Inn Quality Sheets for the Home, Airbnb or B&B
Whether you are a homeowner, Airbnb host, Innkeeper or a fine hotelier, you can take advantage of our expertise garnered over the course of nearly a decade of selling sleep at our Maine Inn. From the beginning, one of our primary concerns as inn owners was providing our guests with the very best sleep experience possible. And our efforts paid off. As a result, by far, the most commented feature of our inn was our bedding. The most frequent comments made in our breakfast room, in our reviews, and guest books are “this is the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had” and “I didn’t want to get out of bed” and “where can I get these sheets”?
It’s no accident that our guests loved our bedding. Over the years we cultivated an expertise in bedding. We have learned from experience how to select the best Egyptian cotton bed sheets. We know what qualities to look for, and what they should cost. One thing we learned early on is that quality is not cheap. As lodging consumers ourselves, we have stayed at many lodgings, including five star hotels, Michelin rated, Rellais & Chateau, and found to our surprise that very few had really high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. There are many reasons why a boutique Inn or expensive lodging would choose not to provide the same high thread count Egyptian cotton bed sheets we use, but none of those reasons is for the comfort of the guest. We suspect the primary reason is the price. We don’t think the quality of the Egyptian cotton bed sheets is where a fine lodging should cut costs.
We used only high thread count Egyptian cotton bed sheets at our Bed & Breakfast and the results speak for themselves. This is in part because of the care and application of our Egyptian cotton bed sheets and bedding. But most importantly it is because of our selection of suppliers and manufacturers for their consistent high quality. Our expertise in the selection of Egyptian cotton bed sheets has resulted in our lodging customers reporting an amazing level of satisfaction. So if whether you are outfitting your summer home, your camp, your bedroom, or your fine lodging property, you can find the best possible quality here.
What is Egyptian Cotton?
The term Egyptian cotton has evolved into a generic term. Since the time that cotton was first planted in Egypt in the mid-1700s the reputation for quality came to be synonymous with the geographic location. Soon any producer of Egyptian cotton bed sheets that were high quality called them “Egyptian Cotton” whether the cotton was grown in Egypt or not. Presently “Egyptian cotton” in the best sense is meant to refer to high quality long staple cotton. A “staple” is a single strand of fiber from one cotton boll. The longer the staple the better the cotton. Because cotton is grown all over the world, and because anyone can label their cotton “Egyptian Cotton” even though it may be called Egyptian cotton, it may not be extra-long staple cotton.
If the Label is Not A Guaranty How Do I Know If I am Buying High Quality?
So, how can you know if you’re getting the quality meant to be expressed by the term “Egyptian Cotton”? The best way of being assured that you are getting a high-quality product is to buy from a source you trust (keep reading our suggested vendor is at the bottom). The term Egyptian cotton refers to long staple cotton, but there are extra-long staple cotton varieties grown in other parts of the world as well as in Egypt. And what’s more, there is also inferior cotton grown in Egypt. So, why should you care? Because you want to get the best for your money. Extra-long staple Cotton is the highest grade because of the length of the fiber regardless of where it is grown. Egyptian cotton bed sheets made with extra-long staple cotton are stronger and softer, because they can be made at a higher thread count per fiber.
Can I Rely Upon Thread Count As A Measure of Quality?
You might be surprised to learn that the answer to this question is no. Just as Egyptian Cotton is a label sometimes misapplied to inferior quality sheets, so too high thread counts can be used to disguise a low-quality product.
The reason is that if a sheet is made with a high thread count, but from short staple rough cotton, then the bed sheet will not last as long. Sheets made from inferior quality will not be as soft or as durable despite having a high thread count.
So, If the Egyptian Cotton Label and Thread Count Are Not Reliable, What Is?
The answer to this question is trust and expertise. If our Egyptian cotton bed sheets are not comfortable than our lodging guests are not happy. We have been buying Egyptian cotton bed sheets and vetting suppliers for eight years. We sell sleep. The best way to get a high-quality cotton bed sheet is to buy sheets from a supplier who knows how to choose the best extra-long staple cotton to put into their high thread count sheets.
Bed Sheet Terminology
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- THREAD COUNT: The measure of the number of threads vertical and horizontal in a square inch. A quick feel and look can indicate a really low thread count. A low thread count sheet will show its weave when held up to a light. Higher thread count sheets last longer, are softer and shrink less than lower thread count. Of course, as you would expect, the price increases with the thread count
PERCALE: A smooth, flat, closely woven and combed fabric that comes in 100% cotton or 50/50 cotton/poly blends. Finer than muslin, expect thread counts here to range from 180-250. - PIMA or SUPIMA: This is long staple cotton grown in the United States, it is American “Egyptian Cotton”. Incidentally, all cotton was originally from the Americas before its seeds were imported and planted in other places, such as Egypt. Supima is the extra-long staple fiber cotton of Pima cotton grown in the Southwestern United States.
- EGYPTIAN COTTON: Unfortunately is a generic term for cotton, supposedly for extra-long staple cotton. However, since there are no international standards, and the term is used interchangeably and generically, it cannot be relied upon as a measure of quality.
- SATEEN: a weave construction that has more yarn surface on the face of the cloth than other basic weaves giving a softer hand and more lustrous look. Percale sheets generally wear better and grow softer with age, while sateen tends to be softer initially, but do not last as long.
- The softest sheets we ever had were percales that have been washed and hand pressed many times.
- THREAD COUNT: The measure of the number of threads vertical and horizontal in a square inch. A quick feel and look can indicate a really low thread count. A low thread count sheet will show its weave when held up to a light. Higher thread count sheets last longer, are softer and shrink less than lower thread count. Of course, as you would expect, the price increases with the thread count
Our Suggested Vendor for Sheets: