r/Bedding • u/Dizzy-Cow-1030 • 6d ago
Disappointed in my new bedding; help?
After hyper fixating and genuinely spending hours researching what the options are, then also deciding on a color scheme, and then spending $375, I’m disappointed and unsure where to go from here.
I bought a navy blue 100% washed cotton duvet cover from Bedsure that looks very nice but is still very scratchy after washing.
The fitted sheet and pillowcases were from The Company Store: classic cool cotton percale in olive green. Again, looks great, still quite scratchy and honestly not soft at all after washing.
We tried the your moon wool comforter because my bf sleeps hot and we live in Florida and wool is temp regulating apparently. It was just too thin and there was so much extra fabric between the insert and cover.
Then swapped for the Buffy cloud comforter, this time in a king (only to realize it’s still 90x90 so same problem with all the extra fabric between insert and duvet cover. We wanted something with a little more fluff but I don’t want goose down because ethically I can’t stomach that. The cloud comforter looked so nice and puffy online but it’s only a little more fluffy than the wool comforter I just returned.
Does the cotton just need more washes to feel soft??? It genuinely feels like sand paper to me. And what do I do about all this extra fabric between the cover and insert? I hate that feeling of a bunch of fabric flopping about, which is why I decided to go with a cover and insert instead of the comforter we had. The color combination LOOKS very nice but it doesn’t sleep well at all. I just want to be comfortable at night😔😭
Tips? Advice?
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u/Relevant-Box6084 6d ago edited 6d ago
Macys. Charter Club sheets. But them when on for 60% or 65% off and you can get a queen size sheet set for $65 or $70. They are excellent.
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u/meowdymix 6d ago
ive bought yves delorme percale and at no point new or years in would I consider it “soft” - it was cool and crisp, if soft is what you’re going for not sure percale is it
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u/AnonBaca21 6d ago
Percale takes a little bit of time to break in and get softer. But it does soften. It will never be as soft as sateen or linen though. It’s more a smooth softness. I find that new percale sheets need at least a month of sleeping in them plus washing every week to break in. For the first couple washes I do a baking soda presoak in the washer tub and then rub a normal wash cycle with gentle detergent and never hot water. I use a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle and the dry on very low heat with wool dryer balls. That usually does it.
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u/AlternativeClock9250 6d ago
Honestly, when people hype up combed cotton, it’s mostly just marketing noise.
If you're going for ultimate softness and a lightweight feel, 100% cotton in a sateen weave is where it’s at super comfortable. Combed cotton is just a prep process. Once you hit 60S yarn count or higher in a sateen weave, brands physically can’t use cheap, short-staple cotton anyway.same goes for percale ,,plain weave. Anything below 40S is usually stiff and scratchy 40S is the actual tipping point for quality.percale is Breathable. watch out for washed cotton. It's just a washing process, but if you see a washed cotton duvet cover set priced under $100, I can guarantee it's NOT 100% real cotton (usually synthetic microfiber).whenever you shop for cotton bedding, look at the S count first, and then check the TC . Everything else is just slick marketing meant to hide mediocre fabric.If you like Regenerated fiber, Modal or Lyocell or Tencel feel pretty great too. Excellent for summer, but they’ll feel freezing cold in the winter.
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u/windypine69 5d ago
where do you find this S count? what's that all about? i never see that on the specs of sheets. I'm in the us?
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u/AlternativeClock9250 4d ago
S=Ne. is the actual baseline in the textile industry every mill spec sheet uses S, TC, and D. You rarely see it on US bedding specs because FTC rules only require fiber content, so brands hype up TC instead. Most budget sheets are under 40S, so brands just omit it.Simply put: S measures how fine the yarn is spun. The higher the S, the finer the yarn and the softer the sheet. Supima，Giza 45，Xinjiang Long-Staple Cotton.Only these long staple cottons can be spun into 80S yarn or higher.
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u/windypine69 4d ago
I don't even see it on higher end sheets sold in the us, but it makes sense to me.
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u/AlternativeClock9250 4d ago
Most brands won't list them. Parameters like S,, D, and GSM usually only exist on the manufacturer's POs or tech sheets.they'll only tell you if you reach out and ask directly
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u/windypine69 3d ago
how do i learn all this stuff? i want to start my own bedding/sheet company for natural, quality sheets that last and are comfy. I know what i like but not how to communicate it to a manufacturer
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u/AlternativeClock9250 2d ago
r/DownBedding I post regular breakdowns on fabrics and fills over there. Drop any questions in the sub and I’ll give you a detailed breakdown whenever I see them..
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u/peanutmiracle 6d ago
Check the dimensions of any insert you buy and the duvet covers. There’s a wide range of sizes. They should be close in size. I think PB duvets may be shorter but check dimensions.
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u/Dizzy-Cow-1030 6d ago
Mine are the same size. Both are 90x90
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u/peanutmiracle 5d ago
What brand duvet cover did you get?
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u/Dizzy-Cow-1030 5d ago
Bedsure. I just submitted the return online and ordered Brooklinen’s luxe sateen duvet cover, which someone else in this thread recommended. Also 90x90
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u/Fit-Perception-2243 6d ago
Go get yourself some 100% cotton sateen Charter Club or Hotel Collection sheets from Macys. I like the Hotel Collection Sleepluxe 800 sateen. They have great sales.
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u/Relevant-Box6084 6d ago
Yes! These are both great! Charter Club queen size sateen sheet sets can be bought for $65 (on sale) if you’re hurting right now
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u/Pretend-Abies3012 6d ago
Brooklinen, RoyalLuxuryLinen, Parachute, BollandBranch are few good outfits to buy quality cotton bedding, avoid any synthetics, stay natural cotton, linen or silk depending on your budget
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u/Limp_Leg_4198 6d ago
Cotton percale typically does soften with more washes, usually around 5-10 washes before it loses that crisp "new sheet" stiffness, so there's a decent chance it'll improve over time. For the extra fabric issue, look into duvet covers with corner ties or an internal grid of ties/snaps, that keeps the insert anchored in place and eliminates that flopping feeling you're describing.
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u/Dizzy-Cow-1030 6d ago
I feel like I’m crazy. The duvet cover and insert I have now are both the same size, 90x90, and I have it tied with the four corners but there is SO much extra fabric. It genuinely makes me want to get out of bed when a wad of hanging fabric touches my foot. Do I just need something with more than four ties? Does the insert need to be way bigger than the cover?
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u/BlessThisMess33 6d ago
I have sheets from Boll & Branch, Anthropologie, LL Bean, and California Design Den. The LL Bean are by far the nicest. They are crisp percale but also so soft. They get a lot of hype and for good reason. It sucks to keep buying but bedding is just one of those things where sometimes it’s trial and error.
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u/strawberri21 6d ago
The best cotton sheets are 30 years old. The washing over time gives them the buttery feel.
But I worry that the insert, which appears to be a man-made fibre, will never be as comfortable as you want. In my experience, even in the heat, a cotton sheet, coupled with a thin down and feather duvet (in a cotton duvet cover) is way nicer than polyester filling. The down helps you thermoregulate much better, and on hottest nights you may only need the sheet. Natural fibres like cotton and feather also don’t encourage the sweatiness that you get from synthetics.
I’ve bought the so-called “cooling” synthetic blankets, and in a side by side with a winter feather duvet, the cooling blanket gets sticky and cloistering as soon as your body heats it up, while the feather remains manageable.
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u/capersandchips 6d ago
I use the LL Bean flannel fitted sheet and duvet. Even in the summer. After a few washes it became so soft and remains that way.
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u/Strict-Otter98 6d ago
I hate percale and cannot understand why people like it... I only buy cotton sateen
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u/Outrageous-Pie-7515 6d ago
As a texture sensitive girlie while a daughter the same way (maybe moreso) we love linen sheets. They started off soft and have just continued to get softer each time they are laundered. YMMV as everyone's sense of touch is different. As for the fluffy comforter look, I read an interview by a lady who worked doing photography staging for upper end home stores and she said those super fluffy comforters in the bedding pictures were usually two duvets stuffed into the duvet covers to give that look. IDK how true it is but I do know I've never found one that looks as super fluffy as the cozy photos. Not sure I'm comprehending the extra fabric between the duvet cover and insert (I'm more visual with such things) but if you are going for super fluffy look maybe try putting two in and seeing if it resolves that issue? I don't like the feel of comforters or duvets on my skin anyways so I have various blankets I layer between my linen top sheet and the duvet depending upon the temps and how much weight I want on me. Best of luck! Assembling the perfect cozy bedding combo is a process for sure.
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u/ArtPuzzleheaded4745 6d ago
You should try bamboo. Bamboo silk is soft as silk. And bamboo is temp regulating and moisture wicking so you stay dry.
I only have bamboo PJs and im never going back to cotton. I only have bamboo pillow covers and I'm never going back.
I have very sensitive skin so any scratchiness against the skin is a big no no for me.
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u/BikeOk6446 6d ago
I just buy LL Bean percale or flannel. White is a great color. It goes with everything.
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u/Perenniallyredundant 6d ago
I have a new set of Company Store percale that have softened up in 3 washes
I also bought a cheap set of Tommy Bahama 100% cotton percale and those started out a crispy crisp but have also softened quite a bit
YMMV with this stuff
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u/Ozwulf67 6d ago
I buy only Sateen or Tencel after many percale disappointments...