Reverendender comments on What is the most obscure fact you know?

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 67 points 11 months ago (1 child)

Bedsheet thread counts have been artificially inflated for years by the shifty linen companies counting individual fibers that the threads consist of as threads themselves. It’s become a meaningless number, since there is zero regulation. If you want a nice thick heavy cloth, GSM is the number you want, but most companies won’t share this (looking at you, The Company Store) because they obviously don’t want you to know how thin and flimsy their products really are before you buy them.

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[–] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago (1 child)

What is GSM?

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[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 1 point 11 months ago (1 child)

The thickness of the cloth

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[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

What does the acronyms stand for?

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[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago (1 child)

I misstated the definition a bit, although in real world terms a higher GSM does often manifest as a thicker cloth. GSM stands for grams per square meter. It measures how much fabric weighs in a given area. It is a weight rating, not a thickness rating.

Higher GSM means denser, heavier fabric. Lower GSM means lighter, more breathable fabric.

General guide:

120–140 GSM = lightweight (summer sheets, thin shirts)

150–170 GSM = medium weight (jersey sheets, linen duvet covers)

180–250 GSM = heavier weight (flannel, winter bedding)

GSM helps compare feel and durability across materials, but thickness will vary by fiber type.

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[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago