Everything You Need to Know About Bed Sheets: An Infographic

Screen Shot 2015-09-04 at 3.43.44 PMI often get requests for people interested in doing a guest blog or having us repost something of theirs on our site. I usually say no. Our blog is for our work, and the work of our contributors. Earlier today, however, I got an email from the folks at bamboosheetsetc.com asking me to share an infographic they created on fabrics for bed sheets. I found the infographic interesting and useful and thought our readers would too. Note that I am not an expert on bed sheets, but I am in support of fabrics that help regulate body temperature during sleep. I hope you find this interesting and useful as I did.

Since I’m posting on the subject, I’ll point out another company called Sheex that produces bed sheets and bed wear that moisture wick and breath, all in the spirit of regulating body temperature at night. I have no affiliation with these companies, but I do plan to get some personal experience with these bed sheets sometime this year. If I develop an opinion on any of these products, I’ll be sure to share it with you here.

Published by Dan Pardi

is passionate about food, movement, and sleep. Interested in developing low-cost, high value health solutions. Also interested in anthropology, evolutionary biology, exercise and inactivity physiology, cognition, neuroeconomics, decision making, circadian biology, epistemology, gastronomy, food culture and politics, agriculture, sustainable practices, and dogs. Activities include mountain biking, CrossFit, hiking, dancing, and long walks with my headphones.

10 replies on “Everything You Need to Know About Bed Sheets: An Infographic”

  1. We had bamboo sheets for exactly 2 months until I finally pulled them off and threw them away! Ours pilled and shedded horribly, leaving little bug-like looking dander fuzz all over the bed frame and floor, no matter how many times I washed them. I shared this on social media and got LOTS of similar experience comments. I also have friends who have never had this happen with theirs. So, therein lies the problem: you do not know what yours will do until after you have expended the money. Therefore, no more bamboo material period for me.

    1. Hi @aimeslee:disqus, useful feedback, thanks! I’m aware that if you wash bamboo in hot water or use bleach, the fibers degrade quickly. Perhaps these factors had something to do with the differences in experiences you described above.

      1. Hi Dan. Nope, Cold water wash with Tide liquid, no bleach, low heat. Every time. 🙂

  2. What — exactly — does “adjusts to body temperature” mean? Does it get up and open the window if it’s too hot? Fetch me an electric blanket if it’s too cold? Sounds like a made-up marketing phrase to me.

    1. Hi @aangel:disqus, the ability of materials to help control body temperature is big business. In particular, natural fibers, like wool, can regulate skin temperature better than synthetics. The fibers adjust to hot and cold by expanding or contracting slightly. If it’s cold, the contraction of the fiber preserves heat, and when the fibers get warmer, the expansion allows for more heat loss. Anyone who has ever worn wool will know this. A second important factor for temperature regulation has to do with water. All textile fibers – wool, cotton, and synthetics – have the ability to absorb and release moisture as humidity levels shift. How effective a material is at this determines the effect these changes have on the skin’s temperature: the higher proportion of a textile’s body weight that it can absorb in water, the better. Polyester can absorb 1-3% of its weight while wool can absorb 30-35% of its own weight in water. The complex molecular structure of wool fibers delivers the unique moisture buffering characteristics permits the absorption of excess water as humidity increases, releasing it as humidity drops. Material research shows that materials like wool are more effective at controlling the microclimate of the body. I know less about bamboo, but you can see what I have written above that materials matter.

        1. Sure thing, @aangel:disqus! Yeah, at first glance, it sounds like one of those impossible claims. I first learned about aspects of this subject in my environmental physiology class in graduate school. I went out and purchased some wool products soon after (e.g., socks). I was blown away by the temperature regulating difference between a wool sweater and a cotton hoodie. Now I’m spoiled.

    1. Hi @InScioltezza:disqus , thank you but I can’t take credit for it. It was done by another group who forwarded it to me, but since it has interesting and useful info, I posted it here. Be well!

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