Loading... We've Tested 350 Sheet Sets — These Are Our Favorite Percale Options

We've Tested 350 Sheet Sets — These Are Our Favorite Percale Options

This comprehensive article details the rigorous testing process undertaken by the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab to identify the best percale sheets available. The lab has evaluated 350 sheet sets, including 81 percale sets, to provide informed recommendations to consumers. The testing methodology includes 11,910 nights of at-home sleep testing with real users, cutting 2,800 fabric swatches for durability tests, and taking 4,200 measurements to assess shrinkage over time. The article highlights six top-performing percale sheet sets, categorized by specific qualities. The L.L.Bean Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set is named "Best Overall" for its soft yet crisp feel, strong durability, and cooling breathability, performing exceptionally in both lab and consumer tests. The Sweave Cotton Percale Sheets are recognized as "Best Value" for their durability comparable to the top performer but at a lower price point, along with secure double elastic and Made in Green OEKO-TEX certification. While lightweight, they are ideal for hot sleepers. Brooklinen Organic Cotton Core Sheet Set earns the title of "Most Comfortable" due to its garment-washed finish that provides a soft yet crisp texture, scoring high in durability tests and featuring useful "short" and "long" labels for easy bed-making. The Company Store Classic Cool Cotton Percale Bed Sheet Set is designated "Best Traditional" for its old-fashioned crisp cotton percale feel, offering a wide range of colors and prints, and excelling in both lab and consumer assessments for its balanced texture. Parachute Percale Sheet Set is lauded as "Best Crisp," perfectly mimicking the crispness of a button-up shirt while offering strong, pill-resistant fabric and a good selection of muted colors, though it may show creases after laundering. Finally, Coyuchi Organic Crinkled Percale Sheets are selected as "Best Organic" for their immediate softness, relaxed look and feel, GOTS and Fair Trade certifications, and shrink-resistant properties, despite some pilling and wrinkling in lab tests. Beyond these top picks, the article also mentions other notable percale sheet sets that were tested, such as Crane & Canopy for a luxurious hotel feel, Pact Cool-Air Percale for breathability, The Citizenry's Stonewashed Organic Cotton Percale for softness, Tuck The Crisp Sheet Set for a blend of cotton and Tencel, Standard Textile Home Percale Sheet Set for durability, and Pottery Barn Percale Sheet Set for pilling resistance. Each of these alternatives has specific pros and cons identified through the rigorous testing process. The guide also provides essential information on what to consider when purchasing percale sheets, including types of cotton (long-staple, Egyptian, pima, organic, and blends), cotton manufacturing processes (brushed, combed, wrinkle-resistant), thread count (recommending 300 to 500 for optimal balance), certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Made in Green for safety and environmental responsibility), and care instructions to maintain their quality and longevity. The article emphasizes that Grace Wu, a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute with a strong academic background in materials science, personally conducted much of the testing and holds percale sheets as her favorite, providing credibility to the recommendations.

5 months ago

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