What Is Bed Sheets?
A Bed Sheet Is a rectangular piece of cloth used either singly or in a pair as bedding, which is larger in length and width than a mattress, and which is placed immediately above a mattress or bed, but below blankets and other bedding.
What are bed sheets called?
Bedding, also known as bedclothes or bed linen, is the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, protection of the mattress, and decorative effect.
Background
A bed sheet is a flat-woven textile that is used on a bed between the occupant of a bed and the warm blanket above. It is generally a rectangle of broadloomed fabric, meaning it is made without a center seam. Bed sheets have hems at top and bottom. The selvages, or finished edges of the woven sheet as it is made on the loom are used as side seams and thus there is no need for hemming on the sides. Today, the bed sheet comes as part of a set of bed linens that match in color, fabric, and detail and includes the fitted sheet (to cover the mattress), the flat sheet and at least one pillow case.
The bed sheet may be made of a variety of fibers, including linen, cotton, synthetics (often blended with natural fibers such as cotton) and occasionally silk. Bed sheets are made of a wide variety of fabrics. Particularly popular is percale, a closely-woven plain weave of all cotton or cotton-polyester blend that is smooth, cool, and comfortable against the skin. Also of plain weave but more coarsely woven than percale is muslin. In winter months flannel sheets, which are woven with nappy cotton fibers, provides additional warmth. Silky, satiny bed sheets, generally woven of synthetics (silk is very expensive) are a novelty. Linen is also occasionally used for bed sheeting but is not generally commercially available in this country as linen is not processed in the United States. Linen sheeting is either imported from Eastern Europe or Britain.
History
Beds of some sort have been around for millennia. It is unknown when sheeting was first used to keep the sleeper comfortable but it is likely that the first true bed sheets were linen. Linen, derived from the flax plant, has been cultivated for centuries and was expertly cultivated, spun, and woven by the Egyptians. It is a laborious plant to cultivate but the finished fabric is perfect for bed sheeting because it is more soft to the touch than cotton and becomes more lustrous with use. Linen sheeting was made on conventional looms that were between 30-40 in (76.2-101.6 cm) wide, resulting in bed sheets that had to be seamed down the center in order to be large enough for use. Europeans brought linen culture to the New World; linen processing flourished in the Northeast and Middle Colonies for two centuries. However, because of the painstaking cultivation process, linens were difficult and time consuming to make. Nevertheless, many seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth century American women worked relentlessly producing linen goods pillow cases, bed sheets, napkins, towels for family use upon their marriage.
By about 1830 in the United States, cotton cultivation and processing was becoming well-established. Previously, it was difficult to remove the tenacious seeds found in short-staple cotton which grows easily in the American South. Eli Whitney’s development of the cotton gin enabled the seeds to be stripped from the cotton wool easily and quickly; southern plantations immediately began growing the now-lucrative plant using enslaved labor. At the same time, New England textile mills were quickly adapting British cotton manufacturing technologies and were able to spin, weave, dye, and print cotton in huge quantities. By about 1860, few bothered to make bed sheets from linen anymore why spend the time when cotton sheeting was cheap and easy to obtain.
Cotton fibers are produced from bales of raw cotton that are cleaned, carded, blended, and spun. Once loaded onto a section beam, the bobbins are coated with sizing to make weaving easier. Several section beams are loaded onto a single large loom beam. As many as 6,000 yarns are automatically tied onto old yarns by a machine called a knotter in just a few minutes. Looms became more mechanized with human hands barely touching the products and bed sheets have been made on such looms since the later nineteenth century. Recent innovations in the product include the introduction of blended fibers, particularly the blending of cotton with polyester (which keeps the sheet relatively wrinkle-free). Other recent developments include the use of bright colors and elaborate decoration. Furthermore, labor is cheaper outside the United States and a great many bed sheets are made in other countries and are imported here for sale. Today, the southern states, particularly the state of Georgia, includes a number of cotton processors and weavers. Many of our American cotton bed sheets are produced in the South.
Raw Materials
If cotton is to be spun into yarn in the bed sheet manufactory, 480 lb (217.9 kg) bales are purchased from a cotton producer. This cotton is often referred to as cotton wool because it is fuzzy like wool. It is still dirty and includes twigs, leaves, some seeds, and other debris from harvesting. Other materials used in the weaving process include starches or sizing of some sort that is applied to the cotton threads to make them easier to weave. During the cleaning and bleaching process after the sheet has been woven, caustic chemicals and bleaches including chlorine and/or hydrogen peroxide solutions are used to remove all color before dyeing. Dyeing includes chemically-derived dyes (meaning they are not natural and not found in plants or trees but are created in laboratories) are used for standard coloration and color-fastness.
What is the purpose of bed sheets?
Whether you prefer flat sheets or fitted bed sheets, both are used for the same purpose – to protect the mattress and create a comfortable, smooth surface to lie on.
What are bed sheets made of?
Cotton/polyester is the most common, but you’ll also find cotton/bamboo, cotton/rayon, and nylon/polyester. Blended fabrics are usually inexpensive, durable, and wrinkle-resistant, making them a good choice for children’s bedding.
How do you know good sheets?
A higher number of threads per inch usually means each yarn is finer, so more of them will fit in the square, creating a smooth yet strong weave. As we mention above, thread counts of 200 to 300 for percale, 300 to 600 for sateen, and 80 to 120 for linen should indicate a good-quality fabric.
What type of bedsheet is best?
Bed Sheet Material Comparison
| Material | Pros |
|---|---|
| Microfiber | Affordable, wrinkle and stain-resistant |
| Linen | Super cooling, extremely durable, and gets softer over time |
| Silk | Cooling, luxurious, and great for sleepers with sensitive skin |
| Bamboo | Soft, durable, and cooling |
What material is most comfortable for bed sheets?
Cotton is usually considered the all-around most comfortable bedding material because it is soft, durable, breathable, and relatively affordable. Of course, as you now know, the ultimate luxurious material is silk, followed closely by Egyptian and Supima cotton.
What are the benefits of cotton sheets?
Here are some reasons why you should choose cotton bedding…
- It’s breathable. The pure and natural nature of cotton means that when used in bed linen, it is breathable.
- Stay comfortable all year round.
- Great for sensitive skin.
- Invest in your wellbeing.
- Luxury every day.
Why should you sleep with a sheet on your bed?
The arguments in favor of a top sheet typically boil down to hygiene and comfort: Some say it prevents them from having to wash the comforter or duvet cover as frequently, while others say it just feels cozier to have the extra layer on the bed.
5 Benefits of Good Quality Bed Sheets You Never Thought About;
- A Good Bed Sheets Can Avoid Your Allergy. Most of the good bed sheets can make the probability of your allergy triggered lessens.
- Can Improve Its Quality By Wash.
- Prevent Bed Bugs.
- You Can Get A Nice Temperature For Sleep.
- No More Sticky Sheet To Your Skin.
Bedsheet Wholesale Prices in Ghana;
The prices of bedsheets in Ghana vary according to the type and quality of the bedsheet.
We went through some renowned real stores and online shops in Ghana. Below are the prices of various types of bedsheets on the Ghanaian market. You can visit any of these stores and get your bedsheets at wholesale prices;
Jiji Online
7 Pieces Duvet Set
Price: GH₵280.00
Stripped White Duvet Set
Price: GH₵320.00
2 Bedsheets and Four Pillow Cases
Price: GH₵140.00
100% Cotton Bedsheets and Duvet Sets
Price: GH₵100.00
Clara’s Beddings
1 flat bedsheet 3 pillow cases King size
Price: GH₵ 85.00
2 bedsheets 4 pillow cases King size
Price: GH₵ 170.00
1 flat bedsheet 3 pillow cases Double Size
Price:GH₵ 65.00
1 flat bedsheet 3 pillow cases Queen Size
Price: GH₵75.00
Duvet set Containing 1 flat bedsheet 1 heavy duvet 4 pillow case
Price: GH₵350.00