Bamboo sheets are an excellent sleeper choice and some of the best quality bedding you can get, especially for kids. Bamboo sheets are growing in popularity because of the unmatched durability, comfort, and also because they’re made from highly renewable resources.
They require additional care during laundering, but this extra effort is balanced by their potential to last up to two decades. A plus for kids sweating at night, because bamboo naturally repels odors and allows the body to breathe while sleeping.
Bamboo Sheets Buying Guide
1- How Are Sheets Made of Bamboo?
There are four sheet kinds of bamboo fabric in the market. The majority of bamboo sheets are made of bamboo rayon or viscose sheets. Rayon was the first generation of cellulosic fibers. There are many different processes for manufacturing rayon, varying in the chemicals used and their subsequent impact on the environment.
If you decide to go for bamboo rayon sheets, you should choose from the manufacturers with strict effluent treatment protocols. 100% organic bamboo lyocell sheets are one of the most sustainable and contemporary textile materials of the 21st century. Raw bamboo is dissolved using a non-toxic solvent producing non-hazardous effluent in the lyocell process.
Bamboo blend with cotton is another kind of bamboo fabric. 60% bamboo rayon, 40% cotton or 70% bamboo rayon, 30% cotton is the most common blend. Then we have Bamboo linen fiber. It uses the same manufacturing process that is used to produce standard linen fabric from flax or hemp. It is a very sustainable fabric.
2- Are Bamboo Sheets Good?
Bamboo sheets offer an array of benefits that keep them on par or even sometimes ahead of the better-quality conventional sheets. First things first, bamboo sheets provide unmatched softness regardless of how many times you wash and dry them.
They never feel coarse, and you get a silky feeling every time you wrap around the body. Another excellent benefit bamboo sheet provides is regulating the temperature during sleep. Bamboo sheets possess the moisture wicking feature that keeps the body cool during hot nights and warm on cold nights.
The sheets draw away the body moisture passing the sweat through to the outer environment. This is a plus for those who are not able to sleep at night because of extreme body temperature.
The raw materials of bamboo sheets are derived from the organic source—bamboo. Bamboo is a plant that grows fast and requires less water and literally no maintenance. It is cut without destroying the roots, and the new plants grow very quickly.
Also, the manufacturing process of the sheets does not use many toxic chemicals and dispose of fewer byproducts. As you can see, bamboo growing and processing is eco-friendly.
Bamboo sheets show great resistance against bed and dust mites. They also possess allergen-resistant ability, which relieves the user of the problem of getting up in the middle of the night itching or sneezing. The fabrics easily fight off stains. Thus, they ward off the smear and blemishes that come with everyday use and oily skin.
Go for good quality bamboo sheets as they can resist germs. You won’t encounter any allergic attack while using bamboo sheets. They rank on par or even better with the best antimicrobial bed sheets available in the market. Bamboo sheets stand the test of time and keep up the integrity after numerous wash/dry cycles.
What to Look for When Shopping for Bamboo Sheets?
1- The Type of Weave:
The weave affects how the fabric looks and feel. While the type of weave can be made of 100% bamboo fiber, bamboo sateen, and bamboo twill are distinctively different in texture. Sateen is a one-yarn-under, and three-yarn-over weave used to produce smooth, lustrous, higher thread count bedding with a thick, close texture.
What gives sateen its signature silky-soft feel and the luminous sheen is the larger thread surface exposed by the three-over, one-under weave. It is this same characteristic of exposed yarns which makes this fabric a bit more delicate than its twill weave counterpart.
Twill is characterized by a diagonal rib or twill line. It is a lot like the weave on a pair of jeans – it is tight, short and very fine. Though not as soft as bamboo sateen, bamboo twill still is significantly softer than cotton or bamboo cotton blend sheet.
Percale weave is a simple one-over, one-under. When bamboo sheets are woven this way, they are of a lighter weight with a crisper feel and great fabric strength. They have a distinctive feel.
2- Bamboo Sheets Thread count :
Thread count represents the overall amount of vertical and horizontal threads which are found on a square inch of your bedding. With that said, the higher it is, the softer they are going to feel. The better sheets would start with a thread count of about 150 and would go to as much as over 350.
Bamboo sheets characteristically have a thread count of between 250 and 350. Though this may sound lower than some cotton options, bamboo is naturally soft.
A 100 percent bamboo sheet with a 250-thread count may feel just as soft as a cotton sheet with a 400-thread count. A thread count of 300 for bamboo sheets is a good number if it’s a precise count based on single-ply yarn. Higher thread counts can be good choices, but only if they’re well-made and the number is not a marketing trick.
A well-made sheet has a lower count and is often softer than for higher counts. That’s why reading reviews is critical, so you know what to expect.
3- The Available Colors :
Since bamboo sheets last for a longer time, usually 12 to 15 years, it is essential that you choose a natural color. This is because a natural color can complement many designs in case of bedroom décor change.
You are likely to acquire a new duvet and other bedding accessories while your bamboo sheets last and last. We recommend you consider a neutral color that will complement evolving décor.
If white sheets aren’t your thing, a neutral gray or taupe can fit with many palettes for years to come. Dark, rich colors may fade even though the fabric stays in good condition, so you may want to avoid these.
4- Look for 100% Bamboo Rayon or Viscose:
Bamboo blends are common in sheets, but the best options are those that are 100 percent bamboo. For example, 100% bamboo rayon or viscose. You can also go for lyocell bamboo sheets, which are more environmentally friendly and made with nontoxic processes.
If the sheets are blended with polyester or microfiber, then they won’t last as long or perform as well. But natural cotton blend is okay. The most common cotton blend is 60-40 or 70-30 mix of bamboo rayon and cotton. This blend is a bit stronger than 100% bamboo fabric material.
5- Fitted Sheets and Deep Pockets:
Deep pocket sheets are bottomless than average, particularly in the corners, allowing them to stretch over thick mattresses, mattresses with pillow tops, or mattresses with mattress toppers.
The extra deep pocket sheets are made to accommodate mattresses that are beyond 16 inches in depth. So, go for deep pocket sheets, not fitted sheets as it can work with any mattress thickness. And it should be fitted with an elastic band so that the sheets are always nice and tight and not loose.
6- Good Reviews:
Bamboo sheets last a long time, so it always helps to check out the opinion of others who have been using, to see their comments about long term use of the product. This will help you prepare on what to expect after a long time of use.
Also, there can be quite many factors that go into choosing bamboo sheets, and it is quite critical that you take a good look at the reviews if you want to make sure that you are making a good choice. Hopefully, the tips above make the task easier.
7- Good Warranty and Return Policy:
Not all sheet manufacturers offer a return policy, like mattress manufacturers. Therefore, it helps to check if the company you are purchasing the product offers the product with a return period policy. If possible, purchase from a company that offers 50 days or more return policy.
With sheets, some brands will only accept sheets that are unused, meaning they haven’t been slept on or laundered; for some, it can mean not removing the sheets from the packaging.
Warranties apply to defects in workmanship such as hems coming apart, seams tearing, pilling, excess shrinkage, etc. Warranty for sheets may not cover regular wear and tear that occurs with use.
How to Care for Your Bamboo Sheets?
You need to observe special care for the bamboo sheets. You need to read the manufacturer’s instructions for that. Some things to avoid with your sheets is letting peroxide or alpha hydroxy creams touch them.
These chemicals can discolor the sheets. So, bleach is another cleaner not recommended, even for white bamboo sheets. Mild liquid detergent (not powder) is preferable. High temperature is not recommended as it damages the fibers.
So, if you can line dry your bamboo sheets, the better. Fabric softener and dryer sheets are not recommended nor needed since high-quality bamboo sheets are soft by nature.
The blend of different types of bamboo sheets can be quite varied. There are 100% bamboo sheets to blends with cotton or polyester. Some people prefer the cooling of bamboo fabric, while others need their sheets not to wrinkle, and they will be fine with polyester added to the blend.
As you can see, there are quite a few different things that you might want to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing a set of nice bamboo sheets. In any case, this is not a task that you should take lightly in case you want to get a nice set of soft bedding that’s going to last you for a longer period.
Always look at the material label to see what you are buying. Is it bamboo lyocell or bamboo rayon? The law in the US requires manufacturers to not just mark their products as “100% bamboo”. They are also required to Indicate whether it is “bamboo rayon/viscose” or “bamboo linen” or “bamboo lyocell.
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