Best Egyptian Cotton Sheets - The Ultimate Guide

Some people don’t think choosing a bed sheet is an important decision, but it is. If you’ve ever shopped for sheets, you already know the choices are vast. Different materials and thread counts can sometimes even seem overwhelming, so it’s hard to make the right choice.

Before you decide on regular cotton, linen, silk, flannel, or any other material, think about what kind of sleeping experience you’re looking for. Do you want to sleep on a sheet that is soft and high-quality, a sheet that keeps you warm during the winter and cool during the summer?

If so, you can forget about all the regular sheets and go for Egyptian cotton. You’ve probably seen Egyptian cotton sheets and bedding in the past but decided to opt out of the purchase mostly because of the high price tag. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t let the slightly more expensive price deter you.

While Egyptian cotton sheets are more expensive than sheets made out of regular cotton, once you try out the best of the best, you will never want to settle for anything else again. So what makes Egyptian cotton sheets so special? And which Egyptian cotton bed sheets are the best?

Read our ultimate guide to find out.

What exactly is Egyptian cotton?

Egyptian cotton is known to be the best cotton in the entire world for its incredible strength and softness. As the name suggests, this cotton is grown and produced in Egypt, or to be more precise, the Nile Delta.

The Nile River is known for its extremely fertile soil and amazing conditions, which is why this area is ideal for growing unique cotton. It isn’t grown from the same plant species as regular cotton, but instead, Gossypium barbadense, which is known to have particularly long staples.

Egypt has the ideal climate for growing this crop, which allows the cotton to grow into a much larger size than almost anywhere else in the world. In fact, the staples can reach 1 ¼ to 2 inches in length. These cotton fibres are known as extra-long staple (ELS) fibres.

Egyptian cotton is associated with luxury, and so is the fabric that is made out of it. You will often see luxury bedding made out of Egyptian cotton, and this isn’t surprising. Egyptian cotton sheets are a great investment that will give you the good night’s sleep you deserve.

What thread count is best for Egyptian cotton sheets?

Another thing you know if you’ve purchased any bedding in your life is that sheets have a thread count. But very few people are fully familiar with thread count, and they mostly think that the higher the thread count, the better the sheets. But there’s more you need to know about thread count.

Thread count represents the number of threads that are woven into a single square inch of fabric and it’s based on the threads that are woven vertically and horizontally. There are additional threads that can be woven in horizontally and increase the thread count.

The higher the thread count, the softer and more comfortable your sheets will be. Typically, on sheets made out of less exclusive fabrics, the thread count is usually around 120-180, but when it comes to Egyptian cotton bed sheets, it’s a different story.

The lowest thread count you can find on Egyptian bedding is 400, but those sheets are still high-quality and comfortable. As for the highest thread count found on Egyptian cotton sheets, it can go up to 1,500 threads per square inch. And such a high thread count is a clear sign of luxury.

However, thread count isn’t the only thing you need to keep an eye out for. If you want true quality, you need to take the weave into account. When it comes to weaving cotton sheets, there are three different types and you should make your choice based on your needs and preferences.

The most common types of weaving include:

• Up-and-under – Produces cool and crisp feeling sheets.
• Warp-face – A technique that creates smooth and silky sheets.
• Sateen – Has a smooth and silky feel similar to satin, but is much heavier and warmer.

How to wash Egyptian cotton

You may be wondering if this cotton is so luxurious and one-of-a-kind, how hard is it to clean and maintain? No need to worry because Egyptian cotton is sturdy and bedding made out of it is machine-washable. All you need to do is follow these instructions.

Don’t forget about the pre-treatment

Before you throw your Egyptian cotton bed sheets into the washing machine, you need to check if your bedding has any obvious stains. Look for noticeable mars and things like sweat or blood and remove these stains before washing your sheet.

There’s no need to use an expensive stain remover because a small amount of pure hydrogen peroxide will help you get rid of any stains on your sheets. Simply apply it to the stains and dab them with a white cloth.

If you have larger stains, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to remove them. However, if some staining remains, you can put one tablespoon of baking soda into your washing machine before turning it on and one cup of vinegar during the rinsing cycle. This way, your sheets will be as good as new.

Place in your machine and wash

Gently place your Egyptian cotton sheets into your washing machine and turn on the machine. Bedding made out of this material should only be washed on a gentle wash cycle in cold water. When you do this, it will ensure your sheets are properly washed and safe from the agitator.

It’s also important to note that, just like any other natural material, Egyptian cotton can and will shrink if you don’t wash it properly. But if you use cold water and a gentle cycle, you won’t have to worry about your sheets shrinking.

Another thing that’s important to remember is that you shouldn’t overload your washing machine when washing your sheets. Additionally, you should always wash Egyptian cotton linens separately from the rest of your laundry since zippers, buttons, and jagged hooks on clothes could tear your sheets.

Know how to soften your sheets

Egyptian cotton has a lot of incredible qualities, one of which is that they actually become more luxurious and softer with every wash. If you know how to soften your sheets naturally, you will enjoy sot sheets for years.

Even though it might sound odd, vinegar isn’t only good for removing stains from your Egyptian cotton bed sheets, it’s also great for keeping them soft. This is especially true for new sheets, which can sometimes feel a bit too coarse when you take them out of the packaging.

Make sure to add vinegar to your Egyptian cotton bedding the first time you wash it to instantly get that softness. It would also be smart to add some vinegar when washing your sheets every once in a while to ensure that softness stays untacked.

Make sure to only stick to vinegar and avoid fabric softener because it contains harsh chemicals that can cause damage to your sheet’s natural fibres.

Choose the right detergent

Since Egyptian cotton bed sheets are high-quality, they also deserve a high-quality laundry detergent. Don’t ruin your sheets with a cheap detergent, but instead opt for something that is pH balanced and gentle. This will ensure the detergent is good enough to take proper care of the sheets.

This goes for both white Egyptian cotton bedding as well as patterned and colour sheets. As long as you choose the right detergent, you can be sure that the colours of your sheet will stay fresh and vibrant, regardless of whether the bedding is white or multi-coloured.

While we’re on the topic of laundry detergent, you also need to make sure you’re using the right amount when washing the sheets. The ideal amount would be half of what you usually use because this way you can stop the chemicals in the detergent from ruining your sheets.

Another important thing to remember is to avoid detergents that contain bleach. These types of detergents can damage the fine linen in sheets but also cause them to wear out much faster than they normally would.

So, stick to something you know will keep your bedding safe and always check the ingredients on the packaging before you buy a detergent.

Feel free to use a dryer

When it’s time to dry your sheets, the best option would be to air dry them. Simply hang your bedding on a clothesline and give them time to properly dry. But if you don’t have the conditions to air-dry your Egyptian wool bed sheets, you can also use a dryer.

Before you put your sheet in the dryer, shake it hard after you take it out from the washing machine as this will prevent wrinkles during the drying cycle. And to prevent shrinking, dry your sheets on the warm setting.

Just like the harsh chemicals in fabric softeners and certain detergents can damage your luxury sheets, the same goes for the chemicals in dryer sheets, so avoid them. A good alternative would be to use felt wool balls because they have no chemicals and do the same job.

Iron your sheets

A lot of people are hesitant about using heat on such an expensive and luxury piece of fabric, but there’s no need to worry. As long as you’re careful and know what you’re doing, you can iron your sheet to ensure it always looks crisp and fresh.

To get the best results, make sure to iron the bedding while it’s still slightly damp and also use the lowest setting on your iron. Don’t use the regular cotton setting because it’s too hot for Egyptian cotton.

Is it worth buying Egyptian cotton sheets?

Now you know that Egyptian cotton is one of the most expensive materials out there and sheets made out of it cost a pretty penny. That begs the question of whether it’s worth buying Egyptian cotton sheets. And the short answer is yes – absolutely.

If you want a long answer, let’s go through some of the reasons why Egyptian cotton bed sheets are a great investment.

Softer, stronger, and silkier than any other sheets

We already mentioned staples, but we haven’t explained what they are and why they’re important. Staple is a word that describes the length of the cotton fibre and Egyptian cotton is world-famous for its staples. This is because they’re extremely long, longer than the staples of any other type of cotton.

Thanks to these extra-long staples, sheets made out of Egyptian cotton are softer, silkier, and stronger than probably any other bed sheet you own. This is because these longer threads are easy to work with and combine into fine yarn with durable fibres.

With Egyptian cotton, you are bound to end up with extremely soft sheets that can’t be compared to anything else.

No worries about pilling

Pilling is the small tufts of fabric that can sometimes form after a few months of use and it’s both uncomfortable to the touch and aesthetically unappealing. Unfortunately, with most other fabrics pilling is a common occurrence, especially those with low thread counts.

If your sheets often have pilling, that means they’re probably low-quality, but this isn’t a concern you will have with Egyptian cotton bed sheets. Thanks to the long threads we already mention, Egyptian cotton produces the minimum amount of lint, if any, and that makes pilling almost impossible.

Vibrant colours won’t fade easily

Yet another reason why Egyptian cotton is such a great fabric is that it’s highly absorbent and porous. Thanks to these qualities, dyes are absorbed very easily, and during the sheet-making process, bright colours stick easily and are very noticeable.

1000 thread sheets come in vairant colors: white/navy, white/mocha, silver, white/grey, white/black.

The best part is that you will have the beautiful and vibrant coloured sheets you chose for years on end as long as you take care of your bedding properly. If you wash the sheets by following the instructions we mentioned earlier, the colours are much less likely to fade.

Enjoy a higher thread count

Even though we already mentioned this, it’s important to note that Egyptian cotton sheets have the highest thread count out of any sheets you could buy. Thread count doesn’t matter for all materials that much, but when it comes to sheets made out of 100% cotton, it’s crucial.

Typically, regular sheets that have a thread count of at least 300 are considered to be high-quality. As we already mentioned, sheets made out of Egyptian cotton can go from 400 to up to 1500, so even if you get an Egyptian cotton sheet with the lowest thread count, you will still get something luxurious.

With Egyptian cotton, you can forget about scratchy sheets and uncomfortable sleepless nights. As soon as you lay down on a sheet with a high thread count, you will be transported into a land of comfort and softness.

Great breathability

When it comes to bedding, you can often hear people talk about so-called summer and winter bedding. This kind of thinking is reasonable because during the summer you want something that is light and breathable while during the winter you need something that will keep you warm throughout the night.

And while some fabrics are good for either summer or winter, Egyptian cotton is great for both. The most lightweight out of all types of cotton, its fibre has a property that allows heat to escape between the threads. This will leave you feeling cool and comfortable all night long.

Another great benefit is that the sheets are so soft that they won’t stick to your skin, even during those hot summer nights. This is also the reason why people with sensitive skin often opt for sheets made out of Egyptian cotton. And as an added bonus, it has hypoallergenic properties.

Amazing durability

The final reason why sheets made out of Egyptian cotton are an amazing investment is the fact you will have them for years to come. It’s better to spend a bit more money on high-quality sheets with amazing properties and benefits than buy the same scratchy sheets once or twice a year.

The tight weave and high density of the material will ensure that your sheets stay perfect even after years of use and countless washes. Just remember to take care of your bedding and maintain it properly and you won’t have to worry about your sheets damaging any time soon.

How to be sure sheets are made out of 100% Egyptian cotton

Before you buy a sheet you believe is perfect for you, you first need to know that not everything labelled as “Egyptian cotton” is truly 100% Egyptian cotton. Sadly, the truth is that a lot of manufacturers use just a small percentage of this material and combine it with other, less expensive fabrics.

If you want to make sure you’re buying sheets that are 100% Egyptian cotton, here are a few things you need to do:

• Look at the price. Your first indicator that a sheet isn’t made out of 100% Egyptian cotton would be the price. If you notice bedding that is much cheaper than what you’ve seen so far, the chances are that it’s too good to be true. Remember you will always get what you paid for.
• Check the thread count. As we already mentioned, pure Egyptian cotton sheets have a very high thread count and if the sheet you’re considering buying has a TC less than 400, you can be sure it’s not what it’s advertised to be. Ideally, look for sheets that have a TC of 1000 or higher.

Never buy from stores with a bad reputation. Before you spend hundreds of dollars on your new bedding, check the reviews on the website you’re buying from. If the reviews are mostly negative and the website itself doesn’t look well-built, it would be best to avoid that seller.

How to find the best sheets for you

There are a plethora of Egyptian cotton sheets on the market. If you decide to take the plunge and treat yourself to luxury bedding, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by all the options before you. However, if you know what you’re looking for, the decision won’t be so difficult.

Once you know your standards and criteria, you won’t have any trouble finding the ideal sheet. Here are all the factors you need to take into account.

Know exactly what size you need

It’s worth mentioning that a lot of people accidentally order the wrong sized sheet and then have to go through the trouble of returning or exchanging it. Before you click that “Buy” button, make sure you know exactly what size of bed you have.

Is it a king or a queen-sized bed? Or perhaps a super king or super queen-sized bed? While these beds are similar in size, getting a king-sized sheet for a super king bed simply won’t fit your mattress.

Another thing you need to pay attention to when considering what size to get is the depth of your mattress. Most mattresses nowadays are very deep and a regular sheet wouldn’t do as good of a job as a fitted sheet.

Check the ply of the sheets

So far we have talked a lot about the thread count of sheets. And while TC is an important thing you need to look for, there is another feature you need to pay attention to. That is the ply of the sheets.

Ply shows how many single fibres were brought together before they were woven into a fabric. If you want a high-quality sheet, you should look for something that is single-ply. This is because for single-ply sheets only one thread of long-staple cotton fibre was used while the sheet was being woven.

Thanks to this, single-ply sheets are exceptionally soft, durable, and high-quality. Egyptian cotton sheets are typically single-ply because those types of sheets are the most luxurious.

When you’re browsing for your perfect bedding, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for so you can choose a good balance between the ply and the thread count.

If you have a single-ply sheet with a lower thread count, you can expect the sheet to be very lightweight. But if you find something that is single-ply with a higher thread count, you will receive a thicker, more wintery sheet.

Check for authenticity

You may be wondering how it’s possible to find out a if sheet is authentic. As a matter of fact, there are a couple of things you can do to check for authenticity.

The first thing is to see if you can find out where the cotton is from geographically. It may be hard to find out whether or not a certain company got their cotton from Egypt, but it’s possible.

As you remember, we talked about how Egyptian cotton is made out of long-staple cotton. If the sheet you’re buying is made out of it as well, it’s a good indicator.

Try to find a reputable distributor when buying your sheets. As we already mentioned, check for any bad reviews on the website to see if their previous customers are satisfied. A couple of bad reviews don’t mean anything, but if there are many of them, something is fishy.

Finally, even though we’ve mentioned this multiple times, it’s good to remember. Cheap Egyptian cotton sheets aren’t as good of a deal as you think they are. Bargain prices only indicate a fraudulent seller who only cares about the money, not the quality of their products.

Best Egyptian cotton sheets from Manchester Collection

Now that you know what Egyptian cotton is, why it’s so special, and why Egyptian cotton bed sheets are the best sheets you can get, it’s time to talk about some great sheets made out of this material. We’ll take a closer look at the Manchester Collection Egyptian cotton sheets.

All of the sheets we’re going to talk about here are 100% Egyptian cotton and have a 1200 thread count so you can be sure that all of them are luxurious, comfortable, and authentic.

Mega King

Starting off with the biggest size we have in our shop, the Mega King Egyptian cotton sheets are perfect for those people who can never seem to find the perfect fit for their bed. All of our Mega King sheets are suitable for deep king beds and they have a 3cm wide elastic to ensure that perfect fit.

There are various designs and colours for you to choose from, all of which are beautiful, elegant, and stylish. If you want your entire bed to get a deluxe makeover, you can get an entire set, not just the fitted sheet. But even if you decide to just get a sheet, it will be enough to transform your sleeping experience.

Mega Queen

Switching to a slightly smaller-sized sheet, the Mega Queen Egyptian cotton sheets are just as luxurious as the Mega King ones. Guaranteed comfort and enjoyment, treating yourself to a Mega Queen 1200 TC Egyptian cotton sheet will probably be one of the best decisions you ever made.

Simply choose your favourite design and colour and upgrade your bed to a level of comfort you never knew was possible. Spending a little bit extra on these sheets will be worth it when you realize how good of an investment they truly are.

Super King

Super king-sized beds require super bedding, and that is exactly what our Super King Egyptian cotton sheets will provide. With dimensions of 182 x 205 x 50cm and a wide 3cm ribbed elastic hem, any sheet from this collection will fit snugly on your bed.

Deicide between just a fitted sheet and a whole set, but whichever one you opt for, you won’t regret spending money on high-quality bedding. It’s truly an investment that will pay off in the near future, and we’re not just talking about money here. After all, a good night’s sleep is priceless.

Super Queen

Finally, we have our Super Queen Eqyptian cotton sheets which is undoubtedly fit for royalty. Every sheet from this collection will fit your mattress perfectly, even if it’s deep. In fact, all of our sheets were designed to accommodate mattresses that are up to 50cm deep.

When you hear “fitted sheet”, you’re probably thinking about countless sheets you had in the past that kept riding up. But that won’t be the case with our Egyptian cotton sheet collection. No matter how much you toss and turn throughout the night, your comfortable 1200 TC sheet will stay in place.

Get ready for comfy Egyptian cotton sheets

If you have spent your entire life sleeping on low-quality and uncomfortable sheets, you don’t know what you’re missing. As soon as you treat yourself to high-quality and comfortable Egyptian cotton bedding, you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

Egyptian cotton has proven itself to be one of the best materials used in bedding and it’s not surprising why so many people are rushing to purchase it. If you’re still hesitant, take the leap and test it out for yourself. We can guarantee that you won’t be sorry and that you’ll never settle for regular cotton again.