As you may have guessed, I LOVE Sleep. One of my passions is getting as comfortable as possible before I drift off to sleep. I found something new recently I want, no, I NEED to share with you… Have you ever heard of bamboo sheets? My wife and I got some for our bed and I think I will never go back to cotton sheets again! Do they make bamboo clothing? What are the pros and cons of bamboo sheets? Lets find out!
For those who do not know, bamboo sheets are some of the softest sheets you will ever rest your skin on. I say that with the same confidence as if I were telling someone that the sky is blue. If you have never had a set of bamboo sheets, try them for yourself!
The wife and I spent a few days understanding the differences between different types of bamboo sheets to find what we like the most.
The Pro’s and Con’s of Bamboo Sheets Overview
Pros:
- Eco-Friendly
- Hypoallergenic
- 100% Natural
- Extremely Comfortable
- No Confusing “Thread Count” Rules
Con’s:
- More expensive than cotton sheets
- 4 Different Types
Lets dive a little deeper into what you should know about bamboo sheets before you make a purchase. Bamboo sheets are more expensive than the standard cotton sheets you find at just about every department store. The benefits will be obvious by the end of this post of why you need to throw your old cotton set into the trash.
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What Exactly Are Bamboo Sheets?
Bamboo sheets are a more environmentally friendly, and arguably more comfortable, bedding material to replace your common cotton bed sheets. These bamboo sheets are softer than the standard cotton sheets and more durable as well.
Most cotton sheet manufacturers identify how comfortable the sheets are by talking about thread count. With bamboo sheets, we don’t worry about thread count, we worry about comfort. From my experience, bamboo sheets are drastically more comfortable than any cotton sheet I have ever been on.
Bamboo sheets are more durable and tougher than the standard cotton sheets as well. Since the bamboo is stretched into the length of the sheet, and not weaved together in pieces like other fibers, it is more durable than other types of sheets on the market.
What Are Bamboo Sheets Made Of?
As the name suggests, they are made from bamboo fibers. Since bamboo is plentiful in the Asian countries, most bamboo sheets are made in China and Asia.
There are 4 different types of bamboo sheets that are available for purchase. Viscose, Lyocell, Modal and Linen. The first three are made from regenerated cellulosic fibers, or Rayon. Bamboo linen is made very similar to common linen fabric.
Bamboo Viscose is the most common type of bamboo sheets. Some consumers choose to avoid this product because of the disposal of the waste chemicals used to make the viscose bamboo sheets. If you are environmentally alert, then find the bamboo viscose that treated without the chlorine bleach and zinc sulphate. I would prefer to find the most environmentally friendly version, but that is just me.
Bamboo Lyocell is the most environmentally friendly of the 4 different types of bamboo sheets. The process used to make Bamboo Lyocell fabric drastically reduces hard chemicals and re-uses the water in the process to help reduce waste products. The lyocell is created by taking raw bamboo and dissolving it with non-toxic solvents. Lyocell Bamboo Sheets are also tougher and last longer than most other bamboo sheets when taken care of properly.
Bamboo Modal are made using the same process as the Bamboo Viscose process with very few differences. The only real difference between the two is that Modal fabric is stretched and processed longer than its viscose variant. This can make the bamboo sheets thinner and lighter than most other options. This process also makes the bamboo fibers much stronger than viscose fibers as well.
Bamboo Linen is created by the usual process that other fabrics are created with. This process creates a desired result and gets some of the benefits of the other types of bamboo sheets, with the exception of the downfalls of other linens and fabrics you may already have. This process creates bamboo sheets that are not as soft as the others and wrinkles very easily. I personally do not care about wrinkling, but I know a lot of people do, so there is a heads up on bamboo linens.
Bamboo Weave Breakdown
Bamboo sheets not only come with 4 different types of processes that can create different features, there are also different weaves for bamboo sheets. Sateen and Twill are the two different versions of the weave for bamboo sheets. I know we are talking about the pros and cons of bamboo sheets, but we need to understand the basics first.
Sateen weave is the softest of the two different types of weave. It requires more care than its twill counterpart for long term use, but can give you more of a silk sheets style feel when you lay on it,. Sateen weave sheets take longer to produce correctly and can be more expensive than the twill version as well. Bamboo Sheets International has some really good steps on how to take care of bamboo sheets.
Twill weave is a tight weave that is still significantly softer than standard cotton sheets, but not as soft as sateen weave. Twill is tougher as well. If you are looking for twill weave on bamboo sheets, be sure to buy the pre-shrunk version. These version can still shrink after a few washes, but not as bad as the non pre-shrunk sheets.
What Are the Pro’s of Bamboo Sheets?
Still here? Great! Now that you understand some of the basics, lets cover the differences and the pros and cons of bamboo sheets.
Here are the pros of bamboo sheeting:
- Environmentally Friendly: The processes used to create bamboo sheeting are usually more environmentally friendly than the cotton and silk sheets you find today. With the exception of Bamboo Viscose, any chemicals used in the fabrication process are non-toxic and water is re-used in the next sheets. Viscose sheets can have some residue remains on the final product, but you can find viscose rayon treated without chlorine, bleach and zinc sulfate.
- Hypoallergenic: In the wild, bamboo is naturally resistant to the usual pests and fungi that can get into cotton or silk. This also means that bamboo can be grown without any nasty pesticides or fertilizers. These sheets can also resist moisture absorption and makes it difficult for pests like dust mites to set up camp in your sheets.
- 100% Natural: Since bamboo sheets are made from all natural bamboo fibers, the sheets do not need any additives to mix into the blend to make it stronger or softer. The softness, cooling feeling and antibacterial properties are an all natural effect from the bamboo itself.
- Extremely Comfortable: This is more opinion than fact, but I have not spoke to anyone that has not claimed otherwise! That is the only social proof I need to make my decision in most cases!
- Less Confusing: I know this seems nuts, especially with all the different options presented above. With bamboo sheets, we do not need to worry about thread count, special care for cotton, silk, etc. Constant cleaning for dust mites, mold, etc. With the hypoallergenic propertied and simplicity of the sheets, it not only lasts longer, but stays comfortable longer with little effort.
What Are the Con’s of Bamboo Sheets?
With all the hype and the pros of bamboo sheet, there are some cons that should be considered before purchasing your next set. When comparing the pros and cons of bamboo sheets, you really need to be informed of the downsides, or cons, of bamboo sheeting.
- Price: Bamboo sheets can be more costly to purchase. While I believe that they last a lot longer than cotton sheets, the initial investment is higher. A good set of cotton sheets can last anywhere between 6 to 8 years, bamboo sheets can last up to 15 years when properly cared for. To me, and you may be different, I feel that if the bamboo sheets last 3 times longer than cotton sheets, I am willing to spend 3 times as much for them to make it a good value. This is my personal opinion and how I make rational spending decisions, but the extra comfort and better sleep I get from bamboo sheets makes up for it.
- 4 Different Types: The different types of bamboo sheets can be confusing at first. If you take in account the weave types as well, it seems to make it even more confusing. To make it simple, all bamboo sheets are usually softer and more comfortable than its counterparts.
Where Can I Buy Bamboo Sheets?
Bamboo sheets can be found at pretty much any reputable retailer. Amazon is my personal favorite due to the easy return policy if you are not satisfied or generally unhappy with a product. A quick google search can find them online at Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc.
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All bamboo sheets are created equal if they are advertising bamboo sheets. There really isn’t a need to overpay for them either. Since bamboo sheets are not terribly too expensive, its worth it to get a set and try them yourself.
The Pros and Cons of Bamboo Sheets Conclusion
Again, I LOVE sleep and finding ways to get an even better nights sleep. The more comfortable you are, the better you will sleep. Bamboo sheets have changed my sleep life and they will change yours as well.
The sheets I purchased after my research are Here on Amazon.
Hopefully, this post explaining the pros and cons of bamboo sheets have helped you and you grab a set yourself!
If you are looking for a mattress replacement, check out this post on What Do People Look For in a Mattress?.
Love the bamboo sheets! They are cooler and definitely more comfortable then standard cotton sheets. More importantly I feel better because I use the viscose sheets and I’m getting a better sleep. Everyone needs to try them. Bamboo is definitely a better, more sustainable material also!
Thanks for the write up. Very helpful 🙂