@momofsenior1 said:
I break every single one of those rules (also use Tide Free [he]) and have never ever experienced this pilling that is being discussed here.
Could it have something to do with hard/soft water?
Same here. I’ve used bleach, definitely use regular detergent, used all kinds of water temps… I’ve never had problems with pilling on sheets.
You need to switch to 100% cotton and make sure they are decent quality.
Nrdsb4, Water type will definitely affect “the hand” of the fabric but should not cause pilling or those balls, each little ball being a mini snag. Water type can definitely affect how well your detergent cleans and residue can be redeposited. If measuring detergent, most people use too much and can do more harm than good. Tide pods are fine. If measuring, use about half the recommended amount for average size and soil loads.
Poly/cotton or other types of cotton blends are more susceptible to snagging. The non-cotton fiber reacts to abrasion differently when woven with the cotton. Thumper, confirm your Navy sheet is all cotton and not a cotton blend, otherwise that could be your pilling culprit. Most clothing manufacturers always use a cotton BLEND on certain colors of the exact same item— Heather Grays being the most common color— and they almost always pill.
@jshain yep…sheets were identical…except one set was tan and the other navy blue. cotton. The blue ones…awful pilling. Tan ones…terrific…smooth and soft.
I only buy sheets from Lands End or the company store. Never had a problem. But, I did sleep over my Aunts house once on sheets that were badly pilled and it was horrible. 
The sheets on my bed now are from Target…100% cotton…but more of a muslin texture. No pilling at all.
I recently had to buy two new sets of sheets, and went to Home Goods as I usually do. I noticed that a lot of sheet sets were labelled “Cotton Rich,” which is now apparently a euphemism for poly/cotton. 
It was necessary to read every label carefully.
I’ve only ever experienced pilling when sleeping on other people’s sheets, and I’ve always used regular detergent and a variety of temperatures.
Jshain: looks like your an expert on fabrics. Here’s a question. How do I keep my organic cotton sheets (from Cuddledown) from wrinkling so much? There seems to be a little less wrinkling when I dry each set separately and use a fabric softener sheet. I’m not up for ironing and while there’s a laundry near me that will wash, fold, and iron sheets, doing that every week adds up to the price of dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant.
Bromfield, Fabric softener sheets are not good for your dryer. They gum things up like the bearings, leaving a residue coating on your moisture sensors. I would recommend not using them.
Don’t overload your dryer. Dry similar weights of items together. Make sure your perma press cycle is on, and remove promptly when cycle is completed. If you are not going to remake your bed immediately, FOLD the sheets. This will help smooth out the wrinkles.
Some cotton sheets are more notorious for wrinkling than others and there is not going to always be a solution that you will be completely satisfied with. I would be curious to hear from those that like their Target brand cotton sheets. I personally do not. I wish Nordstrom made Smartcare 100% cotton sheets. They would perform well no matter how you did the laundry.
I have one set of Target sheets that I love. They are the 100% cotton percale ones…very smooth but not like microfiber. Similar in some ways to the Wamsutta ones I loved that are no longer being made.
I’ve had them for about 5 years…no pilling…very soft…and nice. They wash well.
I bought them the same day as the muslin sort of ones that are not as high a thread count, but also are 100% cotton. I really thought these muslin ones would soften up over time (a previous thread on cc said they would.). They just haven’t. I don’t use them very often, and every time I do, i swear it will be the last time.
I honestly miss those Wamsutta sheets…they were smooth but “crispy”. @JustaMom5465 was the one who suggested them, I believe. They were sold at BBB but I don’t believe the ones we liked are made anymore. The Wamsutta sheets they have now are…meh.
I miss the old style Wamsutta sheets, too!!! Those were great.
I recently threw out sheets for this very reason. I had them for 2 years (only used them during the summer months and this summer (the 2nd summer) I had to throw them out due to excessive pilling. I’m not a big complainer about sheets (I’m not the Princess in the Princess and the Pea story), but they became quite uncomfortable to sleep on. They were microfiber sheets - so I’d guess they were 100% polyester. In the beginning, they were lovely. This was my first experience with this - I’ve never had sheets get this bad before. It was also my first time using microfiber sheets.
I recently purchased a new set from JCPenny and my fingers are crossed that this won’t happen with this set.