There’s a reason why two of the most common New Year’s Resolutions are making your bed and getting more sleep: how well you sleep affects basically every aspect of your life, each and every day. One of the more overlooked factors contributing to how well you sleep is the comfort of your bed, especially when it comes to your bed linens. Pilling sheets are one of the smaller details that can get in the way of a good night’s rest, but you can easily avoid this annoyance.
We can help you secure a high-quality sleep experience that will let you prioritize what matters most. We’ll explore questions including why pilling happens, what the best sheets to avoid pilling are, and more.
Why Do Some Sheets Pill?
As you can see in the image above if you look closely, pilling sheets have tiny knots covering the sheets, where loose fiber ends get twisted and tangled into little balls of fuzz. Pilling makes sheets less soft and less durable.
Pilling happens to sheets that break down under abrasion in washing or use; it is a result of friction. This means that some places on sheets are more likely to become pilled. For example, fitted sheets can pill more at the foot of the bed where feet frequently rub against the sheets.
Pilling sheets are often associated with cotton, especially cotton that has not been mercerized. Synthetic fibers can typically be more susceptible to pilling than natural choices. Also, in general, the more high-quality sheets you choose, the less likely they will be to pill.
How Can I Avoid Pilling Sheets?
Of course, some types of sheets are best to avoid pilling. However, with any sheets, certain steps can be taken to minimize pilling, including:
- Following the manufacturer care instructions
- Typically, this means washing your bed linens alone and not overdrying the sheets at high temperatures.
- Using bleach-free detergent and only small amounts of fabric softener
- Overuse of fabric softener or chlorine bleach weakens cotton fibers, which increases the likelihood of pilling sheets.
- Foot care
- As discussed above, sheets may tend to pill more in areas of increased friction, like contact with dry, hard feet. You can avoid pilling in those areas when you use moisturizer and foot scrubs on your feet.
- Keep sheets away from high heat and direct sunlight over long periods.
- When storing your bedding, take care to make sure sheets are dry and placed in a well-ventilated area with little light. REB knows the importance of storing your bedding correctly, so we ship our quality sheets in a reusable zippered bag. This ensures you keep bedding neat and safe between uses, helping you avoid the risk of pilling.
What are the Best Sheets to Avoid Pilling?
No matter what sheets you have, there are certain steps you can take to avoid pilling, as discussed above. However, some types of sheets are much better than others in staying quality without pilling over extended periods of use. The best sheets to avoid pilling are those that have higher material quality, usually indicated by long fiber cuts. Longer fibers will not break, fray, or unravel as quickly as shorter ones.
Quality sheets will last longer, staying soft and smooth without pilling. Some kinds of sheets are less likely to pill than others, but rest assured there are some sheets that won’t pill at all.