Explain Egyptian Cotton to a Dummy

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I need all things Egyptian Cotton explained to me.

I've spent the economy of a small country on bedlinen in the past and I still can't get it right. Basically what I want it very good quality cotton or Egyptian cotton, plain white with nothing on it in a duvet, fitted sheet and pillowcases.

I am probably solely responsible for The White Companies profits but I am still not happy with their bedlinen sets. In the past I've bought really expensive ones and have ended up binning some of them. I've binned linen ones as they are too creasy and wishy washy, I've binned flannelette ones as they are too hot and now I am about to store away a really expensive cashmere/ cotton one because it creases like mad and is too hot. I've had white ones with blue bits on it and other colours and they just fade.

What I actually want is a really nice, crisp, PLAIN white duvet with no bits of coloured piping, no seersucker, no frilly bits of lace. Just plain white and crisp.

Cotton sateen ,cotton percale, Egyptian cotton 200 thread count and then up to 1000 thread count???

What happens as the thread count gets higher? I don't want it to feel silky. I just want it to feel like really nice cotton and a bit crisp.

Before I go drop another £2-300 on a duvet set I need to get my facts right first.

Finally, are there any other places apart from The White Company to buy pure white, very good quality crisp white bed linen?

You could try King Of Cotton. I bought 2 sets of bedlinen from them last year in 600tc, sateen. It's not 'crisp' but it's nowhere near as 'soft & silky' as the 300 or 400tc covers & sheets I had previously. Their percale range is probably what you'd want.

It will need ironing. Unless you're like me and don't bother every time. (Been known to throw a bedspread over the bed if anyone's staying and likely to see into the bedroom.)

In my experience - I've been working my way up in thread count over the years - the higher thread counts need more ironing than the lower ones but are worth the effort. Although I wouldn't bother with more than 500 or 600 unless I had someone to do my washing & ironing for me ;)

www.kingofcotton.com/section.php/6/1/egyptian_cotton_bedlinen

Retired
How do you think King of Cotton compares to White co.

Years ago we got some from Costco that were very high thread count Egyptian cotton.

We went to Egypt on holiday and the sheets were like silk, but wrinkled . Even in 5* Luxury hotels they didn't iron them ! It's part of the charm (I think)
Sadly white cotton tends to go manky (I blame DH , its always his side) you can rescue it a bit with washing then hanging out in bright sunlight .

I buy hotel linen .
The sheets last years and are crisp.
I've used a few different suppliers but
most recently -.allwhitelinens

Have you looked at soak and sleep? I've found their 200 TC Egyptian cotton very nice and crisp without breaking the bank.

Positive Sorry, but have never bought from White Company so can't compare. In the past I've had John Lewis own brand, Sheridan, and Hotel brand (from House of Fraser). I think all of their Egyptian cotton range is single ply too, don't know about WC.

If you're anywhere near SW14 or, Banstead or Byfleet they do have shops www.kingofcotton.com/article.php/51/our_stores

Mine are Aldi, very decent and reasonable, but they don't stock all the time

Let me know if you ever want to burn flannelette bedding, I'll rescue them

Bin! Not burn...

You're not actually putting this stuff in a bin are you? I assume you mean you took it to a charity shop?

Charity shop if still in good condition.

I've just bought some from the Secret Linen Store.

I have bought Linea bedding and Sanderson bedding, expensive but good quality and will last. Don’t rely on thread counts, they are a guide only and cannot be relied upon. It is the quality of the thread that counts not the quantity of threads. I was caught out once buying a high thread count, it was so thin as, yes it was a high thread count but the thread itself was so thin that the overall fabric was flimsy. I don’t explain myself well so google about the thread count.

On holiday the bed had the most amazing duvet cover and bedding so I hunted down the label and have bought my own.

I love plain white bedding and have now found the secret of keeping them bright white and crisp when washing them.

Mine is from this company

www.mitrelinen.co.uk