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akodo1 t1_ja37dsj wrote

You do need to realize no sheet is actually going to be "buy it for life"

Your body will rub on the fabric causing wear. Unlike the handle of a hammer which can lose a few mm of substance and still hold up, that wear on a sheet will make a top quality sheet fail in about 10 years of daily use

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unfettered_logic t1_ja4mcla wrote

I bought a set from Costco and have had them for 15 years and counting. They are still the most comfortable set I have used and they broke in really well. It was their Kirkland brand 700 thread count I think.

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akodo1 t1_ja9w0nz wrote

What often makes something soft and "broken in" is the individual fibers making up a thread break making the threat have a fuzzy halo of little strings that collectively feel soft. So the softer, the closer to breaking!

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Ystebad OP t1_ja37p3h wrote

I had same sheets growing up for probably 20+ years. The ones we have now (lands end) have lasted almost that long. Neither of these were particularly expensive, just pretty good quality.

Given I’m well over 50, I figured if there was a higher quality manufacturer out there, I might well be able to buy it for MY life :)

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akodo1 t1_ja389j2 wrote

The way most people use sheets is the take pair A off the bed and put on pair B then wash pair A.

10 years of daily use, or 20 years of rotational use is a good result from sheets.

The cleaner you go to bed, the better the sheets last too (less grit to rub against the fabric)

Finally, the kind of sleeper you are plays a big part. People who move around a lot will wear the sheets faster.

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Western_Detective_84 t1_ja4mtn2 wrote

Perhaps somewhat ironically, washing is also a huge wear factor for sheets!

Still, although I'm not surprised at a 20 year lifespan for sheets, I'd also bet those sheets are no longer white, and they aren't very far from being at the fragility point where the fabric will tear from the simple action of making the bed.

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akodo1 t1_ja9um3d wrote

And a wear factor on the laundry machine!

Make both sheets and laundry machines last longer! Wash less often!

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Western_Detective_84 t1_jaa70ge wrote

You know, having sat on your comment here for a couple of days, I'm going to walk back my statement that a sheet can't be BIFL. 20 years is a good long time. And since I've got some sheets of my own that have been in use that long, perhaps not so unusual. And, I suppose they WOULD fit under the group definition of BIFL, namely: "Products that are well-made and durable (even if they won't last an lifetime) are accepted.". Now, having walked that back, I've thought of something else. In a high thread count sheet, the threads are smaller, so are they then LESS durable? And I don't know the answer.

But I can google "life expectancy of sheets" as well as any other person! BTW, I'll bet you there is somebody who has researched this, but I don't know of it. One of the links I found (below), said it will depend more on the quality of the original cotton, but if all things are equal, a higher thread count should yield a higher lifespan. But that's a manufacturer's website, so, grain of salt? IDK. I saw a lot of sites saying a lifespan of 2-5 years was normal. Do a search yourself. You might be interested in some of the results, and it won't take you long to get through a couple.https://www.verolinens.com/how-long-do-bed-sheets-last/

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Western_Detective_84 t1_ja1rkkh wrote

There is no such thing as a BIFL sheet. And I see you're looking for orange piping, not blue (as pictured). I would say get yourself some good quality sheets, and continue letting the wife do the custom piping. Unless you have a LOT of money to spend - then you can pay a seamstress to do it, or if you REALLY have a lot of dough, you could pay for a big enough lot the manufacturer will make a custom run just for you!

As for buying the BEST sheets possible, go for a high thread count. I would also recommend you look into a synthetic blend. People talk 100% natural fibers up, but it's hype (other than comfort). Synthetics last longer, so synthetic blends are typically the best compromise. Natural fibers DO have advantages, but long life is not among them.

Also, go easy on the bleach. Bleach is way harsh on fabric life. Depending on your water, you may benefit from adding washing soda. You could also look into bluing.

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GroundbreakingBed166 t1_ja169in wrote

Sferra has nice sheets like this. Im not sure how to wash properly though. I bleached because they are white, then the stripe turned pink. Any idea how to wash the pictured set properly?

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Junior_Ad2955 t1_ja18iws wrote

American Blossom Linens- they have the exact one. 2 year return policy for any reason- money back if you don’t like them for any reason

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Ystebad OP t1_ja1f1vm wrote

Thanks for that recommendation. We actually need an orange piping to match our decor so it doesn’t look like that’s an option there. I didn’t specify that, assumed there might be lots of color options if someone makes them that way.

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HauntedButtCheeks t1_ja57skw wrote

To get something that specific and uncommon, you will need to make them yourself. Which gives you full control over the quality and durability of the fabric your purchase.

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hopefullylastlife t1_ja5ni6j wrote

I have Ralph Lauren (not Lauren) that are at least 20 years old and going strong. I have had very expensive restoration hardware sheets made in Italy that fell apart after a few years. I now only buy Ralph Lauren and buy vintage ones when I can find them.

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Ystebad OP t1_ja1f6m3 wrote

Sorry I didn’t specify - need an ORANGE stripe, that is just the type of stripe I need, not the color. Wife sewed them on our current sheets but they are worn out.

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