Sheets: Irish Linen, French Linen, or Superfine Cotton?

[Flaxbee]

OK, I will admit that as soon as I can manage to reach a financial milestone, whenever that may be, I want to splurge on some really, really nice linen sheets. Can't decide if the set should be Irish or French linen. Anyone have any opinions? Or, perhaps I should first sleep on linen sheets to see if they're all they're cracked up to be.

What do you like best?

[LeftyMom]

1. I have eighty skillion threads per inch cotton sateen.

They're niiiiiiiiiiice. Very soft. And they weren't much more than discount-store quality ones would have been.

I wouldn't want linen, because of how much it wrinkles.

[Flaxbee]

3. well, there is that. I have decided if I am foolish enough to buy

linen sheets, I should be willing to iron them with lavender-scented water spray :D You know, near the french doors opening out onto the idyllic rolling, flowered hills of the countryside. :rofl:

Supposedly, though, there is nothing nicer to sleep on than well-aged linen sheets. Though how they get well-aged w/o having to suffer through the itchy stage is beyond me. If you're not willing to buy used sheets, that is. ;)

[LeftyMom]

4. Run them through the dryer a few times before use?

:shrug:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. Tuesday Morning is a great place to get nice sheets.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

8. Ooh, I love that store.

Candles, frames, paper products, area rugs...

[Connonym]

5. This reminds me, I made an observation in the laundromat the other day

one I've also noticed with boyfriends -- men seem to prefer dark colored sheets but most of the women I know prefer light-colored sheets. Is this an actual phenomenon? Are white sheets to girly? Or do they just show the dirt and you have to wash them more often?

[LeftyMom]

6. Guythink v. Girlthink

Guythink: I can go longer between washes with dark sheets

Girlthink: With white I can bleach them and know they're clean, especially if I spring a leak on my period

[Chan790]

7. Effectively...

I bought orange ones because I got pissed about bedmates ruining perfectly-lovely sheets with sunless tanner. Mostly, I just hate the color white and its' derivatives, They're ugly and boring.

Edit: Just because it's amusing. I once lost an ultimatum that she had to decide between me and the white sheet set. You don't mess with a woman and her bedding.

[LeftyMom]

9. Do people not realize that stuff makes them look like an Oompa-Loompa?

My sister uses that spray kind they sell on TV. It says right on the box it causes cancer, so she might as well go get a real tan instead. :eyes:

[zanne]

15. Exactly, LeftyMom.

White sheets can be bleached to remove a multitude of sins. (Like fried chicken grease. Don't ask.)

[ForrestGump]

10. 1200-count Egyptian cotton

Never before slept on sheets this comfortable. Soft, thick (with sateen finish), and very comfortable no matter what the weather. Definitely well worth it (got a good deal, of course) and they have made a difference in my perpetually-awry sleep patterns, at least to some degree at times. Wash 'em on the gentle cycle and tumble dry low. For the pillow topmost next to my head, I use black satin pillowcases.

[SeattleGirl]

11. I agree.

They are wonderful sheets.

[KT2000]

12. Untreated cotton

they put lots of formaldehyde in sheets to it will last through lots of washings.
The untreated kind are the best IMHO.

[Tektonik]

14. Agreed

Some cheaper sheet manufacturers load their shit with chemicals. So many of the sheets have a strong chemical smell when they first come out of the boxes.

[Tektonik]

13. Here's some tips

The most important thing is the type of cotton that is used for the sheet. You want Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton or Supima cotton, but beware not all Egyptian cotton is good. Hopefully the cotton is brushed, singed, etc.

You want single ply sheets unless you like heavier sheets.

You don't really need anything much above 360 TC, beyond that the weaves are funny.

Blends with modal or bamboo are awesome; I guess lyocell can be good too, but I've never really seen any.

If you want to be a pompous ass, buy silk sheets :D.

Don't use fabric softener and follow the washing instructions.

[NV Whino]

16. Other--bamboo

I just bought some bamboo towels. Wow! Silky, soft, wonderous. Bamboo sheets are my list of wants. Check 'em out.

[Shakespeare]

21. Second that. Incredibly soft, and environmentally friendly, too.

They're just as soft/sleek as high thread count cotton sheets. :thumbsup:

[mainegreen]

17. I have a giant fan that allows me to sleep suspended in air.

It's great for those troublesome joint problems!

[Iggo]

18. Other.

Whatever's on sale at Target.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. Other: high count Egyptian cotton is the best. I think mine are 400

thread count and they feel like silk. I have some other 250 and 300 thread count sheets and although they feel nice, the difference just 100 threads makes is amazing.

Some of the manufacturers have either a sample piece or there is a way to touch the sheet w/out taking it out of the container to see how they feel.

Since I have a waterbed, I have to buy two king size flats instead of a sheet set which makes it harder to find what I want.

I prefer beige, cream, or white. I have a set of pink and a set of blue and a set of dark beige sheets currently.

[JCMach1]

20. Get satin... you won't need a wife, or GF then!

at least for some things...


However, they do have the tendency to crawl out of your bed at night!