Bedding Technology

Sleep Disorders

Sheets, Pillowcases, and Blankets

Walk into any department store and you will find rows upon rows of shelves devoted to nothing but bed linens. After all, humans spend one third of their lives in bed, so shouldn’t they do so in maximum comfort and style? However with the multitude of materials and terminology surrounding today’s bedding, making sense of it all can be somewhat confusing. Color and style aside, the major factors in bedding selection are comfort, durability, and price. Scratchy sheets and slippery pillowcases might be cute but definitely uncomfortable. See also the page on sleepwear.

Fabrics

The most common fabrics used in the production of bedding are cotton, percale, and muslin. Sheets that are 100% cotton are often secondary to the affordability. Durability, and easy to care foe cotton blends. However, pure cotton tends to win rave reviews for comfort. Thread count is important for some people when selecting bed linens. The thread count is based on the number of threads per square inch of fabric. However, there is a limit to the number of threads that a manufacturer can squeeze into an inch of fabric without making the threads thinner. Therefore, although some people swear that thy can tell the difference between 120 and 180 thread counts, they are probably mistaken. Generally, a tighter woven fabric is far more comfortable and durable, but the higher the thread count, the more expensive the linens. Certainly is advisable to purchase the highest thread count that you can afford since good quality bedding is an investment that is likely to pay off in the long run.

Egyptian and Pima cottons are hot sellers in bedding fabrics. These fabrics are both soft and durable and, if the price is right, they should adorn the beds of every bedding consumer. Catch these natural fibers on sale to make the best of your bedding budget. The added comfort of these best sellers is well worth the price.

The final consideration when purchasing bed linens is, surprisingly, fit. Consumers once went to the store and selected their bedding via the standard guide of King, Queen, Full, etc. However, as mattress technology changes, so must bedding guidelines. The most pressing purchasing concern these days is the thickness of the mattress which dictates that the consumer purchase sheets with deeper pockets. Additionally, pillowcases also come in sizes as pillows are made to fit two across on King, Queen, and standard bed sizes. Most pillow cases are standard size as are most pillows. However, size matters, so double check pillow and mattress sizes before you shop.

Some history

In ancient times people slept on straw like animals, and with the development of fabrics, they invented pillows and slept on padded cloth. In 17th Century England beds were made with wood frames, with rope or leather supports, and a bag of straw for mattresses. Elaborate beds were a sign of wealth, more than they are today. J.P. Leggett invented steel coil mattresses in 1885; they were not popular at first but over time became the leading mattress type in the U.K. and U.S.

Latex mattresses were introduced in the 1930s. Waterbeds were used even in ancient times: goat skins filled with water were employed for Persia mattresses in the 2nd millenium B.C. In the second half of the 19th Century rubber mattresses fitted for water were introduced to cope with bed sores. They were sold by mail order and would break and release water frequently.

Soft sprung mattresses have been popular in the past 50 years. They are often accused of being a source of back pain, but doctors who have studied the issue doubt that, and many are skeptical about whether "orthopedic mattresses" are effective.