The Best Satin Sheets

Those who grew up in the waterbed era remember a time when silky sheets were all the rage. These sheets were soft and cool, offsetting the warmth from the mattress beneath them. But you don’t need a waterbed to enjoy the soft, cool sleeping surface that satiny sheets provide. There are plenty of sheet sets on the market that will give you those same benefits.

As Vicki Liston, producer, writer and narrator of “On The Fly…DIY,” says, the term “satin sheets” can be misleading.  You may be expecting a silky fabric, as satin typically is, but if you expect that, you’ll probably be disappointed. Today’s satin sheet sets are typically a polyester-satin blend and some are straight polyester.

“As long as the sheet has that gorgeous, shiny surface, ‘satin’ can technically mean any type of material,” Liston says. “With that in mind, how do you choose quality satin bedding that feels silky-smooth?”

The problem with satin-blend sheets is that they simply don’t hold up over time as cotton will. You’ll find that with repeated washes, the fabric increasingly begins to deteriorate in quality. Satin blends are prone to pilling or unraveling, and your nails and other sharp objects can snag the material.

That said, there are plenty of reasons to consider satin-polyester sheets. Some feel that the material is easier on your hair and skin, helping you retain moisture as you sleep. This is in addition to the fact that satin-polyester will help you feel cooler than cotton. Some people prefer to use cotton sheets in the wintertime and satin-blend sheets during the warm summer months, although straight polyester sheets can give you the shiny softness of satin-blend sheets while also providing more warmth.

One common complaint about satin sheets is the slipperiness of them. If you tend to toss and turn throughout the night, you could easily find that your sheets are in a wad by morning. Some sheets come with elastic straps to keep them firmly attached to the corners of your bed throughout the night. If you’re concerned about displacing your sheets, this may be worth considering.

• Satin sheets aren’t the same as purchasing a piece of satin at the fabric store. You’ll find they at least have some polyester in their build, and some are 100 percent polyester. Liston advises looking for the word ‘woven’ in the product description, in addition to opting for polyester rather than nylon or acetate.

“A woven synthetic, like woven polyester, will give you the smooth, silky soft surface you are shopping for,” Liston says. “Conversely, I recommend avoiding any ‘knit’ weave.  Many of the satin bedding sets sold in stores have ‘knit acetate’ in fine print on their labels, which is the lowest quality possible in the satin sheet category.”

• No matter what type of sheets you buy, you’re going to need to wash them every week or two. While silk sheets can be high-maintenance, satin-polyester sheets can be machine washed. For best results, wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle and tumble dry them on low heat.
• One of the best things about polyester is that it resists wrinkles. Look for sheets that advertise this perk.
• Consumers are drawn to satin-polyester sheets because of how comfortable they are. Those that are made of microfiber are especially smooth against your skin, giving you a softness that you may have missed in other bedding you’ve used. It’s also warmer than satin-polyester sheets, so keep that in mind if you get too hot during the overnight hours.
• Some sheets soften with each wash, but you’ll need to make sure they can hold up. The same fibers that break down to contribute to that increased softness can begin to show wear over time. Some satin-blend sheet sets will begin to show signs of pilling after multiple washes, losing their comfort and becoming unsightly.
• Some believe that thread count is the key to quality in bedding, but that’s a myth. In fact, the quality of the thread itself determines how durable and comfortable your bedding is.
• If you have sensitive skin, look for sheets that advertise that they’re hypoallergenic. Be aware, though, that the dyes in some sheet sets can be problematic for those sensitive to them.
• The same thing that makes satin-blend sheets so comfortable also makes it tough to keep them firmly in place on the bed. For that reason, some satin sheets come with straps that you can use to ensure the top sheet stays in place just like the elastic in the fitted sheet holds it to the mattress.
• Mattresses vary dramatically in thickness, as you’ve probably discovered while trying to force a fitted sheet onto one. Measure the side of your mattress and make sure that the sheets you’re choosing are designed for that depth. If your mattress is 17 inches in depth, for instance, a 14-inch sheet set will only cause you headaches every time you try to make your bed.