# Has anyone bought bed sheets in the past few years that haven't pilled? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538 "2011-05-20T03:36:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/1 "2011-05-20T03:36:31Z")
I don’t know what’s going on, but this is driving me crazy. The past four sets of sheets I’ve bought started pilling almost immediately, after just a few washings. I have some 10 year old sheets that are just fine (except the wrong size for our bed) so I know that it isn’t just us doing something wrong. I’ve bought high thread count, low thread count, cheap, and semi-expensive ones, and they’re all crap. Our old sheets that are fine are Wamsutta, but looking online I’m seeing complaints about those pilling now, too. So, can anyone recommend me some that actually hold up worth a damn? Much obliged. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/2 "2011-05-20T03:53:30Z")
I buy the cheap fitted sheets at Wal-Mart and while I don’t wash them weekly (maybe semi-weekly? I dunno, I bought 4 sets!) they have not pilled one bit. I think they’re like $5 for double fitted. The only sheets I have ever had that pilled are ripoff “egyptian cotton” high-thread-count sheets I got from some vendor at a home show. How often do you wash the sheets? Maybe you need more sheets so you wash them less frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/3 "2011-05-20T03:58:09Z")
We wash them about once a week. I just don’t get why this was never a problem until the last couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/4 "2011-05-20T03:58:49Z")
I have a set of purple sheets I bought at Target ca. 2007-08 which have shown no tendency toward pilling at all. On the other hand, I have a set of flannel sheets I also bought at Target ca. 2007-08 which are pilling like crazy. Of course, I tend to expect that from flannel sheets. ---
**Author:** ![justpassingthrough](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@justpassingthrough](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justpassingthrough)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/5 "2011-05-20T05:11:13Z")
Cotton knit jersey sheets. Always soft. Warm in the winter. Lightweight in the summer. I think the most recent set was bought from a catalog company called Garnet Hill, but that was only because Lands End didn’t have any available at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/6 "2011-05-20T05:20:40Z")
I have high thread count sheets from Wal-Mart and some other shop like Bloodbath and Beyond, and they haven’t pilled in about seven years. It looks like the damned things are never going to wear out. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/7 "2011-05-20T05:44:05Z")
I think that it’s poly cotton that pills, or at least, that’s what pills around here. It’s not just sheets, either, it’s clothing as well. I suspect that it’s short staple cotton combined with polyester that is the worst offender. GAH, I hate the pills! ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/8 "2011-05-20T06:01:47Z")
We have high thread count 100% cotton sheets, machine washed and line dried once a week. I’ve had some of these sets over 10 years and others less than a year, and have to say have never noticed pilling. Could it be a factor of polycotton sheets, or high tumble dryer heat? ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/9 "2011-05-20T06:03:28Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I have a set of purple sheets I bought at Target ca. 2007-08 which have shown no tendency toward pilling at all. Yup. That. Except I change my sheets once a year (buying new ones – I was them every week!), but yeah, no pilling issues here. ---
**Author:** ![Apricot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@Apricot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apricot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/10 "2011-05-20T06:06:29Z")
I like [Overstock.com](http://Overstock.com) because they have lots of reviews. Other people will tell you which sheets got rough after washing, which ones pill, which ones are too big or too small. I’ve got two fabulous sheet sets from them by poring over the reviews. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/11 "2011-05-20T07:28:17Z")
The sheet set I got from Target last year is fine, no pilling. They’re nice and smooth. No idea of the content, sorry can’t be soused to go look for a tag! They were about $40 for a queen set, and a nice chocolate shade. I want another set! ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/12 "2011-05-20T12:48:06Z")
I love the sheets I buy from Lands end. They’re huge, it’s the only set of king size sheets I’ve ever found that are wide enough that you don’t run out of sheet as soon as there is an actual person in the bed and we haven’t had any pilling at all. I’ve had the oldest set for 6 months now and they’re just a smooth as the day we bought them. I loved them so much I ordered two more sets the next time they went on sale. [These](http://www.landsend.com/pp/600countUltimateSupimaSheetSetorPillowcase~206782_1782.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::SFR&CM_MERCH=IDX_ForTheHome-_-Bedding-_-AllSheets&origin=index) are the ones we bought. Sad though, looks like they might be discontinuing them, there aren’t many options left. Hopefully they’re only changing colours. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/13 "2011-05-20T13:02:38Z")
Kmart sheets (2 queen size set pack for 40 dollars) I’ve had for about five years don’t pill, but I don’t use a dryer so that could make the difference. They were and still are surprisingly soft and smooth. I know that pilling though. My little girl’s character sheet sets get them almost as soon as they get their first washing. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/14 "2011-05-20T13:37:27Z")
I get mine from Lands End too but have never had a problem pilling with any sheet - are you getting a blend? 100% cotton is the only acceptable sheet. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/15 "2011-05-20T13:42:33Z")
I got some bamboo fabric sheets from BB&B and there great. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/16 "2011-05-20T14:40:39Z")
I’ve never seen jersey sheets (tshirt material) pill. Because tshirts don’t pill, at least mine never have. You could maybe give those a try? I got a queen jersey sheet set at meijer for like $15-20 ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/17 "2011-05-20T15:40:23Z")
The only set of sheets we own that have pilling are the flannel set, all the others are fine. My sheets are all bought on sale from Macy’s when they have them at 50-60% off, I like the Ralph Lauren, but there is another brand they have that is super-soft. All 100% cotton, thread count over 400. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/18 "2011-05-20T16:00:19Z")
I have 450 TC sheet set from Target (the damask stripe) that was a wedding gift in 2008, still looking perfect. Well, a bit faded, but perfect as far as pilling. Ick! That would drive me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/19 "2011-05-20T16:00:47Z")
No pilling at all. I buy 100% Egyptian or Puma cotton sheets. I am a sheet snob. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538/20 "2011-05-20T16:22:07Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > The sheet set I got from Target last year is fine, no pilling. They’re nice and smooth. No idea of the content, sorry can’t be soused to go look for a tag! They were about $40 for a queen set, and a nice chocolate shade. I want another set! The Target Organic Cotton ones have done extremely well; owned them about a year of washing weekly (occasionally use another set). They can’t be more than $50 for a queen set either and often go on sale for $10 bucks off. They don’t list thread count prominently so I was surprised to see they’re only 200 thread count. I think they feel like your average 500-600 thread count you’d find at BB&Beyond, which is what my parents have and I find similar feel to. I’ve only heard good things about Target brand sheets (looks like I’m the 3rd in the thread to say so). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-bought-bed-sheets-in-the-past-few-years-that-havent-pilled/582538.md?page=2)