Not all sheets are created equal, so before you take out a second mortgage for 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets at $500 a pop (do the math, that’s $1.25 per thread), stick with me and you won’t be sent to the cleaners at your next white sale. Let's hit the sheets with this quick glossary of terms:

THREAD COUNT: Simply put, this is the number of threads per square inch. Hold the sheet up to the light, if you can see through the fabric and make out the actual weave, you’ve got a low thread count on your hands. The higher the thread count (or tc), the softer and more lustrous the fabric, and the more durable and less prone to shrinkage.

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COMBED COTTON: A cleaning process that eliminates impurities and short, less desirable fibers.