Can I put this question about bed linen here please?

[pretend]

I would like to buy some new bed linen online. It's got to be plainish white and I'm currently looking at The White Company.

I want a little piece of luxury when I climb into bed, so I want really lovely quality bed linen. I don't mind paying a bit for it.

So, should I go for Egyptian cotton, pure cotton or something else? The stuff I've got on at the moment is really old, so I can't remember what it is. Although it has a really nice feel to it, it's a bitch to iron, and because I have better things to do than spend two hours ironing my bedding (like MN) it goes on unironed and looks like a screwed up rag.

So what I want to achieve is low maintenance luxury, if possible....

Can anyone help me?

Thanks

[lurkingaround]

Just to add, don't just look at thread counts when buying - higher tc doesn't necessarily mean better. Sometimes to make a high tc, they use poorer quality, thinner threads, to squish in (technical term) more threads per inch without increasing the cost. Feel the sheet.

[pretend]

This is where I'm struggling lurking because I'm buying online. Live in a silly place so I'm not able to actually test anything before I buy it...

[lurkingaround]

It is difficult then. Go for a good brand. (But there again, I've had some Sheridan sheets that wore really badly.) Pick a decent brand, and buy where there's free returns.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

INTERESTING
I got an email about non iron Egyptian cotton from none other than the white company and it did indeed pique my interest.


Anyone have this??

[pretend]

Ooh sounds interesting, but having had my fingers burned by Egyptian cotton (not literally) I'm wary!

Creasy bastards!

[Oxfordblue]

I've just bought my 2 DDs White duvet covers from Sainsburys. Interestingly they are 200 or 400 thread count but a poly cotton mix.
I've NEVER bought anything other than 100% cotton but this is lovely, quick wash, hung on the line to dry & in their beds looking fab. Duvet sets were £20 each.

[agoodbook]

very difficult - its nice to feel them
I have noticed that the higher the thread count, the nicer it feels, but it wears out more quickly, I tend to go for 300/400 count

[lurkingaround]

Hmm. Non iron Egyptian cotton sheets? Hmmm. Interesting. ?Suspicious the sheets are coated Sorry whiskey, am no more help.

Percale, 200-400 tc, good quality brand is a fairly good bet usually.

[pretend]

Percale linen or percale cotton?

[lurkingaround]

For me it would be Eygyptian cotton, percale weave, >200 or 300tc, decent brand. In a sale. Only buy in a sale. The better brands often don't discount much but any discount is better than none.

[carrie74]

My mother always told me to buy cotton percale. Always. Never deviate. I have to say, she's been right.

I tend to favour John Lewis and Laura Ashley.

[GrimDamnFanjo]

I buy pure linen for the bed it's a real indulgence but I wouldn't go back to cotton now . I've bought a lot of stuff from Clatteringford over the years.

[violetwellies]

Pure linen, from a variety of sources, I've inherited some, gorgeous and soft and not too creasy. EBay, White co. Some European online stores, love it, never iron anything.

Pure linen, always white, line dried after a hot wash, folds flat without creases. It's mind boggling that you should even consider ironing it.