Egyptian cotton sateen is a delicate, coveted piece of fabric that excites you with its polished appearance. In simpler terms, it is an Egyptian grown extra-long-staple fabric used in luxury bed linen. It boasts of a lustrous appearance and a soft touch that makes it particularly durable.
Egyptian cotton is visually appealing, as it takes dye well and doesn't wrinkle easily. However, it's much more matte and doesn't have the luxurious looking sheen or ability to drape that Sateen has. Both Egyptian cotton and Sateen are breathable.
What is sateen? Sateen is a 100% cotton fabric with a satin weave. Made of long-staple Egyptian cotton, the material is luxuriously drapey and smooth yet soft and durable. Sateen bedding isn't overly shiny, but it does have a subtle sheen, which adds to its elegance.
Made with 100% cotton, sateen sheets look and feel luxurious, with a heavier finish that produces more sheen than Made with 100% cotton fiber, sateen sheets look and feel luxurious, with a heavier finish that produces more sheen than matte. Sateen sheets are made with a thicker yarn size and looser weave than percale.
Sateen sheets are naturally wrinkle-resistant, so they have a smooth look without ironing. This weave makes the resulting sheets a bit heavier than percale, which can make them seem cozy and luxurious. However, they may also be more likely to trap heat.
How to Dry Sateen Sheets. Once your sateen sheets are washed, immediately transfer them to the dryer to prevent wrinkles or mold. Never dry bed sheets at the highest setting. Hot air can damage the cotton fibers, making them prone to tearing.
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.
Gopinath and Maher agreed that good-quality sateen sheets ranged from 300 to 600 thread count. The number could creep higher, but this would create a very heavy sheet. Average-quality sateen ranges from about 250 to 300.
Machine Wash – Your Egyptian cotton duvets and sheets should be washed in cold water on a gentle wash cycle. Washing Egyptian cotton bedding on a low, gentle spin cycle will help keep your bed linens or blankets safe from the agitator and properly clean them.
Because 100% Egyptian cotton does not contain any synthetic materials or polyester, it can be remarkably soft and strong at first, which also means it will wrinkle more easily. However, Egyptian cotton can be wrinkle-free if you buy the “non-wrinkle” or “wrinkle-resistant” options.
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. Egyptian cotton sheets made with Percale weaving style are one of the strongest materials.
Supima cotton stands for “superior cotton,” which is a step above Egyptian cotton in quality and feel. The fibers have superior durability and can stand up to washings easily. You will find that because supima cotton is so soft, your night's sleep will be comfortable and easy.
Using too much detergent causes a build up to accumulate, contributing to that unwelcome stiffness in the fabric. It may help to put your sheets through an extra rinse cycle to remove detergent residue. Take your brand new sheets and pop them in the machine before use.
If you love a light, crisp sheet with good breathability and aren't bothered by wrinkles, go with percale. If you prefer a soft, smooth sheet with a little more wrinkle resistance and thickness, go with sateen.
Durability – Viscose from bamboo fabric is known for its durability. It is less likely to pill with use, especially if you take proper care of your bedding. Meanwhile, Egyptian cotton is also easy to take care of, much like regular cotton, but tends to wear out faster than bedding made of bamboo viscose.
The higher the thread count, the finer and more luxurious the fabric will feel. Cotton percale sheets found in hotels usually have a thread count between 250 and 600, while cotton sateen sheets will usually have a thread count between 300 and 600.
Sateen sheets are fairly wrinkle-resistant and tend to drape nicely on the bed. However, some people find them too slippery. Compared to some other weaves, sateen sheets are not especially breathable and tend to retain heat.
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.
Our Signature sheets are the perfect combination of comfort and elegance, with an easy care blend that eliminates the fuss. You will enjoy our 300-thread-count sheets as they caress your skin, easing you into a peaceful slumber so you can wake up feeling rejuvenated and ready for your busy day.
The bedsheets used on hotel beds accentuate the feelings of comfort and relaxation, so you feel completely at ease. They are not only soft, but also smell fantastic, thanks to special detergents, fabric softeners, cleaners, and other deodorizing agents that enhance the overall relaxation experience.
According to Kleinman, most people will be fine and won't notice any adverse reactions. But if you have sensitive skin, any chemical remnants may cause itching or skin irritation. The last thing you want, especially if you've just invested in a set of cooling sheets, is to wake up with itchy skin.
The First Wash of your Luxury Percale and Sateen Bedding
Be sure to fully unfold items, set the machine to include a cold pre-soak, and use minimal liquid detergent. Either line dry or tumble dry on low heat. Remember that natural cotton fibers will wrinkle, and ironing may be required, depending upon your preferences.
Do You Really Need to Wash New Sheets Before Using Them? The short answer is — yes. Why? Because sheets are produced in dusty, dirty factories and often made with dyes and chemicals like butane, propane, and formaldehyde that can irritate skin, eyes, and airways, especially for those with sensitive skin or allergies.