Your Complete Guide to Buying Microfiber Sheets

When it comes to purchasing sheets the market is saturated with a 100 different types all claiming to be the best and most luxurious.

Unless you’re very fabric savvy or work in the textile industry, it’s easy to get caught up in all the hype and end up with a product that's not right for you.

Shopping for sheets can be incredibly tricky and frustrating if you don’t know what you're looking for. If you're a person who likes cotton, or high thread count cotton, you will want to make sure that you are purchasing a cotton product. If you like Microfiber Sheets make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck, by knowing what is a quality microfiber sheet and what is not.

With all the advertising gimmicks and tactics we are seeing today, it is very confusing and hard to know what you’re getting. Below are some red flags to watch for while shopping for sheets.

bedsheet set
Vilano 6-Piece Microfiber Sheet Set available in 18 colors.

 

Common Myths About Sheets

  • 1800, 1500 series, is not thread count, and generally means polyester.
  • Egyptian quality or Egyptian comfort. If the product is not called 100% Egyptian Cotton than 99.9% of the time, it's not.
  • Hotel Luxury, Hotel comfort, Hotel quality you will want to check the label to make sure the product you are buying is what you want. 

Buying Sheets Fact vs. Fiction

Knowing a few facts can make your bedding shopping experience go from blah to ta-dah.
  • The first step is knowing the product. Microfiber sheets are made out of a synthetic material, mostly polyester. As the name suggests “Micro” the fibers are very small and thin, once the threads are woven together they become extremely strong.
  • Microfiber and cotton sheets are significantly different and not the same.
  • Cotton is woven from natural fibers, and microfiber is woven from synthetic man-made fibers.
  • Unlike cotton, high thread count does not apply to microfiber. Instead, you will want to look at GSM (grams per square meter) the higher the GSM (100 GSM and above) the stronger and more durable your bed sheets will be.
  • Buying low-quality GSM (90 and below) microfiber increases the chances of your sheets ripping and falling apart after just a few washes. The difference in cost between a high-quality microfiber sheet set and one of poorer quality can be less than $10.00.
  • Another important part of this puzzle is the finishing process, as this will determine how soft and comfortable your sheet set will be. A good quality microfiber sheet set will be double brushed (meaning brushed on both sides) making it very soft to the touch.
  • When comparing sheet sets, you will want to take into consideration the components. Most sheet sets will come in a 4-piece set, but there are others that offer them in 6 piece set and higher. So you definitely want to be on the lookout for that.
  • Most of the time we don't even think about fitted sheets pocket depth until we are trying to put them on our mattress and they don't fit. A deep pocket sheet set should be a minimum of 15 inches, and an extra deep pocket should go up to at least 22 inches.
blue and white stripe sheet set

Microfiber sheet set in Coastal Stripes pattern.

Why Microfiber Sales are on the Rise

  • Affordable price point
  • Vibrant colors and fun patterns
  • Durable and lasts longer than a cotton sheet set
  • Washed and dried quickly
  • Stain and wrinkle resistant

At the end of the day, what you crawl into for a comfortable night's sleep, is all about you and personal preference. Whether you are looking to spend a fortune or keep to a budget, there is good quality product out there you just need to know what you're looking for.

At Southshore Fine Linens we believe in making soft quality bedding at an affordable price. We stand behind our product and offer a 1-year limited manufacturer warranty on all of our microfiber bedding. We love our customers and always keep you in mind.