Finding the right sheets

**myoder** · 02-21-2011, 11:17 AM

I'm looking for "crisp", "cool" sheets. Not so much enamored with the high tread count...many of those are too soft and slippery for our taste. My husband would like me to find those "old fashioned" crisp, cool sheets and I am having a hard time...any suggestions?

**OOwl** · 02-21-2011, 11:49 AM

Hotel supply vendors have those kinds of sheets. They're somehow "thicker" than regular sheets, even those with higher thread count. I was searching for the same thing. My mom finally gave us some for Christmas. They're that "Ah, that's JUST right" feeling I was looking for (after a couple of wear-in washings). Good luck.

**MaryCarney** · 02-21-2011, 01:08 PM

I hesitate to say this (because I would NEVER do this) but my grandma used to iron the sheets and pillowcases, and they were just what you're describing. (She also ironed grandpa's underwear and the dishtowels - that woman LOVED to iron, because it was ho0w she 'justified' watching TV during the daytime)

**JanieD** · 02-21-2011, 01:30 PM

Oh, I can't wait to see what others have to say!

I've been search for months for the RIGHT sheets. I'm use to the made in USA sheet sets that were found everywhere in the 90s. I think most of mine were the cotton/poly blend that could hold up to years of use, hot water washing & looked so nice (crisp). I'm only in the new sheet market after moving up to a queen size bed.
My experience w/the new type of sheets are they wrinkle like crazy (cotton or blend), need "special" care (meaning lukewarm water & low heat), colors bleed/fade & they shrink after a few (2 or 3) wash/dry cycles. I really hate how wrinkled & slouchy they look even after taken them out of the warm dryer & make the bed immediately. Plus, the higher thread count/100% cotton ones seem to take forever to dry (bad for the electric bill).

Hope someone can recommend some nice, crisp sheets.

**Darlene** · 02-21-2011, 03:06 PM

Here is an article on that very subject. Percale sheets are the first thing that came to mind when I read this thread.

We found what you want: Cool, crisp sheets | Ellen Warren - Browsing for trends and hidden gems

**myoder** · 02-21-2011, 03:09 PM

I'd love to know where OOWL's mom bought the just right sheets she gave them for Christmas?? Hotel supply?

**ladykemma2** · 02-21-2011, 03:26 PM

real linen sheets
vendors cuddledown, jumperjilly on ebay, fergusons irish linen
see my blog on here

**frugalfranny** · 02-22-2011, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by Darlene

Here is an article on that very subject. Percale sheets are the first thing that came to mind when I read this thread.

We found what you want: Cool, crisp sheets | Ellen Warren - Browsing for trends and hidden gems

Me too darlene.........and I agree with all about the 'new sheets'........and I won't even CONSIDER the Egyptian cotton......BTDT........they 'pilled' at the feet. I crawled in one night and it felt like BUGS were in the bed!

**Ramona** · 02-22-2011, 01:14 AM

Seems to me that 100% cotton sheets are the ones that feel cool and crisp.

I haven't had those since Mama washed and ironed them every week.
And the pillowcases and handkerchiefs and dishtowels ...

I know the sheets were always white and she put bluing in the rinse water. Does anyone remember bluing?

**dcompton** · 02-22-2011, 11:01 AM

When I was a little girl, maybe four or five years old, I was with my grandmother a couple of times at the new-fangled laundromat when she did her laundry. This was so long ago there were still using wringers. She used bluing, and I thought it was very weird to put it in the white sheets.

**MikeInPdx** · 02-22-2011, 09:13 PM

If you can do it....line drying makes the sheets feel more crisp than the dryer does.

**frugalfranny** · 02-23-2011, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by Ramona

Seems to me that 100% cotton sheets are the ones that feel cool and crisp.

I know the sheets were always white and she put bluing in the rinse water. Does anyone remember bluing?

But cotton wrinkles pretty bad..........I have a pair and like them, in the summer, but they are wrinkled when I put them on the bed........oh well.....doesn't bother me.

Yes, I remember bluing. My grandmother had a wringer for ages and wouldn't let anyone get her an elec. until it died.......that thing had one long life!!!

**MikeInPdx** · 02-23-2011, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Yes, I remember bluing. My grandmother had a wringer for ages and wouldn't let anyone get her an elec. until it died.......that thing had one long life!!!

I still have a wringer machine, a Maytag, that I use in in the summertime. It's labor intensive but fast, and very efficient with water. I can get 3-5 washloads out of one wash water before I have to change it.

**monkeywrangler71** · 02-23-2011, 06:14 PM

I'm not looking for my grandmother's sheets, I'm just looking for the normal sheets that I could buy up until about 5 years ago. Normal sheets. Not even 100% cotton, they were just cotton/poly blend. But not slippery and wrinkly and loose, with that awful satiny finish. I find the 100% too stiff, and the new kind don't breathe.

**JanieD** · 02-24-2011, 11:19 AM

Think the cotton/poly blend are the ones I'm looking for too. The sheets I'm currently using are 60 cotton/40 poly & they look awful (wrinkle & the fitted sheet simply won't stay smooth). However, how they feel is more of a problem (soft enough, but its like they don't breathe/too "heavy" maybe). I really need to find better sheets before summer.

I'd consider 100% cotton ones again, but which will be soft & cool. I returned the last 100% cotton sateen ones. They faded after 2 washes, but I really wasn't happy with them for a number of reasons already mentioned.

Finding sheets shouldn't be this difficult.