Egyptian Cotton Is The King Of Cottons

When it comes to bedding and cotton for years we were told cotton was cotton but what was important was a high thread count. Now suddenly it seems that Egyptian Cotton has become the King of Cottons.

So what exactly is thread count? It is the number of vertical and horizontal threads that are found in a one inch square of fabric and it can range from 80 to 700 with the average being somewhere between 180 and 320. The higher the thread count the softer the fabric feels.

Thread count has become especially important in the past few years due to some great marketing. But don’t confuse thread count with linens that will last longer and a higher thread count doesn’t always mean higher quality. Some manufacturers are known for twisting two threads together in a manner that allows them to claim a 380 thread count which is really bordering on false presentation.

But wait! There’s a new player on the bedding front. It’s called Egyptian cotton and it has been found to be far superior cotton.

Why you ask? Well Egyptian cotton is made from a long fiber which means there is more continuous fiber present when threads or yarns are being made. The yarn is tinier in diameter yet it is stronger than other cottons. This means that more threads can be used per inch creating a lighter, stronger, breathable fabric.

But wait! More threads per inch means it’s going to have a high thread count. It’s totally irrelevant to the quality of this cotton but for those of you stuck on thread counts it will make you feel better.

Egyptian cotton which is used for all types of bedding including comforters, sheets, shams, including pillowcases. And what’s so great about Egyptian cotton is that each time you wash it, it becomes softer. It improves with age just like a good bottle of fine wine.

Egyptian cotton also produces less lint and so you don’t get that awful pilling after many washings. It wasn’t that long ago if you wanted fine Egyptian cotton you had to shop in elite boutiques and pay big dollars, but now you can purchase it online or at your local department store. It’s become an open market because of its popularity.

The cotton that is grown in the deep South in the United States for yeas has been called King of cottons as it was the best on the market. But its shorter fibers make it no match for the long fiber Egyptian cotton which has now earned the title of King of cotton.

When purchasing cotton product be sure to read the labels carefully. They can be quite deceptive! To common tricks are the use of the term cotton rich which translated means there is a little bit of cotton and a lot of something else. There is also confusion with the term percale which so many people think is a type of cotton. Percale simply means the thread count must be a minimum of 180 count. Percale can be blend of many fabrics.

The only way to be sure you are buying pure cotton sheets is to look for the 100% cotton on the labeling whether you are buying American or Egyptian cotton.

When reading the labels for Egyptian cotton you’ll discover that the thread count is a whopping 400 or higher. There are several lines of Egyptian cotton and it’s used by many designers for superior quality linens.

Today Egyptian cotton is King of cottons and if you want to be the Queen of bedroom linen be sure to buy Egyptian cotton!

Aura Mirchandani is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory.