Your bedding is an important part of your life since you spend about 1/3rd of your day in its arms in deep slumber. A good night’s sleep brings the best of days. The type of sheets adorning your bedding is therefore crucial for your comfort, health and the quality of the day.
Cotton and Polyester are the most popular upholstery fabrics when it comes to bedding sheets. Fabric Shop brings you the unique characteristics of each fabric so you can make an informed decision based on your lifestyle, comfort, budget and personal choices.
Cotton Sheets
Cotton fabric is the fabric of the best choice for apparel and beddings since generations. It can never go out of fashion. Cotton fabric sheets are made from natural cotton fibers. They come in three varieties:
American Upland: Most popular short staple cotton
Pima Cotton: Most popular long staple cotton
Egyptian Cotton: Long staple cotton
Let us take a look at what cotton has to offer in terms of bedding comfort.
Pros
Cotton fabric is breathable. It permits air circulation easily. Thus cotton sheets are a favorite in hot and humid weather.
Moisture wicking property is unique. Cotton absorbs body moisture easily. It does not retain it though, it allows moisture to evaporate in the air. For individuals who tend to perspire heavily and those suffering from night sweats; cotton brings relief.
High durability. Long lifespan.
Hypoallergenic
Odour resistant
It does not attract static electricity. So dust, dirt or hair are not easily captured.
Becomes Softer with each wash.
Low maintenance fabric. Easy to wash.
Synthesized naturally from cotton. So it is biodegradable.
Cons
Cotton fabric color fades over time.
Expensive than polyester
Shrinks more than polyester
Prone to wrinkling
It has a tendency to pill ( formation of small fiber balls)
Cotton sheets make “rustle” noise when laying on beds.
Cotton though a durable fabric, it is very delicate. Susceptible to wear and tear with time. So people tend to make a second use of it in the form of cleaning cloths, picnic blankets to make the most of this super fabric.
Cotton is the ideal pick for environment lovers as it is natural and biodegradable. Thread count is vital to its softness. Higher the count, softer is the cotton fabric sheet. It ushers a smooth luxurious and crisp feel to the body. Finish free and dye free cotton sheets are also available but they are expensive.
Polyester Sheets
Polyester has been in demand since the 1980s as it is easily manufactured from natural gas and petroleum products. Polyester fabric is a man-made fiber make.
Polyester fabric is almost similar in performance to cotton fabric sheets. Let us find out what makes it stand apart from cotton.
Pros
Polyester fabric is highly durable. Its durability is even higher compared to cotton.
It does not rip/ tear easily like cotton.
Wrinkle resistant
Water resistant
Since it does not retain moisture and is a water repellent, it dries readily. Super fast drying ability makes it perfect for people with a busy lifestyle.
It is a Low maintenance fabric like cotton. Easy to wash.
Manufacturing and processing cost of polyester fabric sheets is minimal when compared to cotton. So it is budget- friendly and not heavy on the pocket.
Cons
It is not a breathable fabric. It tends to trap body heat within making it uncomfortable to the skin.
It does not possess moisture wicking property of cotton. Body Moisture builds up and is not easily lost. You tend to sweat more on using polyester. Nowadays some manufacturers have changed the weave pattern of polyester making the fabric easy to breathe.
It can pill over time. Thus it becomes messy.
Absorbs stains easily. Oil/grease if spilled on it becomes extremely difficult to clean.
It attracts static electricity. So dust, hair, dirt are easily harbored in it leading to breeding of microorganisms and unhygienic conditions. This irritates sensitive skin.
It Stiffens with time. Thus the surface becomes rough to touch with usage.
Polyester fabric is made from Man made fiber. So it is not biodegradable.
Polyester fabric is very cost-effective for low-budget users with higher durability of cotton. Though the comfort and luxury in cotton cannot be found in polyester. Simple weave polyester is preferred in these cases.
Blended sheets
Confused? Want the best of cotton as well as Polyester?
Blended sheets are here for you. Blended sheets are sheets manufactured using cotton as well as polyester fibers. Thus these sheets bring the best features of both cotton and polyester right at your door. It satisfies the urges of cotton as well as polyester users and lovers.
These sheets offer the softness of cotton with the durability of polyester. The moisture-wicking property at low cost is an exciting trait this blended sheet provides. It is a better option for those who dislike 100% pure polyester sheets. Though blended sheets offer a combination of both worlds, they are after all manufactured synthetically and are not biodegradable. They tend to retain heat and moisture more than cotton sheets but less than polyester.
Conclusion
Provincial Fabric shop has put in the best to enlighten you about the advantages and disadvantages of cotton and polyester sheets. Cotton is definitely the best in terms of comfort and luxury. Whereas Polyester makes a better choice for budgeted consumers. Choosing the right type of upholstery fabric for your sheet finally depends upon your personal preference.
“Your Life is a reflection of how you sleep, and how you sleep is a reflection of your life”
So spend wisely on your mattress sheet for it makes a difference to your sleep and ultimately your happiness. Fabric Shop offers you an exuberant collection of cotton and polyester upholstery fabric to make the right choice for your bedding today!