Polyester Bed Sheets – Pros and Cons of this Durable Fabric

In one of our last topics, we saw a variety of mattresses that almost guarantee a great sleep. Well, in today’s post, let’s find out in detail about a very durable fabric, polyester. Is it the best option for your snoozing nook? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of polyester bed sheets.

The Textile industry is one of the major industries contributing significant revenue to the economies around the world.

The textile industry comprises the production of fibers and fabrics that involves knitting, designing, manufacturing and distribution of yarn, cloth and clothing.

The raw material includes natural elements like cotton, jute, and wool; while artificial fabric is comprised by Polyester, Nylon, Spandex, etc.  Though textile has been one of the oldest forms of trade, the industry has come a very long way from the early days of handcrafting.

Textiles come in infinite variations. However, one of the most popular fabrics for fashion, designing and for interiors is the renowned polyester.

Invented in the 20^th century, polyester has gained popularity for its durability and is often used more than any other fabric available.

Believed to be a plastic-based fiber, polyester is a man-made fabric that has gained popularity as the technology has progressed. Any fabric that is made using polyester yarns or fibers is termed as ‘Polyester’.

In scientific terms, polyester is a synthetic, man-made polymer that is used as a specific element by mixing ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.

It is sometimes a confusing task to choose the best fabric products due to the plethora of options available worldwide, especially for a good night sleep.

The bedding fabrics that are most commonly used are Cotton and Polyester. Though you’ll find cotton bed sheets almost everywhere in the market, polyester is one of the most cost-effective yet attractive options available for bedding and upholstery segment.

Pros of Polyester Bed Sheets

Polyester is a very durable fabric as the fibers used to create polyester are very strong. The wrinkle-resistant fabric is easy to maintain and can survive years of washing and therefore falls in the category of long-lasting linens.

Due to its wrinkle-free properties, polyester bed sheets do not require regular ironing, which makes it easier to upkeep. Unlike cotton, which is delicate, Polyester is strong yet an easy-to-care fabric that is preferred by many families.

The budget-friendly fabric is easy to wash and has quick drying properties, making it a hassle-free fabric adopted by the customers across the globe.

The low maintenance fabric can be easily dyed, hence it is available in multiple colors, decorative shapes and various patterns.

Polyester bed sheets give a rich silk-like look that adds up value to the home decor. However, it is not advisable to use 100% polyester fabric for bedding purpose.

Cons of Polyester Bed Sheets

But hey, you’re going to sweat terribly with polyester bed sheets!

Wondering why?

Polyester is made through a chemical reaction that involves petroleum, the synthetic fabric doesn’t breathe, and thus makes it a material that would be too hot to sleep on.

Sleeping on polyester bed sheets would make you feel sweaty (especially in case you perspire), humid and hot resulting in discomfort. The fabric traps heat while you’re sleeping and is therefore not a great option for bedding in hot climates.

Although polyester is easy to wash, the fabric absorbs oil, oil stains and attracts dirt and dust, which make it hard to clean. A good restful night requires sleeping on a clean bed sheet, and it is advisable to use clean washed bed sheets at night.

As polyester is a synthetic man-made fabric, it can have various reactions to human beings. One of the most popular reactions of polyester is that the fabric can be irritating to sensitive human skin, which can cause rashes and itchy skin.

Though polyester is a cheaper bedding option, it traps moisture. So in case you apply body lotions or moisturizers before going to bed, the polyester bed sheet would develop tiny pills with the help of the moisture, thereby causing discomfort while sleeping.

After multiple wash and long usage, the fabric tends to feel rough as the fibers in the fabric start to stiffen. This is also one reason why we do no prefer using bed sheets for a very long period of time as smooth, soft surface is more comforting than a rough bed sheet.

On the other hand, cotton is believed to be one of the most comforting bedding fabrics that offer the highest level of comfort, reliability, and versatility. That’s also why it’s used primarily in pillows. Cotton has been one of the world’s most popular and preferred natural fabrics used for bedding.

However, the price has been one of the major factors why customers go for polyester bed sheets. Lifestyle, skin sensitivities and personal preferences need to be taken into consideration while making the right choice for bedding fabrics.

Mixed Polyester and Cotton Bed Sheet Fabric

Fabric technology has come a long way which has given birth to polyester fabric. However, cotton-polyester mix fabric is a good way to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Typically available in 50/50 or 60/40, the cotton-poly blend makes a good and affordable option by combining the “breathability” of cotton and the durability of polyester in one product.

Cotton Bed Sheets vs Polyester Bed Sheets

Polyester has become a popular material and is not only used for bed sheets but also clothes, linens, curtains etc.

These type of sheets are well known for being extremely comfortable while also being easy to maintain and they also last a long time.

Cotton sheets on the other hand have always been traditionally used for sheets and bedding material.

One of the main differences between these two materials is that polyester is a synthetic or man made material whereas cotton is a natural material which is actually made from cotton plants.

Polyester actually has a more silky feel and they don’t crinkle as much as cotton sheets. Also, polyester sheets don’t experience as much fading as cotton sheets over time, so they definitely provide more bang for your buck.

With that said, cotton sheets are more breathable than polyester ones and due to being made from a natural material, are great for those who have allergies.

Additionally, polyester sheets are actually hydrophobic and they dry much faster as well as maintain their overall shape when compared to cotton sheets.

Polyester vs Microfiber Bed Sheets

Next, when polyester and microfiber sheets are compared, these two materials are synthetic but polyester is actually made from a certain category of polymers whereas microfiber is made from a man made fiber that is smaller than 1 thread or denier.

To put this into perspective, microfiber sheets are made up of fibers which are thinner than a strand of silk! As a matter of fact, the majority of microfiber bed sheets are made from polyester.

Cotton Polyester Blend Sheets Pros And Cons

There are many bed sheets which come in a blend of materials and one of the most common blends are cotton polyester sheets.

The great thing about this type of sheet is that they provide the best of both types of materials as mentioned above.

In this case, with this blend, the sheets can be soft and comfortable while not wrinkling as easy as well as being durable and quite inexpensive.

When it comes to choosing a blended sheet, you should pay attention to the blend percentage. If the sheet has more than 30% of polyester, then it may feel thicker as well as less breathable.

A good blend would be 50-50% (cotton-poly blend) or 60-40%.

The majority of blended sheets are actually quite easy to take care of and maintain, however, it is essential that you pay attention to the instructions on the label and wash them as directed.

Do Polyester Sheets Make You Sweat?

Polyester is not naturally breathable when compared to other types of fabric and as a result it can trap heat that is released by the body during the night.

Depending on your personal tolerance, it is possible for polyester sheets to cause you to sweat. Now, not all polyester sheets will cause this since there are many blends which are actually a lot more breathable which helps to address this problem.

Are Polyester Sheets Slippery?

Many high quality polyester sheets look quite shiny and feel like silk. As a result, some of them can feel a little slippery. However, not all polyester sheets will feel like this so it is best to thoroughly check the fabric first if this is a possible issue for you.

Is Polyester Good For Bed Sheets?

Polyester is certainly a good material for bed sheets as there are some distinct benefits of using it. For one, it is extremely cost effective which is great if you are on a tight budget and need to buy a lot of bed sheets for many rooms.

Also, since they are hydrophobic, they are great to use for kid’s beds, especially if they are younger and tend to wet the bed.

These sheets can greatly help to prevent the mattress from getting soaked or at least significantly reduce it. Also, this particular material actually gets softer and more comfortable as you use it over time.

This definitely makes it a great bed sheet since the worst thing that can happen is to buy a bed sheet and it is great for a few weeks or months and then it slowly gets uncomfortable, which means you have to buy a new sheet set. However, with polyester sheets, they only get better over time.

In addition to getting more comfortable over time, they also tend to retain their shape as well as their color or pattern quite well.

There is nothing worse or more embarrassing than a bed sheet that has become shapeless or has faded out patterns which make it look older than it actually is. Thankfully, with polyester bed sheets this won’t ever be a problem.

Who Should Get Polyester Bed Sheets?

Due to the fact that polyester sheets are very strong and durable, they are great for kids as well as beds that get a lot of use such as hotel beds, bed and breakfast beds etc.

So, if you’re a parent or a hotel or bed and breakfast owner, then you should definitely consider getting polyester bed sheets as they will last a lot longer than the majority of other bed sheets.

Also, it is very quick drying which makes it a great option if you don’t have an electric dryer. These sheets dry very quickly when placed on a clothes line so that you can always have clean sheets and don’t have to wait hours upon hours for your sheets to dry.

Lastly, polyester is quite affordable and one of the cheapest sheets that you can buy. So, if you have a very limited budget, then this is your best option.

So, that’s it for this one people!

We hope you choose the right bed sheet and slumber in comfort! Zzzzzz’s to you!