Archive for Bedding
"Organic" vs. "Chemical Free" Part IV
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How is “Chemical Free” related to Toxicity?
As we discussed in our last article, the term “organic” is not a very scientific way to determine if something is good or bad for you. Scientists determine how “good” or “bad” something is for you by measuring its toxicity. One standard method of doing this is measuring the LD50. In a series of experiments, groups of test subjects are given varying doses of the chemical in question and the researchers record how may subjects die as a result of that exposure. The dose required to kill 1/2 of the subjects is known as the LD50 (Lethal Dose for 50% of the subjects)
Although this test is the accepted standard, there are some problems. The only thing it tells you for sure is the LD50 for the test subjects you used in your experiment. If you were testing a new pesticide for boll weevils, you would want it to be very toxicto boll weevils. Repeating the same experiment using rats could give quite different results and using humans would be unthinkable.
Because we can’t (and should not) use humans as test subjects, we really don’t know for sure what effects low dosages of chemicals have on humans. As a substitute, scientists determine levels that are known to be toxic to animals (usually mice) and then compute a safety factor of 1/10 , 1/100 or in some cases 1/1000 of that dose and define it as the “allowable level.” In some cases, government agencies add their own level of safety by only permitting levels 1/10 of those establish by the scientists resulting in a safety factor of 1/10,000 or more!
So “chemical free” products are really products that contain no chemicals that exceed “allowable” toxicity levels for that chemical. So go ahead… buy that set of chemical free twin size Egyptian cotton sheets you’ve been looking at.
Still considering “organic” cotton sheets? Before you buy, see my next article to see what “organic” really means.
"Organic" vs. "Chemical Free" Part III
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What Chemicals are “Chemicals?“
As we have discussed in previous articles, there really is no such thing as “chemical free.” Everything we see and touch is composed of one or more chemical compounds. So when someone says there product is “chemical free,” what they are really trying to say is that it contains “good chemicals” and no “bad chemicals.” Sometimes the term “organic” is thrown in the mix to emphasize the “good chemical” concept.
I terms of chemistry, ”organic” simply means any carbon containing compound. (Click Here if you don’t believe me) By this definition, the molecule of methane (shown to left) is an organic molecule and could legitimately be called “organic.” However, none of you would want your kids breathing this stuff because it is also known as natural gas… great for heating your house or BBQ but not at all healthy in your lungs. So in chemical terms… organic doesn’t tell you if a chemical is “good” or “bad” for you.
Still worried about chemical residues in that set of queen size Egyptian cotton sheets you’ve been thinking of buying? The real issue is not “chemicals” or “organic” it’s toxicity. Read my next article to find out how scientists determine toxicity and how it relates to those Egyptian cotton sheets you’re thinking of buying.
Queen Sheet Sets
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Couples will agree that a queen-sized bed is perfect as a matrimonial bed. The king-sized bed is too large and might occupy too much space in a room. A double bed, on the other hand, might be too close for comfort. The queen-sized bed is just right.
That is why gifting a newlywed couple with queen sheet sets is a great idea. Most likely they’ll appreciate these sheets. Even if they get more than one set, it doesn’t matter because these sheets are practical and something that they will definitely use.
Full size egyptian cotton sheets
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Hotels take pride in providing comfort to their guests at all times. They make sure that each guest will be satisfied with their service. They rely on guests, particularly loyal clients, to keep the hotel bustling.
That is why hotels try to outdo themselves to attract more and more guests. They may entice them with full size Egyptian cotton sheets or fluffy terry cloth robes. Others may even offer money-saving promotions once in awhile.
"Organic" vs. "Chemical Free" Part II
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Why Do Cotton Growers Use Chemicals?
Technically, anything and everything we see, touch or feel is a chemical of some sort. However, when people use this term in daily conversation, they are usually referring to man-made (synthetic) chemicals.
Cotton crops are frequently plagued by numerous pests, the Cotton Boll Weevil being the most well known. Boll Weevil larvae feed on the growing cotton bolls and make the cotton unusable. A infestation can wipe out an entire cotton crop and bankrupt the grower. To protect their livelihood, cotton growers have become increasingly dependant on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Some experts estimate that the cotton industry is responsible for approximately 1/4 the world wide use of these products.
Due to the well documented harm caused by DDT and other early synthetic pesticides, the public has become quite fearful about any “chemical” used in agriculture. Some consumers worry that the cotton fibers in the Cal King sheet sets they just purchased might still be coated with toxic chemical residues.
Is this worry justified? What options do consumers have available? Read the following articles and find out.
"Organic" vs. "Chemical Free" Part I
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What is the difference between Organic and Chemical Free sheets?
When reviewing product descriptions for sheet sets and other cotton products, two terms are frequently mentioned: “Organic” and “Chemical Free.” What do these terms mean and how do they relate to sheets?
If you were to talk to a chemist, he would tell you that in scientific terms, “Organic” refers to any chemical compound composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms. Oxygen, Nitrogen and other atoms are often combined with hydrogen and carbon to form a mind boggling array of molecules that are the building blocks of life as we know it on this planet. The term “Chemical Free” has no basis in science since everything we see, touch and feel is actually a chemical of some kind. The only “thing” that is truly “Chemical Free” is a complete vacuum.
So why do advertisers use these terms? MARKETING!
The public perception is that Organic is more “Eco-friendly” or “Green” than other products. Retailers know that a growing number of customers look for organic labeled products and are willing to pay premium prices for them. Before you pay extra for those twin sheet sets you’ve been looking at… you may want to know the real difference.
Read my next few blogs to find the difference between regular, “Chemical Free” and “Organic” cotton products.
Determining Thread Count
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In previous articles, we’ve discussed the importance of thread count in determining the quality of sheets. Because few of us have a microscope available to actually count the threads, how can you be sure you’re not buying a re-labeled product? Here are a few hints.
Always buy from a reputable retailer. This does not mean you need to buy the most expensive set of sheets you can find but beware of prices that seem too good to be true. Does the store or website specialize in luxury linens OR do they also sell kids toys and kitchen sinks? If a retailer isn’t specialized, chances are good that they have minimal knowledge of their products and are more likely to not know what they’re selling.
The most reliable ways to determine if you are getting what you are paying for is weight. A 300 thread count set of queen Egyptian Cotton sheets weights about 4-5 pounds, a 600 thread count set weighs 6-7 pounds and a 1200 thread count set weighs 8-9 pounds. This is one of the main reasons high thread count sheets cost so much; they take a lot more raw materials to make. It’s also why they’re worth the money… you get a lot more sheet.
What About Thread Ply?
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In our last entry, we discussed thread count… how many threads per inch of fabric and why it was important. Thread ply is less understood. While higher thread count is usually considered better there is some discussion, even among the experts as to how to measure thread count and the argument usually centers around the term “thread ply.” Before we discuss “thread ply,” we need to define thread.
A thread is a very long thin strand of something. Nylon thread might be a single extruded piece of plastic many yards long. Other than silk, natural fibers such as cotton don’t get that long and so they need to be spun into threads. If you were to look at a thread under a microscope, you wound find that at any given point, several cotton fibers are twisted together each one overlapping the next. If you make the thread too thin, the fibers won’t overlap enough and the threads will be weak and break easily. Because Egyptian Cotton fibers are so long, it is possible to spin much smaller diameter threads without compromising the integrity of the thread.
Once you’ve spun individual fibers into threads there are at least two options: you can weave fabric directly from these threads OR you can create stronger threads by twisting two threads together to create a 2 ply yarn and then weave the yarns together.
This is the point at which the experts start arguing: Some assert that if you twist two threads together (2 ply yarn) you can only count these yarns when advertising thread count, others assert that a thread is a thread, and that it is perfectly legitimate to count both threads in a 2 ply yarn when advertising thread count.
So what does this mean to you? If you’re comparing two full sheet sets ; one advertised as 600 thread count single ply, the other as 600 thread count 2 ply… lets do the math:
For the single ply: 600 yarns x 1 thread/yarn = 600 threads/inch
For the 2 ply: 300 yarns x 2 threads/yarn = 600 threads/inch.
The point is that each of these sheets contains the same amount of cotton. The difference is in how it was twisted and woven together. In short, the argument between 1 ply and 2 ply is a matter of opinion not fact. What really matters is the underlying quality of the fibers themselves. Cheap short fibers create inferior fabrics no matter how they are spun and woven together. Stick to products made with 100% Egyptian Cotton and you’ll be OK.
Does Thread Count Matter?
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Thread count is universally perceived as a measure of fabric quality. Department stores frequently carry thread counts in the 100-200 thread count ranges and often advertise anything 300 thread count or greater as “luxury.” So what about those specialty shops or websites that advertise really high thread counts… sometimes as high as 1200! Are they for real or is it just marketing hype?
Thread count is simply defined as the number of threads per inch of fabric. The human eye has a difficult time quantifying anything smaller than 150 parts per inch so you can’t tell the difference between 300 thread count sheets and 600 thread count sheets by looking at the fabric. You also can’t tell the difference by the feel, at least when the fabric is new.
If you can’t tell the difference by look or feel… does it matter? Yes it does.
Take a close look at the photo above. The salmon colored fabric on the left is a low thread count fabric made from short staple cotton. Note the air gaps between the fibers and note the fuzzy loose strands… those are fibers breaking away from the fabric. They will probably fall off the next time the fabric is washed and end up as lint in the dryer.
The winter white fabric to the right is obviously different. It is high thread count Egyptian Cotton fabric. There are only a few small loose fibers and they are probably firmly attached due to their length. The fabric on the right will outlast the fabric on the left and may actually end up being more economical in the long run.
Does Softness Help You Sleep?
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If you’re wondering why anyone would ever spend more money on sheets than they have to, you obviously aren’t familiar with Egyptian cotton vs. regular cotton. People who know the benefits of 100% eqyptian cotton sheets are usually willing to spend a few or even a 100 additional dollars for their superior quality.
Here’s why: Egyptian cotton is much softer and more luxurious than lower-priced bedding. This has to do with the length of the fibers used in the weave of the cotton. Most people can tell high-quality cotton from low-quality cotton simply by the feel of it. The higher thread count of Egyptian cotton also makes it longer lasting and able to stand up to frequent washing and use.