Let’s find out the truth about bed linen thread count.
I see and hear so much about thread count for bed linen, and people see this a sign of quality, but this is often used as a marketing tool.
To explain as clearly and simply as possible; the thread count is the number of threads in the warp, yarns running vertically, parallel to the selvedge, and the weft, yarns running across or horizontally.
The European standard is the amount of threads in one square inch, while in Australia it is more common to use 10 square centimetres.
The lack of an international standard means that even sheets with the exact same thread density can be labelled as having different thread counts.
For many years now, marketing thread count has been associated with being a mark of bed linen quality, but don’t rely on thread count as a mark of quality, you may just be influenced by great marketing.
Many bedlinen companies have hijacked this loose understanding about thread count by trying to promote the idea that the higher the thread count the better sheets are, and more expensive.
The average consumer has no easy way to measure thread count and they are therefore at the mercy of the retailers’ honesty when declaring their products thread count.
One thing to keep in mind is that thread count is only a small factor when it comes to assessing bed sheets and quilt cover quality.
With the development of more sustainable yarns like Bamboo and the more natural look of Linen, thread count is not the be all and end all of bed linen.
I would look for bedlinen that suits your lifestyle and your needs.
Bamboo bed linen and Linen sheets may not have the thread count advantage, BUT they are far better for the environment and your health.
I would say, when it comes to the environment and health, thread count does not always mean higher bedlinen quality and a better night’s sleep.