Egyptian Cotton

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Shopping for linens can get confusing. Knowing more about the product you are shopping for will help save you time and ensure that you purchase a product of superior quality. If sheets are what you’re looking for then you may wonder how 1000 thread count sheets vary from jersey-material sheets, or 300-thread count sheets.

Thread count refers to the number of threads, both vertical and horizontal, present in one-square inch of fabric. But thread count can be affected by a variety of factors such as the ply and thickness of the threads used. Some fabric dealers say that thread count doesn’t matter (the numbers at least) and that the type of fabric is the most important thing to consider when your buying sheets. But owners of 1000-thread count sheets would tell you otherwise.

Regardless of what type of sheets you decide to buy, try feeling the fabric between your fingers before you leave the store. If you like the feel buy them, if not pick try another set.

Why A Specialty Retailer May Be The Best Choice

In this 4 part series, we have discussed the relative pros & cons of purchasing Egyptian Cotton sheets from online auctions, discount retailers and local discount warehouses. The real question is:

When you’re shopping for 100% Egyptian Cotton Sheet Sets, is an online or local specialty retailer worth the extra money? I believe the answer is yes and here are several reasons why.

Quality:

Specialty shops stake their reputation on selling high quality products. That’s how they differentiate themselves from their less expensive competition. Because Egyptian Cotton sheets are so much more durable, you won’t need to replace them as quickly and may even save money in the long run.

Consistency:

Because specialty shops “specialize”, they establish long-term relationships with a few reliable suppliers who can supply exactly the same product month after month, year after year. If your 2 year old finds Mom’s lipstick and starts coloring on the pillowcases, you can probably get a exact replacement pillowcase from a specialty shop without having to replace the whole set. (Try doing that at your local warehouse!)

Selection:

A specialty shop is more likely to have your bed size in stock, particularly if you have one of the less popular sizes. They probably will also offer a wider range of thread counts and colors to fit your needs and budget. Specialty shops usually carry a selection of accessories designed to match their Egyptian Cotton sheet Sets including duvet covers, bed skirts and extra pillowcases.

When you consider that you spend up to 1/3 of your life in bed… you owe it to yourself… buy the best sheets you can afford. Buy 100% Egyptian Cotton sheets - the Gold Standard by which all cotton sheets are measured.

The Wholesale Warehouse Temptation 

As the US economy slows down, many consumers are changing their shopping habits and spending more time and money at the big “discount warehouse” stores. You know them… the places that are stacked floor to ceiling with pallets full of products, shopping carts that are actually freight dollies and crowds of people looking for bargains on everything including office supplies, groceries, chocolates and yes even Egyptian Cotton sheets.

 Let’s be fair: everyone wants a bargain and these stores usually have good quality products and great prices. I shop there and you probably do as well. So why shouldn’t you buy your sheets there? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros: You can save time and gas by shopping in one store. You can be reasonably sure that you are getting value for your dollar. These stores value their reputation and check their competition and products carefully.

Cons:

You can only shop when the store is open (and when everyone else is shopping too.)

Supply is limited or seasonal. I’m sure you’ve experienced this with other products… you buy one and love it. By the time you get back to the store, they’re all sold out. Next year, the warehouse buyers find a new best deal from another vendor.

Limited Accessories: What if you want an extra set of pillowcases or a matching duvet cover to match your light blue 600 thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets? Do they have those in stock? Will they still have them in stock 6 months or a year later?

Ultimately the choice is yours but before you run to your local warehouse… read Part IV of this series for the advantages of buying from a specialty online retailer.

Read Product Labels

In Part I of this series, I discussed the practice of relabeling: taking a low thread count sheet set and replacing the label to make it look like the customer is buying a higher quality sheet set. An even more common practice is the use of the term Egyptian Cotton to describe sheets that are a mix of cotton species and or other fibers. Unfortunately, a product can legally say “Egyptian Cotton” with as little as 10% Egyptian Cotton content! Since the consumers have come to recognize that Egyptian Cotton is higher quality than other varieties, they could be tempted to pay more money than they should.

 Consumers should read labels carefully. If the label doesn’t say 100% Egyptian Cotton, it probably isn’t. Another clue is the distinctive logo of the Egyptian Cotton Growers Association. (Shown to the left)

Because licencing requirments for using this logo are so stringent (and expensive) most retailers do not display this logo on their websites or store fronts even if their products are genuine. If you’re buying in a bricks-and-mortar establishment; check the product packaging before you buy. If you’re shopping online, check the product label when you recieve your order. If you didn’t get what was advertised… send it back.

 So next time you’re in the market for a set of Cal King size Egyptian Cotton sheets, shop carefully by asking questions and reading labels. Getting the genuine product is worth it!