Let’s talk about sheets babes. What’s your preference? Satin? Egyptian cotton? Whatever is clean and fits the bed? Are you hip to this so-called ‘millennial’ trend of not using a flat sheet? I must be like, so trendy, because I’ve been doing that with my kids for years. (It’s just easier and they don’t miss it. Or care, or think about sheets, ever).
While I consider myself a pretty easy-going person, I’m a drama-queen of the highest degree when it comes to the types of sheets I use. I absolutely can’t stand microfiber, polyester should be internationally outlawed, and jersey is basically the same thing as sleeping in a giant sweaty t-shirt. I said it. Flannel? I’d rather sleep on a bed of snakes.
Speaking of, we stayed at the cutest little AirBnb in California a while back, and everything was adorable and perfect until we got into bed and rubbed up against the roughest set of flannel sheets to ever exist on this earth. Like, they probably exfoliated my legs. To make things worse, the mattress also had this super-crinkly cover underneath, so it was literally like sleeping on a hot flannel diaper. I had nightmares all night, zero stars.
So when California Design Den contacted me to do a review of their 600-thread-count 100% cotton sheets, they did so at their own risk. I warned them of my sheet snobbery. They sent them anyway.
I expected something along the lines of those sheet kiosk things you sometimes see at a swap-meet or on the side of the road (maybe this is only a Phoenix thing? Please confirm if roadside sheet sales also exist in your part of the world?) I’ve never been tempted by these sketchy sheets, but I’ve heard that they seem impressive at first and fall apart after a couple washes.
Likewise, these new sheets also seemed great at first. Light, breathable cotton. Soft, but with a little ‘snap’ to it, like straight out of a high-end hotel. Deep 18″ pockets that had no trouble staying on our pillow-top mattress. But would time tell a different story??
I put them through a few weeks of washes to see if they held up, and was thrilled to see that they have, perfectly. They feel even better now than the day they arrived.
It comes down to the authentic 600-thread count. (Don’t be fooled by imitators. Not every claim of “XYZ” thread-count is accurate. Those ‘1000 thread-count’ sheets you bought at TJ Maxx for $34 are lying straight to your face honey).
Luxury sheets are typically around 400 – 800 thread count, and that number itself depends on the fabric of your sheets. Satin threads are thinner, so sateen sheets may have a higher number, but linen sheets of the same caliber could be lower, just because the thread itself is larger. If you see a number that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Flannel doesn’t even have a thread count because flannel is the worrrst.
Not only was I happy to find that these are truly top-quality sheets, I was also happy to learn that California Design Den sheets are made ethically, sustainably, and with environmentally friendly materials and processes. Each product is created in a socially compliant, LEED v4 certified factory that supports more than 300 working families. Sheets are measured individually and hand-inspected for perfection before shipping, so you’ll never get a wonky sheet, they guarantee it.
Is it worth it to pay more for quality sheets? Yes. One hundred percent. They’ll last longer, get better with age, and – I’m convinced – improve your quality of sleep. You spend so much time in contact with your sheets, why spend an extra minute with some less-than fabric like gross microfiber that suffocates your body and snags on your toenails and dry heels. You know the feeling. *fullbodyshudder*
But good news for everyone! I was surprised to see how affordably priced these sheets are too. So put back those liar-liar TJ Maxx sheets and spend just a bit more for true quality. I’m happy to endorse California Design Den and definitely give them my sheet-snob stamp of approval. Find them here on Amazon. (affiliate link)
And now, here’s my crazy tip for making your sheets last forever and feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven, and heaven is your bed like you suspected all along:
I put them on the bed, wet.
Shocking? Perhaps! I wash my sheets and they go straight from the washing machine to the bed. Obviously they are not soaking wet, dripping up the stairs, making my mattress a soggy cess-fest, but they are damp. I learned this trick years ago from the Pioneer Woman, and I’ve done it ever since for a few reasons.
First, it saves your sheets from the wear and tear of the dryer. In the past, I’ve had sheets go in the dryer a-ok, and come out shredded and torn. Most manufacturers actually suggest that you only lightly dry your sheets. You shouldn’t be putting them in there to roast on high for 60 minutes, what do you think you are doing, baking a cake? You are not.
So I bypass the dryer completely and put them right back on the bed. The fitted sheet, then the flat sheet (untucked), then I smooth the pillowcases out on top of that. This works for me in my desert climate, and my sheets are perfectly dry in a couple of hours. I understand that not everyone lives in an arid wasteland, so this isn’t possible everywhere. Too bad for you, because not only does it extend the life of your sheets, it feels SO GOOD.
Since they lay flat while they dry, the sheets will naturally ‘iron’ themselves out. I’m talking smooth as glass. Wrinkled sheets are a thing of my past. Every time I climb into bed after washing my sheets, it’s like I have a personal butler who quietly buttles around my house, concerning himself with ironing my sheets and such things. I feel so pampered. Really though, it’s a treat. There is definitely a difference in how a freshly flat-dried sheet feels vs. one that got deep-fried in the dryer and came out in a wadded up ball. And they still smell just as fresh!
The left side of these pics shows my damp, fresh-out-of-the-washer sheets, and the right is a couple hours later. Crazy huh?
I wish I had a super fabulous master bedroom to show you right now instead of wet sheets, but I’m currently at a stage where getting laundry done is a huge achievement, so lets just celebrate it for the win it is!
Tell me all your deepest thoughts about sheets, no really, I want to know.
Find more California Design Den products here.
