to learn that regular cotton is a completely different species of cotton plant than Egyptian cotton. Egyptian cotton is delicate and produces a stronger, softer fiber than regular cotton. Egyptian cotton sheet sets don’t pill or produce nearly as much lint as a regular cotton sheet, even after 20 or 30 washes. Furthermore, it is more porous and elastic, giving you a better night’s sleep on a breathable and silky fabric. Ultimately, the sheets you use determine how well rested you feel in the morning. Regular cotton is produced from a certain plant species, harvested en masse with machinery, and then separated out for thread production. This combines millions of yards of cotton together in the same production line. Egyptian cotton has long since been considered superior for its durability, strength, flexibility, and breathability. The superior processing starts on the field, where Egyptian cotton is handpicked to select from the finest quality plants and prevent unnecessary stress on the fibers for maximum durability. The delicacy that Egyptian cotton plants are treated with translates to a more durable bed sheet that can withstand more washes and will stay soft longer, as the fibers aren’t coarse and spliced like regular cotton.

What is Giza Egyptian cotton?

Egyptian cotton is a well-known buzzword in the bedding world. However, shoppers are less familiar with the term Giza cotton and so these two terms are often used interchangably. A high-quality fabric, Giza Egyptian cotton is a desirable material thanks to its strength, quality, and softness. Boasting extra-long staple fibers, Giza cotton results in a finer yarn and ultimately a more satisfying night’s sleep. Grown along the fertile Nile River, Giza cotton enjoys special qualities thanks to the nutrient-rich soil in which it’s cultivated. Additionally, the high humidity levels in this part of the world result in an ideal growing environment for cotton. Although Giza cotton only makes up 20 percent of the ELS cotton in the world, it’s widely regarded as one of the best bedding options on the market today. Keep reading to learn more about Giza Egyptian cotton and discover tips on choosing the best bedding for you and your family.

Why choose Egyptian cotton bed sheets over bamboo?

With so many options for bedding available, it can often be difficult to understand what makes an Egyptian cotton set superior to the rest, even silk. It’s no secret that each sheet set is the most luxurious you can buy, and adding crisp comfortable materials to your bedroom has the potential to make you feel like you are sleeping at a five-star hotel. Perhaps even more importantly, this material is incredibly breathable, durable, and are not likely to accumulate pilling, meaning that a tremendous amount of value comes with investing in a medium thread count Egyptian cotton sheet set. These Egyptian cotton sheet sets will last a long time and retain their silky comfort even during heavy use.

While you may think that luxury bedding would be more delicate than cheaper alternatives, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Compared to other sets like bamboo or goose down, these sheets are incredibly durable and long-lasting. If you take the time to care for your Egyptian cotton bedsheets properly, they are guaranteed to have a longer lifespan than any of their cheaper, lower-quality counterparts. Egyptian cotton fibers are tightly woven to form fabric that can withstand years of intense wear even without a protective duvet. As is the case with all bedding, these sheets should be washed on a weekly basis. Oils, dirt, and dust left on sheets for a prolonged period of time can cause irreversible harm to the cotton fibers, stretching and wearing them thin. Over time, this can shorten the life of your bedsheets. It is a common misconception that washing your sets reduces their longevity. The truth is, high drying temperatures is the culprit. When you launder your sheets, be sure to follow the care instructions and don’t make the mistake of putting them in the dryer at a high temperature, which can shrink or damage the material. If your dryer does not have an air-dry setting, it is best to hang-dry the sets in an area with good air flow and low humidity to ensure they last as long as possible. The same should be done with your duvet, goose comforters, and pillows to extend their lifetime. If you don’t take the time to properly wash and dry these other sets, any built-up oils will transfer to the sheets once you make the bed again.

Ultimately, the purpose of all bedding is to help you sleep more soundly and comfortably, which is why comforters made of goose down and supportive, ergonomic pillows are all the rage right now. Many people forget that breathability is one of the most important qualities in any new set. Egyptian cotton is the pinnacle of comfort, especially for those who tend to run hot during the night. There’s nothing more frustrating than losing sleep due to overheating, which is why many warm sleepers opt for more breathable sets to ensure they don’t wake up sweating in the middle of the night. Egyptian cotton is incredibly breathable, allowing air to flow through the sheets throughout the night, keeping you cool and cozy, unlike the more popular bamboo sets. Other popular bedding materials cannot even come close to the level of comfort and breathability that Egyptian cotton offers, from the bedsheets to the pillows.

Sometimes bedding that has been washed and dried several times begins to develop pilling, which can be a frustrating battle between keeping your sheets free from oils and ensuring they last as long as possible. Pilling refers to tiny balls, or pills, of fabric that form on your sheets that are as uncomfortable as they are unattractive. These rolls of fabric accrue oils as you sweat, hanging onto the grime even after washing, making it more difficult to keep your sheets clean. This eventually leads to itchiness and an uncomfortable night’s sleep, causing you to toss and turn throughout the night. Sheets made from lower quality materials have the tendency to pill easily. Once these bedsheets develop pilling, they won’t retain the soft, silky texture that they had out of the box. Egyptian cotton bed sheets, on the other hand, are not nearly as susceptible to pilling as these other materials like goose, nylon, flannel, and bamboo. Egyptian cotton fibers have an extra-long staple, and as a result they rarely produce lint and are unlikely to form pills over time. Ultimately, this means that the pillows and bedsheets made of this material are more durable and have a longer lifespan. You’ll stay cozier longer, and while worn in sheets can be incredibly comfortable, worn out ones definitely are not. All you need to create a long-lasting safe haven of comfort is a quality duvet and a night-time routine to promote relaxation.

The suggestion that Egyptian cotton stripe sheet bedding could be described as cost effective could, at first, sound contradictory to everything else you’ve ever heard about these high-quality sets, however, you may be surprised to discover that it is completely true. When you think about purchasing top quality bedding, consider it an investment as opposed to your typical retail purchase. It’s not like buying any other type of bedsheet; it is more akin to purchasing a high-quality duvet or comforters that you plan to take care of and enjoy for decades to come. This investment isn’t a light purchase to make, but it can greatly improve your quality of sleep, helping you feel more energized and well-rested throughout the day. By choosing to invest in high-quality, durable bedding you’ll end up saving money in the long run because you will not have to replace them as frequently. Lower quality bedding simply cannot withstand the same degree of wear and tear that comes with use and repeated washing as Egyptian cotton stripe bed sheets. This is a strong mark in favor of investing in good quality sheets. Better yet, these sheets come in a wide range of sizes from California King and King, to Queen and Twin. No matter what you need, Pure Parima has the softest and most durable luxury bedding available, helping you find a cost-effective solution to replacing worn-out sheets of lower quality. How often have you had to replace inexpensive sheets in the past? Think about how the cost of replacing your bedding adds up over five to ten or even fifteen years. By that point, you would have replaced your mattress once or twice over already, but lower quality bedsheets – even bamboo varieties that boast longevity and durability – tend to wear out every 6 months, or every year at the latest. That ten to fifteen year mark is how long you can expect Egyptian cotton bed sheets to last with proper care and maintenance. That’s an incredible difference, with clear savings even in the short-term, especially if you have a larger bed like the Cali King or King that tends to be more expensive than Queen sizes. Chances are you’d save money making one high quality investment during that time frame instead of several more inexpensive purchases.

How is Egyptian cotton produced?

As you may have gathered by now, not every cotton solid sheet is created equal. There are several species of cotton, and Egyptian cotton grown in Egypt’s Nile region is made from the species Gossypium barbadense . ( 1 ) While American Pima also originates from the same species of cotton, it’s the Egyptian climate that yields longer fibers than cotton grown anywhere else in the world. This unique species is used to make bedsheets, comforters, and many other types of durable, luxury goods that are then delivered all over the globe for a better night’s sleep. Egypt is most popularly known for its desert soils, it’s a wonder that one of the most luxurious products comes from these lands. Cotton production in Egypt took off in the latter half of the 19th century, largely due to increased irrigation as well as increased demand resulting from the Civil War in the United States. Since that time, the world has come to better understand the importance of a good night’s sleep with quality materials. Egyptian cotton has only increased in popularity worldwide, creating demand that helps give jobs to the people of this region and slowly develop the desert into an oasis of cotton fields. The same plant that produces Egyptian cotton also produces a type of cotton called Pima cotton in other parts of the world. However, the climate in Egypt produces longer fibers than any other cotton, making bedsheets and comforters from this region superior in quality to cotton from the same species in other parts of the world. Some people believe that Egypt is the home of luxury, where the climate is harsh but like grapes into wine, develops the most beautiful flora of the region for luxurious purposes in other parts of the world. It may even become a popular tourism destination in coming years, much like wine country is a popular choice for vacations today. These long fibers are handpicked, which ensures that the fibers remain perfectly intact during harvesting, and then it is spun into extra-fine threads, which are then woven into a high-quality fabric that is more durable than one might expect. This fine fabric is then distributed for production into goose down comforters, luxurious bedsheets, and many other products for the modern world. This fabric is then dyed, and because of Egyptian cotton’s innate ability to absorb liquid, it responds well to dye colors, yielding sheets with deeper, brighter colors. Sometimes it is even blended with goose feathers or another type of down when producing comforters of all colors.

How can you tell if Egyptian cotton sheet sets are real?

While it isn’t necessarily common to find sheets advertised as Egyptian cotton that turn out to be completely synthetic and inauthentic, it’s important to understand how to tell if sheets marketed as Egyptian cotton are truly the real deal. Often you’ll find sheets that contain small amounts of Egyptian cotton labeled as “Egyptian cotton,” which is incredibly misleading. Blended with other fabrics like goose down, nylon, or other types of cotton, these sheets have created a sense of confusion for many buyers. In other cases, some sheet sets may be cotton, but may contain no traces of genuine Egyptian cotton at all. When shopping for Egyptian bed sheets, the first thing you’ll want to look for is certification from a verifying authority like the Cotton Egypt Association, which uses advanced scientific technology to conduct DNA tests to identify authentic Egyptian cotton and verify that the material is 100% genuine. Products that have been vetted by the Cotton Egypt Association will have the Egyptian Cotton logo visible on their packaging. However, the Cotton Egypt Association does not specify the count or grade of Egyptian cotton contained in bedding thread. It’s also worth checking that the product claims to use 100% long-staple Egyptian cotton thread, which is without a doubt the highest quality no matter the count. While a high price point is not always a hard and fast indicator of authentic Egyptian cotton bed sheets, chances are you won’t find sheets of such high-quality at rock bottom prices. You should be suspicious if you spot sheets claiming to be genuine Egyptian cotton but are priced surprisingly low. If a deal feels too good to be true, more often than not it is.

How long do Egyptian cotton sheets last?

These sheets are naturally very durable, so you can expect them to last a long time. However, as is true of most linens and textiles, their longevity is largely impacted by how well you care for them and how you wash them. Those who take the time to care for their Egyptian cotton bed sheets properly can anticipate that they’ll last quite a while. In many cases, Egyptian cotton sheets that are well cared for can last up to fifteen years.

How often should you change sheets?

How often you change your sheets will not only affect the overall longevity of your sheets, but it will also affect your quality of sleep. A lot of people try to avoid washing their sheets as often because it is thought that the sheets will degrade in quality the more you wash them, turning them scratchy and cause them to start pilling. Fortunately, these are not problems you will have with Egyptian cotton, because they are a premium quality that is unmatched by other cotton sheets, staying cool and soft for many more washes.

But what about your quality of sleep?

As you sleep on your sheets, body oil transfers from your skin to the bedsheets making even the most pristine and cool sheets wrinkle and begin to affect your rest over the night. This not only damages the fibers in the sheet, wearing the elasticity and softness down, but it can cause you to toss and turn throughout the night, uncomfortably sleeping on a stiff cotton thread count that is wrinkled and doesn’t breathe. Without breathability, your sheet may cause you to sweat even more, making the problem worse. To combat this without wearing out your Egyptian cotton sheets, we find that balance is usually achieved by using your sheets for one to two weeks before you wash them is ideal. Even better, if you rotate between two or three different sets, you can change out the colors and thread count on your bed for the seasons while also extending the lifetime of each sheet set.

Caring for Egyptian bed sheets

In order to keep your Egyptian cotton bed sheets in great condition, they should always be washed in cold water using a mild, liquid biodegradable detergent. It is recommended that you do not use bleach or any other potent stain removers because it can cause staining. In the event that your bedding is particularly dirty, use warm water for washing. To get the most longevity out of your Egyptian cotton bed sheets, line dry them. However, if you cannot line dry, place them in the dryer on low heat or using a delicate cycle. Warmer temperatures can damage or shrink your sheets’ natural fibers. If necessary, you may iron your sheets on a low heat setting.

Storing Egyptian bed sheets

Depending on the season, you may have extended periods of time during which you’d like to store your Egyptian cotton bed sheets. Natural fibers require room to breathe, so it is recommended that you store your sheets in a cool, dry area that is well-ventilated. If you plan to store Egyptian bedding long-term, wrap them in fabric, and then place them into a bag or box. This will help avoid yellowing as well as prevent odors or dirt from seeping in. It is also a good idea to store these bedsheets away from goose down or other types of filled materials, as these tend to collect oils and moisture.