More About Organic Sheets

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

What are the best organic sheets?

All of the options listed above are great choices for healthier sleep. To choose between linen, cotton, TENCEL, and other types of sheets, this is what I recommend:

• Choose linen if you like a satisfying texture, prefer a cool sleep, can afford to spend a little more on sheets, and don’t mind wrinkles. They’re luxurious and highly breathable, and most people do well with them.

• Choose linen-TENCEL blend sheets if you are easing into linen, are looking for a summer set, or tend to sleep warm.

• Choose TENCEL sheets if you are a hot sleeper, or like a silky feel at a lower price than real silk.

• Choose organic cotton sheets if you’re looking for a less expensive organic option, and usually don’t sweat too much at night.

• Choose organic silk if you’re looking for super-smooth, super-breathable sheets, and are OK with splurging.

• Choose organic hemp sheets if you like the texture of rough linen that softens over time, and appreciate durability.

What are the best cooling sheets for hot sleepers?

My theory is that hot sleepers are just using the wrong bedding! Linen, TENCEL, silk, or hemp are the best types of bed sheets for hot sleepers, and you may even find that you don’t “sleep hot” after all. Watch a 1 minute video explanation here.

What sheets are worst for hot sleepers?

Polyester, including microfiber, and some cotton sheets. Cotton absorbs moisture readily and doesn’t let it go, though if you love cotton, a Percale weave has more breathability than sateen. Polyester is a type of plastic, so it isn’t breathable, and can’t absorb any excess moisture. Heat and sweat are trapped under the sheets instead.

Are organic sheets 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 linen? Why is it special?

Linen is a natural fiber that comes from the flax plant and is woven into fabric. Different parts of the flax plant are used to make linseed oil, linoleum, and flax seeds. It’s been used by humans for at least 30,000 (!) years. The fabric is thermoregulating, meaning they keep you warm when it’s cold, and they cool you off when you’re warm. They do this because they’re pretty dense, retaining heat, but they have a hollow core that draws moisture and excess heat away from your body and into dry-er air on the other side of your sheets. 

Is linen organic?

There are only a handful of GOTS certified organic linen crops because it’s naturally pretty healthy. Many brands will still go for OEKO TEX certification to show that they do not add harmful dyes or other finishes to the final product. Compared to cotton, linen is rare and far less chemically intensive— it takes many years to grow a crop, they only grow in cool climates, and linen relies on hand-processing than chemicals.

What is Tencel vs. Rayon vs. Viscose?

All three are semi-synthetic, plant-based polymer fabrics. Read about them in depth in my Fabric Guide. For all three, cellulose is mixed with a solvent to make it liquid, then it’s re-formed on a machine into fibers. Viscose’s cellulose comes from wood pulp. Rayon’s cellulose comes from other plants— eucalyptus, bamboo, soy, or cotton. Tencel is a brand name rayon that comes from eucalyptus. All three require less pesticides and water than conventional cotton production and is certainly better for people and the planet than a completely petroleum-based fabric like polyester or vinyl, 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, and many are OEKO TEX certified. I use some OEKO TEX Tencel products in my own home (like pillowcases when my skin is dry, for example).

What makes wrinkle-free sheets wrinkle-free?

Unfortunately, formaldehyde is commonly added as a finish to make sheets wrinkle free. It is a well-established carcinogen, and can also cause allergic reactions on the skin. This is an especially common practice for cotton sheets, so choosing organic GOTS certified or OEKO TEX certified sheets will protect you against this.