Cotton Bed Sheets

A restful night’s sleep lays the foundation for a great day, and something as simple as your bed sheets can make a significant difference in sleep quality. From regulating body temperature to providing soft, breathable comfort, the right sheets create an environment conducive to deep, restorative sleep. Cotton is a popular choice for bed sheets, but is it the best option?

This article will dive into the reasons 100% cotton sheets are favored, what distinguishes them from blends, the different types of cotton, and what to look for in your next bedding purchase to achieve ultimate comfort and sustainability.

What Does 100% Cotton Really Mean?

When you see "100% cotton" on a label, it means the fabric is made entirely from natural cotton fibers, without synthetic blends like polyester. These fibers are picked from the cotton plant, spun into yarn, and then woven into fabric. Cotton, being both soft and strong, has stood the test of time as a preferred material for bed sheets. It’s also biodegradable and eco-friendly, making it an excellent choice for environmentally-conscious consumers.

The breathability of cotton comes from its natural fibers, which allow air to circulate through the fabric. This feature helps to regulate body temperature and absorb moisture, keeping your skin cool and dry through the night. Unlike polyester or other synthetics, which trap heat, cotton sheets keep you comfortable year-round, whether you're facing summer heat or winter chills.

Why Cotton is a Top Choice for Bed Sheets

1. Softness and Comfort
   Cotton sheets are renowned for their soft, feathery touch. With each wash, high-quality cotton sheets get softer, making them a long-term investment in comfort. Cotton fibers create a naturally smooth and gentle texture, perfect for sensitive skin or those who prefer a luxurious sleep experience.
2. Durability
   When investing in bed sheets, you want them to last. Cotton sheets, especially those made from long-staple varieties like Egyptian or Supima cotton, are incredibly durable. Their fibers hold up to repeated washing and are resistant to pilling and fraying, making them a sustainable choice for bedding. Sheets with a high thread count, will last years and continue to provide superior comfort over time.
3. Breathability
   Cotton’s moisture-wicking properties allow it to absorb body heat and sweat, keeping you cool and dry. This feature makes cotton an ideal choice for hot sleepers or those who live in warm climates. For extra cooling, cotton’s natural fibers create airflow, ensuring you stay comfortable without feeling overheated.
4. Hypoallergenic Properties
   For people with allergies or sensitive skin, organic cotton sheets are an excellent choice. Unlike synthetic fabrics, cotton doesn’t irritate the skin, and is gentle on those prone to rashes or allergic reactions. Look for organic cotton sheets, like the PlushBeds Organic Cotton Sheets, which are free from chemicals and dyes, ensuring a healthier sleep environment.

Understanding Different Types of Cotton

There are several varieties of cotton, each offering its own unique characteristics:

• Egyptian Cotton: Known for its exceptional softness and long fibers, Egyptian cotton sheets offer a luxurious, buttery feel. Because of its long-staple fibers, this cotton is incredibly durable, making it a premium option for bedding.
• Supima Cotton: Representing the top 1% of the world’s cotton, Supima is grown exclusively in the U.S. and is twice as strong as regular cotton. It has long fibers that prevent pilling and increase durability, and it gets softer with each wash. Supima is ideal for those looking for long-lasting, ultra-smooth sheets.
• Pima Cotton: Pima cotton is also a long-staple variety and offers a silky texture. It is an affordable alternative to Egyptian cotton, offering both softness and durability, with less chance of pilling compared to lower-quality cotton.
• Upland Cotton: The most common type of cotton found in budget-friendly bedding. While not as luxurious as Egyptian or Supima, Upland cotton sheets are still durable and offer a smooth, comfortable texture.
• Blended Cotton: Many bed sheets on the market blend cotton with polyester to lower costs and make them more wrinkle-resistant. However, this blend sacrifices breathability and comfort compared to 100% cotton sheets.

The Benefits of Organic Cotton

If you’re looking for sheets that are both good for your skin and the planet, organic cotton is the way to go. Organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers, making it a healthier choice for you and better for the environment.

PlushBeds’ Organic Cotton Sateen Sheets are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), ensuring that they meet the highest standards for organic farming. These sheets are not only hypoallergenic, but also come with a sateen weave that provides a silky, smooth finish and exceptional breathability.

Thread Count and Weave: What to Look for in Cotton Sheets

When choosing cotton sheets, thread count is an important factor, but it’s not the only one. A thread count between 300 and 600 generally indicates high-quality, durable sheets. Anything above 600 may be too dense, reducing breathability, while lower thread counts (under 200) can feel coarse, and wear out more quickly.

Beyond thread count, consider the weave of the sheets:

• Sateen Weave: Known for its silky-smooth feel, sateen sheets like those from PlushBeds have a slight sheen and provide a luxurious feel. These sheets are perfect for those who want a warmer, softer experience.
• Percale Weave: Percale is crisp and cool, offering a lightweight feel that’s perfect for warm weather or hot sleepers. It is more breathable but slightly less soft than sateen, making it ideal for those who prefer cooler, airier sheets.

How to Care for 100% Cotton Sheets

Cotton sheets are easy to care for and will last longer with proper handling. Follow these tips to ensure their longevity:

• Wash in cold water to preserve the fibers and prevent shrinkage.
• Use mild detergent and avoid harsh chemicals or fabric softeners, as they can break down the cotton fibers over time.
• Tumble dry on low heat or line dry to avoid excessive wear from high temperatures.

With proper care, cotton sheets can last for years, getting softer with every wash.

Why Choose PlushBeds Cotton Sheets?

For those seeking luxury, durability, and eco-friendly options, PlushBeds offers a range of cotton sheet sets designed for every type of sleeper. With our GOTS-certified organic sheets, PlushBeds delivers high-quality products that prioritize both your comfort and the health of the planet.

Conclusion: Why Cotton Sheets are Nature’s Gift to Better Sleep

If you're searching for the perfect combination of comfort, durability, and sustainability, 100% cotton sheets are an unmatched choice. Cotton’s natural ability to regulate temperature, its breathability, and its hypoallergenic properties make it the ideal bedding material for all types of sleepers. Whether you prefer the luxurious feel of Supima cotton or the eco-friendliness of organic cotton, there’s no shortage of reasons to invest in high-quality cotton bed sheets.

Make your bed a sanctuary for restful, luxurious sleep with the best cotton bedding from PlushBeds, where sustainability and comfort come together to create a sleep experience you’ll never want to leave.

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When it comes to sheeting, the popular opinion is that 100% cotton is the first and only choice for a luxuriously soft sleep experience. And while 100% cotton sheeting certainly sets the bar high for comfort, there are many considerations besides a soft hand when it comes to choosing the right material for your resort, rental, or hotel bed linens. Here are some considerations to help you decide if 100% cotton sheeting is right for your properties.

The Benefits of 100% Cotton Sheeting

There is a reason cotton has been in constant use for the last 5,000 years – it is an excellent textile choice for bed linens, clothing, and many other popular products. There are numerous benefits to having this soft, fluffy staple fiber in your sheeting, including:

• Softness: There is no denying that cotton is one of the softest materials available for bedding products. The feeling of cotton is universally recognized and difficult to match with other synthetic materials. In particular, a sateen weaved cotton, such as our Paragon™ Cotton Sheets, provides a soft, silky touch that your guests will rave about!
• Breathability: Cotton is an extremely absorbent textile. It can wick moisture away from the body and retain it while not feeling damp. This property results in an extremely breathable fabric that is perfect for all season use – cotton maintains air flow and promotes cooling in the summer while retaining much needed warmth in winter months.
• Hypoallergenic: Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic and is a great choice for allergy sufferers or those with sensitive skin. When combined with AllerEase® Professional products such as mattress encasements and pillows, you can create the ultimate safe haven for even the most sensitive travelers.
• Guest Satisfaction: Some hotels insist on 100% cotton bed linens for the simple fact that it is recognized as a premium experience by guests. These properties are willing to sacrifice durability to market 100% cotton and create a competitive edge in the eyes of their guests.

The Drawbacks to 100% Cotton Sheeting

While 100% cotton sheeting can provide unmatched softness and comfort, there are some significant drawbacks to 100% cotton bed linens in a high use, commercial setting such as a hotel or rental property. These drawbacks include:

• Durability: While 100% cotton is durable enough for most residential users, 100% cotton is sensitive to high temperature wash and drying processes. The rigors of commercial laundering take a toll on pure cotton products, often resulting in rips, tears, or loss of color. This lower durability means more frequent replacement costs for properties.
• Shrinkage: When subjected to near-daily laundering, cotton is also prone to significant shrinkage. This can make the job of a housekeeper extremely difficult when attempting to attach fitted sheets. This shrinkage can be so significant that it can cause bed linens to have to be discarded simply because they are no longer large enough to cover the bed.
• Wrinkle Resistance: While 100% cotton brings many benefits, being wrinkle resistant is not one of them. Special treatments or ironing will be required to keep your 100% cotton sheeting crisp and wrinkle free.
• Dry time: Cotton can absorb up to 25 times its weight in water, which is a major benefit when it comes to breathability and air flow. However, this property is a major hindrance when it comes to the time it takes for 100% cotton bedding to dry.

Alternative to 100% Cotton

Now that you’ve seen the benefits and drawbacks of 100% cotton sheeting, you may wonder what other options you have. The most common alternative to 100% cotton is a cotton-polyester blend, often called poly-cotton. Poly-cotton is typically 55% cotton and 45% polyester, although the ratio can vary.

The main benefit of a poly-cotton product is increased strength. The addition of polyester creates a more durable product and is also less prone to shrinkage than 100% cotton. However, there are some drawbacks to traditional poly-cotton blends. The biggest drawback is a noticeable reduction in softness and comfort, since both the cotton and polyester are directly touching the user. This means that historically you could feel the difference in softness between 100% cotton and poly-cotton products.

Centium Core Technology® Offers the Perfect Blend of Comfort and Strength

To truly maximize the benefits of cotton while eliminating the drawbacks, you need a poly-cotton product where the yarns that guests feel on the surface are cotton, while the internal structure is reinforced with tough polyester fibers that are never seen or felt. This is exactly what our patented Centium Core Technology® achieves.

This fabric formation technology reconfigures the base yarns of a woven fabric. 100% cotton yarn encapsulates Centium synthetic microfilament bundles. This unique construction delivers unsurpassed durability and longevity and a soft touch since the greatest number of yarns touching the skin are cotton.

Since the launch of these innovative products, customers have achieved significant savings due to reduced replacement costs and lower operational expenses, while maintaining the feel and luster of cotton.

Other Cotton Considerations:

• Type of cotton: Often more important than the percent of cotton is the quality of the cotton itself. A high-quality cotton, such as Supima®, will help ensure ultimate comfort while cotton bearing the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) logo helps ensure sustainability and minimize environmental impacts.
• Weave structure: The weave type that is employed can make a significant difference in the feel of a finished bedding product. A plain weave will offer top notch strength and durability, while a weave such as sateen or percale provide luxurious texture and a comfortable feel.
• Thread count: We’ve been trained to think high thread count equals better quality. The truth is, with today’s advanced technology, counting threads in a square inch to determine quality is obsolete.

So….should I invest in 100% Cotton for my properties?

The final verdict: While it is true that 100% cotton has a luxurious softness, most of these products will not hold up to high use commercial settings and industrial laundering. This will lead to frequent replacing, which is why 100% cotton products are rarely seen in a hotel/commercial environment. A traditional poly-cotton blend will improve strength and durability, but at the expense of softness and comfort.

A good night’s sleep is important for your wellbeing – both your mental and your physical health. It means that you can perform at your best throughout the day. So how do you make sure you get a good night’s sleep? You invest in your bed. From your mattress and your duvet to your choice of bed linen, every element is vital.

When it comes to your bedding, for a comfortable night’s sleep, 100% cotton should be your first choice. Why? Let us count the ways…

Cotton is a natural fabric that absorbs moisture and allows air to circulate, making it a perfect option for bedding. As you sleep, your body will heat the air around it. It may mean that you start to sweat! Luckily, cotton’s breathable qualities mean that it will absorb any sweat, let the heat escape away from your body and keep you at a comfortable temperature.

Its breathability will keep you airy and cool in summer and warm and toasty in winter. What more could you want from your bedding?

A naturally soft and fluffy fibre, it’s no wonder that our ancestors thought to start making fabrics out of cotton. When it’s processed and woven into fabric, it makes for some of the softest material around – a perfect fit for bedding. Being comfortable while you sleep is essential, and choosing cotton bedding means that you’re in for a real snugglefest.

Looking for extra luxurious cotton bedding? Then sateen bed linen is for you. “Sateen” is a type of cotton weave structure that has a soft, silky feel. And in comparison to cotton sheets made from a plain or standard weave, sateen sheets are like heaven on your skin - pure luxury!

Cotton might be soft and comfortable, but it’s also incredibly durable. 100% pure cotton can last twice as long as man-made materials, so it really is an investment. It might be slightly more expensive, but it will stand the test of time.

If you’re looking for excellent quality sheets that are incredibly strong, check out cotton percale bed linen. “Percale” is a type of weave structure that produces a matte finish; a smooth sheet that feels crisp and cool to the touch.

If something is hypoallergenic, it means that it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic, mainly because of the way that it is woven. It has a tight weave, so things like dust mites, mould and other allergen particles can’t sit in the fabric. Cotton bedding creates a barrier between you and your mattress, duvet cover and pillows, protecting you from potential allergens. The breathability of cotton also means that bacteria typically doesn’t grow on it.   

This means that 100% cotton is a great option for bedding, because even people with delicate skin or allergies can go to sleep without worrying about irritation or reaction.

Cotton is a natural fibre that comes from a plant. It’s been grown for more than 6,000 years, and we still use it for around half of the world’s textiles. The natural-ness of cotton means that it has good resistance to general wear and tear, fading and piling.

Because it’s natural, it will biodegrade a lot faster than other, manmade materials. You can even put old 100% cotton in the compost bin (though we’d recommend donating items or reusing them in another way first).

Cotton bedding is actually really easy to care for, and if you look after your cotton bedding, it will look after you for years to come. When caring for your cotton bed linen, we always suggest checking the care label before throwing it in the washer.

As a rule, we suggest washing your cotton sheets at 40 degrees unless the care label says otherwise. Keeping the temperature of the wash at a maximum of 40 degrees is also better for the environment.

We also suggest line drying your sheets, as using the tumble dryer may damage the cotton threads and affect the lifespan of your bedding. Plus, line drying is good for the planet, and you get that yummy outdoorsy smell when you climb into bed.

Kids’ skin is more delicate than adults, which means that 100% cotton is the only real choice for children’s bedding. It’s naturally soft and hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about rashes or irritation. Cotton is particularly good for children with asthma too, as it’s resistant to dust mites.

Its breathability means that when kids get sweaty, the bedding doesn’t hold onto oils or odours, making laundry day a breeze!