More About Non-Toxic Bedding

Click on bolded statements for links to research and more information.

What are the best cooling comforters for hot sleepers?

My theory is that hot sleepers are just using the wrong bedding! In particular, too much polyester can trap heat, since it is plastic and not breathable. Any natural fiber including organic cotton comforter, TENCEL, TENCEL blends, silk, or down are the best types of bed comforters for hot sleepers, and you may even find that you don’t “sleep hot” after all. Watch a 1 minute video explanation here.

Are organic comforters worth it?

Yes, for two main reasons.

First, making fabric, including sheets, is a surprisingly chemically-intensive process. For natural sheets, if the fibers are grown conventionally, pesticides and fertilizers are used. Synthetic sheets (polyester, microfiber, etc) come from petroleum. Acids, scouring chemicals, and other processing agents used to wash fibers. Fiber-strengthening chemicals are aded to turn the fibers into sheets of fabric. Detergents, solvents, bleaches, acids, and enzymes are used to remove chemicals from previous steps, make the fabrics lighter, or prepare them to accept dyes in the next step. Pigments, binders, plasticizers, PVC, and other polymers (plastics) are used in this step, to make the dyes stick to the surface of the fabric. Finally, chemical treatments are added to make the fabric perform a certain way. Formaldehyde resins offer wrinkle-resistance, other resins work for anti-pilling, PFAS for stain-resistance, polyglycols for anti-pilling, acrylates or PVC with plasticizers for protective coatings, and flame retardants for fire resistance. Read more about this process and fabric in general in my Textile Rating Guide.

Second, organic fibers support better sleep. Polyester and microfiber are plastic, and trap heat and moisture, leading to frequent waking and unrestful sleep.

What is Tencel? What is Rayon? What is Viscose?

All three are semi-synthetic, plant-based polymer fabrics. Tencel is a brand of rayon. With viscose, the cellulose starting material comes from wood pulp. For rayon, it comes from cellulose that comes from other plants— eucalyptus, bamboo, soy, or cotton. Tencel is eucalyptus-specific. With all three, the cellulose is extracted and a solvent is added to make it liquid, then it’s re-formed into fibers. It requires less pesticides and water than conventional cotton production and is certainly better for people and the planet than a petroleum-based fabric, but still isn’t as healthy as a truly natural fabric from a material perspective. However, it is very breathable and has good moisture-wicking properties, so can support healthy sleep, which is healthy in itself. These products generally earn an OK! rating from me.

Is polyester safe?

Polyester is the best-known synthetic textile, and is actually the same thing as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), what plastic bottles are made of. This is why you see clothing, sheets, and other fabrics advertised as being made from recycled plastic water bottles. Polyester itself is relatively stable once it’s made, meaning it doesn’t make its way into your body easily. In that sense, it’s safe.

Polyester’s health issues come from the chemicals that tag along with it. Antimony is used in the chemical reaction to make polyester, and it remains on the polyester in the final product. Antimony is a metallic element that is associated with lung irritation, and is possibly carcinogenic. BPA, phthalates, and other additives are very commonly mixed with polyester to make the fabric softer, more durable, flexible, and colorfast. Phthalates are absorbed directly through the skin and is linked to developmental and reproductive harm, cancer, metabolic disorders, diabetes and more, with worse health effects in infants and toddlers. Recycled polyester is made from plastic of unknown origin and date, so can contain unknown harmful chemicals. Finally, the process of making polyester poses cancer risks to the factory workers, and virgin polyester requires fossil fuel extraction and petroleum refining, posing long-term health risks to the earth and everyone on it.

All that said (!), polyester tested to have no impurities left on it can be essentially harmless to the user. This is especially true if it has GRS, OEKO TEX, or MADE SAFE certification, which ensures it’s not mixed with BPA or PFAS. It’s still a better choice for fillings than polyurethane foam, and a much better choice of fabric than PVC. It is good for waterproof applications, as it’s naturally water-resistant and dries quickly, reducing the need for PFAS. It also doesn’t off-gas, so can be a good low VOC fabric. Finally, it’s inexpensive. I use it for lower-contact uses in my home, like in my shower curtain and blackout blinds.

Why don’t you recommend recycled polyester comforters?

Recycled polyester is typically sourced from plastic water bottles. These water bottles may have been made with plastic additives including BPA, heavy metals, and antimony— and may have been made decades ago or in countries with less strict regulations. While it is great to remove plastic water bottles from the ocean, I don’t recommend snuggling up with these products.

What does GOTS certified mean?

GOTS is short for the Global Organic Textile Standard.

It is the gold standard 3rd party certification for organic fabrics made from natural fibers like wool, cotton, linen, and others.

Fabric with the GOTS-certified organic label means that at least 95% of the starting fibers are certified organic, and ensures that the fabric remains healthy throughout the entire manufacturing process. This means the dyes and other chemicals used are safer for human and ecological health than standard fabric processing methods. No harmful finishes may be added to the final product.

What is OEKO TEX?

OEKO TEX certification applies to the finished product only, and is for both natural and synthetic textiles. Organic fibers, as well as man-made fabrics like polyester can both qualify, depending on what chemicals, and how much of them, are left in the final product. It does allow for some harmful chemicals, but in much lower quantities than are used in standard textile processing. You can see their limits, which are updated annually, here.

What is OEKO TEX Class I?

OEKO TEX has four product classes: I, II, III, and IV. Class I products have met the strictest requirements and limits, and are certified to be safe for babies and toddlers to touch. Babies and toddlers are more vulnerable to harmful exposures because their detoxification systems aren’t fully developed, they engage in hand-to-mouth behavior more often, and their cells are dividing rapidly as they grow, meaning they are more susceptible to mutagenic exposures.

Class II means direct skin contact is safe for adults, and applies to textiles like sheets and pillowcases. Class III and IV are still much safer for you than standard fabric processing— I really want to emphasize that! — and are reserved for items without direct skin contact, decorations, and home textiles you don’t touch very often (like curtains, for example).