What Kind Of Material Is Ideal For Summer Bed Sheets?
A hot summer's night calls for cooling bed sheets that only improve your sleep quality. But not all bedsheets are conducive to this. Bedsheets can be made from a variety of fabrics and each has its own benefits. But if you want to prevent overheating, you need to know what kind of material is ideal for summer bed sheets.
Linen and cotton are two of the best bedsheet materials for the summer. These fabrics are extremely absorbent and cooling. So even if you sweat, the fabric would ensure that you don’t overheat. But these aren’t the only two. There are a variety of fabrics that will help to keep you comfortable in the summer. Read on to learn all about it.
Linen Bed Sheets
Linen is not just a luxurious fabric that clothing is made from. Linen bed sheets are one of the softest, most comfortable, and most cooling materials. Sleeping on linen sheets is akin to sleeping on a fluffy cloud.
Linen fabric has a loose weave. This will prevent heat from being trapped in-between the material. This, in turn, will keep you cool during the summer. The only thing with linen bed sheets is that it tends to get dirty quite quickly. So you will have to be diligent in washing and maintaining the sheets. But one advantage that you get with linen is that the material gets softer each time you wash it. So you will end up with a soft-as-cloud and cooling bedsheet that’s perfect for use in the summer.
Cotton Bed Sheets
Cotton is another fan favourite for bed sheets. It is one of the most commonly available bedsheet materials in India and is available in so many different shapes and forms. After Linen, cotton is the most absorbent material that will keep you cool in the summer.
Cotton is also lightweight and extremely breathable. It won’t take in or retain the heat, thus keeping you cool throughout the summer. Like Linen, cotton bedsheets should also be washed frequently to keep them clean. Wash them in cool water and hang them dry in the shade so as to prevent shrinkage.
There are a variety of cotton bedsheets that you can explore. These include Upland Cotton, Egyptian Cotton, Pima Cotton, Supima Cotton, and Micro Cotton. Each of these varieties comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some of these are more expensive, some are slightly more absorbent.
Upland Cotton: This is the most commonly available type of cotton. It is inexpensive but is also less durable than other types of cotton.
Egyptian Cotton: This type is cotton is stronger and softer than upland cotton. It is also more moisture-wicking. But Egyptian Cotton is expensive.
Pima Cotton: This cotton is similar to Egyptian cotton. It is stronger and more durable. And it is also more expensive than upland cotton. The only difference is that Pima cotton is grown in the U.S.
Supima Cotton: This is a very light and breathable material that has the ability to retain its colour. However, it is even more expensive than Egyptian cotton.
Micro Cotton: This is Indian cotton that is 250% more absorbent than regular cotton. This makes it perfect for the summer season. However, micro cotton is hard to find and is also on the expensive side.
So when buying your cotton bedsheet, ensure you look into the exact type of cotton you’re buying.
Percale Bed Sheet
Percale is a plain, closely-woven fabric that is a popular choice for breathable bedding material. It is a matte fabric having a very tight weave. Thus, it is extremely durable and will last you a long time. Percale can be made using a variety of yarns like cotton, polyester, etc. But for the summer, cotton percale would be your best option.
Since it has a higher thread count, you can repeatedly wash the fabric without damaging it. Percale bedsheets aren’t very high maintenance. You should simply wash them in cold water with only a chlorine-free detergent. You shouldn’t subject percale to high temperatures as that may cause the weave to break down.
Percale is extremely breathable making it the perfect summer bedsheet material.
Bamboo Bed Sheets
Bamboo is an anti-microbial and extremely breathable material that is perfect for a summer bedsheet. As it is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, even if you sweat on it, you won’t be at risk of developing any infections.
Bamboo is one of the most absorbent materials in the world. Clothing made from bamboo is dubbed to be air-conditioning because that’s how cooling the material is. You will get the same benefits from bamboo bed sheets as well.
Bamboo fibres are very long and durable. This makes it good at wicking away all bodily fluids like sweat. Bamboo is also an extremely durable fabric that, like linen, gets softer with every use. So the longer you use bamboo bedsheets, the better they get. Another advantage you get with bamboo is that it is eco-friendly. So if you’re a person who is environment-conscious, bamboo bedsheets are the choice for you.
Tencel Bed Sheets
Tencel is often mistaken to be a synthetic material. But the truth is that Tencel is a fabric made from Eucalyptus wood pulp. It is an extremely absorbent and moisture-wicking fabric that feels like a dream to sleep on.
Tencel is also a very durable material, making it the perfect choice for making bedsheets. Tencel material tends to be more expensive than cotton, but the benefit you get is that it is more durable. So you can get more uses out of a Tencel bed sheet.
Things to keep in mind when buying Bed Sheets for the Summer
Colour
When buying bedsheets for the summer, the material isn’t the only condition you should be looking at. The colour of the bedsheet is also an important factor to take into consideration. Lighter-coloured bedsheets are better for the summer since they absorb and retain less heat. Go with shades like beige, light grey, white, or pastel. If you choose dark-shaded bedsheets, they will absorb sunlight throughout the day, and when you go to sleep, the heat will get transferred to you.
The only drawback to light-coloured bedsheets is that you will have to invest a lot more time into maintaining them. You will need to wash the sheets more frequently. But when it comes to summer bedsheets, it’s a good idea to wash them once in two weeks anyway.
Durability
As mentioned previously, summer bed sheets need to be washed often. At least once in two weeks. You can wash them more often if you’re a heavy sweater. Some materials, when subjected to frequent washing, tend to wear out quickly. This may cause the bedsheets to rip in half with just one year of use. So when buying bedsheets for the summer, ensure that you buy high-quality sheets that are durable. Though it may be more expensive, it is an investment worth making.
Typically, fabrics with a higher thread count tend to be more durable. Natural materials like bamboo and linen are also extremely durable summer bedsheet options.
Natural Fabrics
Natural fabrics are always the better option when it comes to bedsheets for use in the summer. Even less absorbent natural fabrics are better options than synthetic materials. So even if they are slightly more expensive, always go for natural fabrics when shopping for bedding materials in the summer.
Avoid Treated Fabrics
It may seem like a good idea to buy a non-fading or wrinkle-resistant bedsheet. But, when the fabric is treated, it often loses its moisture-wicking capabilities. So you’ll end up with a lesser quality sheet at the end. The best way to care for your sheets is to fold them as soon as they’ve finished drying to avoid wrinkles.
Another factor is that fabric that is treated with chemicals tends to irritate the skin. Especially if you’re someone who has sensitive skin. So it’s always a good idea to avoid such fabrics and go with a natural option.
Get the best summer bedsheets from Blue Dahlia. They have a variety of materials and also designs that you can choose from. All Blue Dahlia bedsheets are extremely durable and affordable to boot.
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