What Is Egyptian Cotton?

Sheets can be made out of so many different materials. When you are looking for new bedding it is important to be able to know what the different materials are and what would work best for you. What is Egyptian cotton and why are a lot of linens and bedding made out of it?

The difference between Egyptian cotton and regular cotton

When you are looking for new sheets you may have noticed that there is regular cotton and then there is Egyptian cotton. Some people may not realize that there is a considerable difference between the two, other than the price. What is Egyptian cotton made of it is considered better than regular cotton? There are several factors that puts Egyptian cotton above the rest.

1. It is made from two different cotton plants that are native to America, but where introduced to Egypt in the 19th century. 

2. Egyptian cotton has longer fibers then regular cotton.

3. Standard cotton sheets are rougher on the skin; Egyptian cotton is softer on the skin and usually has a higher thread count.

4. Egyptian cotton lasts considerably longer than the average cotton.

All of these factors makes Egyptian cotton a higher quality product, as well as making it more expensive. However, if you take cost out of the equation and look at how long sheets made with Egyptian cotton last, you can see why it is desired more than the average cheaper sheets.

What you should know when buying Egyptian cotton sheets

When you are thinking about buying Egyptian cotton sheets there are a couple things that are good to know.

1. You want to make sure that the sheets that say they are Egyptian cotton are 100 percent cotton and not a cotton blend. The pure cotton sheets may be a little more expensive, but it is worth the money because the quality of the sheets is way better. 

2. Another thing to look at is the thread count of the sheets. The higher the thread count, the better made the sheets are. Higher thread counts on sheets means that the fibers of cotton are woven closer together. It also means that the sheets are both softer and more durable then the lower thread count sheets.

Buying sheets can seem like a daunting task. Egyptian cotton sheets are a great type of sheet to buy, since they are from natural materials and last a long time. Although they are more expensive, it is important to think about what is Egyptian cotton worth to you.