Percale isn't for everybody. We do hear from readers who just find these sheets to be too scratchy on their skin. In many cases, those readers prefer the satiny, smooth feel of cotton sateen sheets instead.
You're used to a softer, synthetic-material sheet, then 100% cotton sheets may feel rough in comparison (especially percale) You're using more detergent and/or fabric softener than the manufacturer's instructions recommend. You're overstuffing the washer, and the detergent isn't able to fully rinse out.
Brand new sheets, and in particular percale cotton sheets often initially feel scratchy or stiff. And that's sure to come between you and a good night's sleep.
But while percale can often feel rough compared to sateen, L.L.Bean's Pima Percale Sheet Set still earned high softness ratings with consumer testers, thanks to the premium Pima cotton, and excelled in durability testing in our Lab. Testers also loved the breathability and raved about the cool-to-the-touch feel.
Break the Percale
When you first receive your brand new percale bed sheets, you might be surprised to find they are crisp but not as soft as you imagined them to be. That's the magic of percale - they will get softer and softer, the longer you have them and the more you wash them.
Fabric softener is a tried-and-true way to soften pretty much anything, sheets included. Use the softener as recommended on the label. Or, to get an ultra-soft feel, you can run your sheets through the washer using only fabric softener (skip the detergent). Fabric softener is a great way to soften stiff sheets quickly!
Although percale sheets are popular for their lightweight and cool texture, they also have a few drawbacks, like being wrinkle-Although percale cotton sheets are popular for their lightweight and cool texture, they also have a few drawbacks, like being wrinkle-prone and not being ideal for cold sleepers.
Hotel buyers in the know most often choose percale sheets over sateen or other weaves. Hotels want white. White sheets are bright, clean-looking, and give a feeling of newness, even though they may have been laundered multiple times. Hotels don't want patterns, colors, or designs that may fade or stain easily.
Percale sheets use a one-over-one-under weave that gives them their classic crisp, smooth feel. Most percale sheets have a thread count of at least 200, so the weave is fairly tight. However, percale is still highly breathable. In fact, it is often considered the best type of sheet for people who tend to sleep hot.
The difference between the two terms is that one refers to the actual material, that is, cotton. Percale is the style or design of weaving that makes the material strong. Percale is not only used as a term for Egyptian cotton. There are other types of cotton that are woven in the same way.
Your new sheets may feel stiff and rough because of the manufacturing process. New sheets are often treated with chemicals to make the sheets look and feel crisp and new, which is one reason we highly recommend washing your sheets before use. Luckily, new sheets soften up with regular washing.
Percale is a cotton fabric with a basic weave that feels light and airy. It's best for hot sleepers who want more breathability or those who prefer a crisp feel. Sateen is a cotton fabric with a satin-like weave that feels smooth and silky.
Percale sheets tend to get softer the more they are washed, although sheets made from low-quality materials may eventually pill. Most sateen sheets have a smooth, silky hand feel and an elegant drape. Crisp, cool, and reliable, percale sheets are generally not as soft as sateen. However, they're usually very durable.
Percale sheets have a tight, flat cotton weave with a crisp feel that resembles a dress shirt when ironed.
The goal with percale bedding care is to wash your sheets as little as possible. Frequent washing breaks down cotton fibers. How often to wash percale sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers depends on your use. As a rule, run the laundry every seven to 10 days.
If you are a hot sleeper or live in a place with longer summer months, cool, breathable, percale sheets will be perfect for you. However, if you live in a cold place you may prefer cotton sheets with a sateen weave, which is not as breathable as percale, or materials such as fleece and flannel.
Percale: A smooth, flat, closely woven and combed fabric that comes in 100 percent cotton or 50/50 cotton/poly blends. Finer than muslin, expect thread counts here to range from 180 to 200. Pima or Supima: A high-quality cotton whose long fiber staple is somewhat similar to that of Egyptian cotton.
At minimum, percale sheets and pillowcases must have a thread count of 180, but the ideal thread range for this material is 200 to 300. If the yarns are exceptionally dense or the cotton staples are longer, then the thread count may be higher.
Gopinath said a 250 to 300 thread count was optimal (there's wiggle room, though, as Maher said 200 was also good). Gopinath told us a 400 to 500 thread count for percale could reflect a denser sheet made of fine, good-quality yarns. Over 500 was “not necessary or likely,” she said.
Although top sheets prevent your comforter from getting dirty, the widespread use of duvet covers has made them somewhat obsolete. Either way you choose to go, make sure your bedding is soft, comfortable, customized to your liking — and regularly washed.
The Wrinkles — Sateen woven fabric is generally more resistant to wrinkles, while percale woven fabric is more prone to wrinkles. The Washing — Typically, both sateen and percale woven fabrics are machine washable and dryable.
Microfiber sheets are woven in a percale or sateen weave. The tighter the weave, the more durable the sheet will be when it comes to frequent washing.
What beddings are suitable for sensitive skin? Natural fiber bedding—such as TENCEL, bamboo, cotton, silk, or percale—is preferable compared to bedding made of synthetic materials, such as rayon, nylon, or other artificial fibers for those with sensitive skin in general.
Bamboo Sheet Weaves
Since the threads are evenly dispersed, it's easy for air to pass through the fabric, making them a good choice for hot sleepers. Percale sheets usually have a matte finish, and while they're generally easy to care for, they do tend to wrinkle fairly easily.
Percale sheets are also, for lack of a better word, crinkly. They're so crisp that they can make noise as you move about in them (think of a nicely pressed button-down shirt or fancy hotel sheets). However, high-quality percale sheets get softer as you use and wash them.