Egyptian Cotton Vs. Sateen Sheets
Choosing between Egyptian cotton and sateen sheets often comes down to your budget and personal preference. Egyptian cotton sheets are more expensive, costing up to $500 per set, but the fact that they can last several decades might make you rest easier with the price. While sateen sheets are softer on the budget and feel supple even when new, they wrinkle easier. Does this Spark an idea?
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Egyptian Cotton Fabric
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Egyptian cotton comes from the gossypium barbadense plant, which originates in tropical South American climates such as Peru and the West Indies, but it also can grow in regions of the U.S. Its long, thin fibers give Egyptian cotton fabric its luxurious feel.
Egyptian Cotton Sheets
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Egyptian cotton sheets are breathable and perfect for any season. They won't produce much lint, and the long fibers result in higher thread counts, making the sheets more durable. Egyptian cotton tends to feel coarse when new and won't begin to soften before several washings. However, the sheets will maintain a crisp, ironed look because their construction.
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Sateen Fabric
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Sateen isn't a material but the process used to produce the shiny appearance. Sateen is 100 percent combed, carded or long-fiber cotton threads that have been "mercerized," or soaked in lye and then acid, to give the fabric its sheen. The sateen weave uses a satin stitch, which is one vertical thread for every four horizontal threads. This exposes more threads to the surface, producing a smooth finish.
Sateen Sheets
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The strong cotton fibers in sateen sheets can be dyed or bleached and will last for many years. Sateen also has a high thread count, drapes well and resists mildew.
Warnings
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Beware of inexpensive Egyptian cotton sheets because the lower price usually signals a cotton blend with a lower thread count, which will be less luxurious than true Egyptian cotton sheets. Inexpensive sateen sheets usually have been "calendared," not mercerized, which means they were pressed between rolling pins to produce the sheen. They will lose their luster after several washings.
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References
- Photo Credit frhuynh: Stockvault.net
