Types of Cotton used in bedding and bed linen. There are three main types of cotton, but we explore one or two more options here. ‘Normal’ – or Upland – Cotton, makes up the bulk of cotton sheets & pillowcases, with the finer cotton varieties – Egyptian and Pima – offering a longer-lasting, softer to the touch and more luxurious option.
Types of Cotton
Cotton is cotton, right? Not really. The characteristics and prices of different cotton can vary quite a lot. 90%-ish of the world’s cotton is called ‘Upland Cotton’ and goes in to all sorts of products from bed linen, through jeans, to heavy industrial tarps. Not surprisingly, we naturally focus on the finest, more comfortable types of cotton for our beds! Upland Cotton produces a very good quality cotton thread, soft to the touch and generally hard-waring. However, the longer threads produced by the Gossypium Barbadense plant, make our Egyptian and Pima Cottons much softer and luxurious to the touch.
Bluntly – and given proper care – Upland Cotton is cheaper and will need replacing quicker. Egyptian and Pima Cottons are more expensive but will need replacing less quickly.
Upland (‘Regular’ or ‘Normal’) Cotton
Upland cotton is the most commonly produced and used type of cotton. Its short fibres make a cotton not as strong, hard-waring or soft to the touch as better quality, longer fibre cottons. Generally speaking, Upland Cotton products are considerably cheaper.
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Bedding Sets
Cotton Bedding Set
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The vast majority of the world’s cotton is Upland Cotton, a huge amount coming from the USA where it makes up almost 90% of cotton production. Upland Cotton (or Gossypium hirsutum) is believed to have originated in south America, and grows a lot quicker and more easily than finest cottons.
Egyptian Cotton
Both Egyptian Cotton and Pima Cotton – classified as “extra-long staple cottons” – have much longer fibres, producing a much longer lasting – and considerably softer – cotton. The fibres are the individual tiny strings of cotton, tangled together to make a thread.
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Bedding SetsEgyptian Cotton Bedding Set
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Longer thread cottons are much more resistant to fraying, tearing, pilling, wrinkling, and fading. Egyptian Cotton specifically, is predominantly from the Nile region of Egypt, although it is also grown in parts of South America. The increased cost of Egyptian Cotton is as a result of the amount of Gossypium Barbadense cotton grown, and its inherent increase in softness and longevity.
Both Egyptian cotton and pima cotton offer exceptional quality. With proper care, Egyptian cotton will last a long time.
Pima Cotton
Both Egyptian and Pima cotton offer a fantastic level of comfort, softness and luxury, and equally long fibre lengths. Pima Cotton is predominantly grown in the USA. Both Egyptian and Pima have the same botanical name, Gossypium Barbadense.
The extra-long fibres of Pima Cotton make for a considerably more luxurious touch cotton. Super soft and hard-waring, Pima Cotton will last a lifetime – if you look after it properly! The longer fibres means a stronger cotton, less likely to tear, or fray. Longer fibres mean a cotton less prone to wrinkles, too!
Other Cotton Varieties for Bedding
Apart from Upland, Egyptian and Pima, there are also fine quality bed sheets available in Organic Acala Cottons. We hope to be introducing organic options soon!
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Cotton vs Polycotton – which is best? That’s a difficult question and all depends on what you want. Cotton is more expensive, but polycotton is way more durable and long-lasting. Cotton tends to be softer, but polycotton brings a crisp and clean feel to your bedding.
Cotton vs Polycotton
It’s all a matter of preference! Cotton feels softer on your skin, but polycotton feels crisp and fresh on your bed. Cotton is less strong and more likely to tear, whereas polycotton is a much stronger material, less likely to tear.
Cotton is also notoriously awkward to keep clean. It requires lower temperatures, meaning a less thorough wash and is considerably more difficult to iron. Polycotton however, can be washed a temperatures up to 60°, meaning a much cleaner wash. It can be tumble dried without any problems and is much easier to iron. Combining cotton and polyester makes the garment less prone to piling and static. One of the main advantages of the cotton-polyester blend is that it is more wrinkle-free.
Hotel Stripe Polyester Cotton Bed Linen
Satin Stripe (or ‘Hotel Stripe’) Pillowcases & Duvet Covers in Double or King Sizes. Made from durable, 200 thread count polycotton (50% cotton, 50% polyester), these stylish Satin Stripe (sometimes called ‘Hotel Stripe’) duvet covers and matching pillowcases bring a touch of hotel luxury to your home, guest house or B&B.
They are a perfect fit for our Duvets and have coordinating pillowcases in ‘Housewife’ and ‘Oxford’ styles. Mix and match this range for a beautifully coordinated, luxury hotel look!
Buy Cotton Bedding in Ireland
Cotton has been the staple of bedding for many a generation and offers warmth, softness and a cozy feel. All good! The problem is, it’s a bit pricey and takes some effort keeping it clean and fresh.
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Bedding Sets
Cotton Bedding Set
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100% cotton bedding one of life’s luxuries! Our 100% cotton bedding sets – flat sheets, fitted sheets, duvet covers – are available in Single, Double and King Size.
Cotton vs Polycotton, it’s a big decision! On average, we spend about a third of our lives in bed. It’s so important to make sure our sleeping time is as restful as possible. The range of 100% cotton bedding from KerryLinen.ie gives you a cozy nights’ sleep at a very affordable price! Whether you’re looking for just a cotton pillowcase or a matching cotton bedding set, you can be sure you’ll find just the right bedding, right here!
We stock 100% cotton bedding perfect for your home, also for you guest house, B&B or hotel. We like simple white cotton bedding. Crisp, clean and fresh, few things feel quite as 100 cotton bedding. Treat yourself (or your guests) to a better night’s sleep!
Polycotton is Strong & Durable
Polycotton is a highly durable material as Polyester contains strong plastic-like substances, making it far less likely to rip or tear. The durable nature of Polycotton makes it an very popular choice in commercial situations such as hotels, where bed sheets are often changed often.
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Polycotton is a blend of natural cotton and synthetic polyester. Both Cotton and Polycotton bed sheets are easy to care for, both types of fabric can be washed on normal cycles in your washing machine and can be dried in the dryer. It is advised to wash cotton at lower temperatures (around 30° or 40°) however Polycotton can be washed at higher temperatures – up to 60° – for ultimate cleanliness. Washing natural fabrics like cotton 60 degrees may (most likely, will) cause them to shrink, however polycotton will not. That said, there are a number of types of cotton and polycotton, so always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when washing and drying your sheets and bed linen.
Monochrome wall art photography prints of beautiful Ireland. Classic black and white photography of Irish landscapes for modern contemporary décor. With black and white prints you can never go wrong, they are timeless and will keep your bedroom looking elegant and stylish. Create an eye-catching gallery of monochrome landscapes of the stunning Kingdom of Kerry. The contrast of traditional décor and contemporary art prints is a wonderful juxtaposition. Buy stunning monochrome artwork prints from LoveBeautifulIreland.com.
Individual framed prints look great, but a set of four or five, tastefully arranged on your wall looks incredible! Most prints are approximately 11½ by 16½ inches, all with bold frames in black or white and white inset card. Overall measurement approximately 17½ by 22½ inches.
Bring a real touch of contemporary elegance to your home, guest house or hotel with these stunning monochrome prints of The Kingdom! Discounts for Kerry Linen customers, too!
