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What you sleep on is important. You spend half your life in your bed; it is where your body rejuvenates through the night.
You don’t want to burden your body with toxic chemicals; you want to sleep with natural, non-toxic sheets and blankets. The best organic bedding is going to be toxin-free, comfortable, and last you a long time. It is going to be healthy for you and healthy for the planet.
In this article, you will learn:
- Why you should use organic bedding
- What your fiber options are
- What certifications to look for
- Why you should avoid cheap organic bedding
- What the different types of bed sheets are
- Where to buy your organic bedding
Why Organic Bedding?
- Conventional fabrics can contain an abundance of chemical residues.
- The production of textiles is one of the most polluting industries in our world.
Cotton is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops on the planet. The application of tons of pounds of pesticides every year contributes to the poisoning of farmers and animals. Pesticide residue affects the quality of water surrounding farms. Organic cotton production reduces the number of pesticides that get into our water supply and is healthier for the farmer and surrounding community.
Synthetic (ahem, plastic) textiles are no better, being completely processed from oil, an unsustainable and dirty industry. They also don’t break down. Think of all the synthetic fabric sitting in landfills, not decomposing. It makes my heart ache.
These toxins pollute the planet, and they pollute our bodies. The choices we make as consumers have a major effect on the world. We vote with our dollars. Let’s make a decision to cast our vote for green products, products that don’t pollute and products with integrity. Choosing organic bedding helps rid the planet and our bodies of this toxic burden.
Natural Fabric Options
Organic and natural fibers are softer and more inviting than synthetic fabrics. Organic bedding is made of plants that have not been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides, protecting the farmers and the earth that surround them from toxic chemical exposure.
Hemp
Hemp is a fast-growing crop that doesn’t need as much water as cotton and bamboo, and doesn’t require chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It is a higher producer than cotton, yielding 200% more fiber for the same amount of land. It is not as readily available as other fabrics, making it expensive, and it results in a somewhat stiff material when used alone (though it does soften up with repeated washes). Hemp-Cotton blends create a soft, yet durable bedding fabric.
Organic Cotton
Cotton’s growth consumes a lot of water, but organic cotton is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Many cotton farmers are switching over to organic, and by supporting organic cotton, you are helping to change one of Earth’s most dirty industries. Cotton is soft, cozy and comfortable.
Organic Linen
Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Flax takes minimal water to grow, thrives in bad soil and works well in crop rotation cycles. Flax is still hand-harvested, making it more expensive than cotton. Linen fabric is much stronger than cotton fabric, and it makes luxurious bedding that is soft and breathable. Linen requires less water to wash and less energy to dry than cotton.
Bamboo
Bamboo grows very quickly and doesn’t require fertilizers or pesticides, but the manufacturing of bamboo fabric may use toxic chemicals. Read more about bamboo in our article: Bamboo vs Cotton Sheets.
Certifications and Standards to Look For
- Certified Organic
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) Certified
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100
- Ethically or fair-trade produced
- 100% natural fabric, not mixed with synthetics
I do not recommend cheap organic products from big box stores because they are often made in a sweatshop with workers being paid very little to produce the product. Cheap cotton sheets, even organic ones, will quickly start pilling after a few washes.
By spending more money on high-quality bedding, you will be satisfied with the product, pleased with the quality, and happy with the manufacturing process.
Types of Bed Sheets
When shopping for bedding, you are going to run into a few terms. It is best to know what these terms mean before you start shopping.
Percale
A closely woven plain-weave fabric. Percale has a thread count of about 200 or higher and is noticeably tighter than the standard type of weave used for bedsheets.
- Medium weight.
- Firm and smooth with no gloss.
- Washes very well.
- Durable and softens with age.
- Cool and crisp, perfect for those who are hot sleepers or during hot weather.
- Wrinkles easily.
Sateen
A weave in which many threads are aligned tightly together in the vertical direction, creating a smooth, lustrous and very soft surface on one side of the fabric and a slightly matte one on the other.
- Slightly shiny and very soft.
- Holds colors well and doesn’t wrinkle.
- Easy to care for.
- Matte on one side and soft and shiny on the other side.
- Warmer to the touch than percale and has a cozier feel.
- More susceptible to wear than other weaves.
Jersey
Jersey sheets are knit, rather than woven.
- Most affordable type of sheet.
- Have some stretch to them.
- Very breathable.
- Basically a T-shirt fabric, very soft and comfortable.
- Effortless to care for.
- Prone to wear and pilling.
Flannel
A medium-weight, plain-weave fabric that’s brushed on both sides to create a supple, fuzzy surface and an extremely soft feel.
- Great for cool weather.
- Very cozy, yet breathable.
- Feel warm as you slip into bed.
- Can replace a blanket on warm nights.
Linen
Woven from the fibers of the flax plant, linen is strong yet supple, with a faint natural texture and soft drape.
- Can absorb many times its weight in moisture without feeling damp.
- Keeps you cooler on warm nights and warmer on cool nights.
- Static-free, nonallergenic and naturally antibacterial.
- Very durable and gets better with age.
Where to Buy Organic Bedding
HOLY LAMB ORGANICS
Holy Lamb Organics, located in Oakville, Washington, has a story that I never get tired of telling. This is by far my favorite place to shop for organic bedding. Their story, mission and ethics around their processes makes them a company anyone can feel really good about supporting. Their reverence for the animals whose fleece enables them to create much of their healthy, natural bedding is highlighted in their name. Holy Lamb Organics is devoted to the planet and its inhabitants, from their supply chain to their manufacturing processes to their facilities management. They strive to be zero waste and sustainable every step of the way. They’ll even take you on a tour of their location if you’re in Oakville!
If Holy Lamb Organics can’t manufacture something themselves, they’re only willing to carry products that have their same impeccable standards. In the case of organic cotton sheets, they only carry the Coyuchi line – made from organically grown cotton and GOTS certified. Become part of their incredible story with the equally thrilling benefit of getting bedding that is incredibly cozy (and SAFE to be wrapped in NIGHTLY for years to come).
Amazon
There are a couple brands of organic bedding available on Amazon that I trust. It can be frustrating to look through the selection on Amazon to find truly organic and high-quality bedding. Some brands on Amazon are deceiving their customers by advertising that they are Eco-friendly, only to have people buy them and find out they are actually mixed with synthetic fabric or have a chemical smell.
The products I recommend on Amazon are:
Conclusion
I hope that this article has helped you in your search for the best organic bedding. The most important thing to look for in your search is third-party certification from GOTS or Oeko-Tex. If you shop at Holy Lamb Organics, you are guaranteed that your new bedding will be truly Eco-friendly.
If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments, I always answer!
This post was originally published on February 1, 2016.
Alyssa says
Hi Andrea,
I had no idea there were so many types of organic materials for bedding. It’s funny, the older I get the more concerned I am about the chemicals and toxins in food, in my cleaning agents and beauty products and now, apparently, in my bedding. Jersey sheets are my favorite kind. They are soft and snuggly and now I know that I can find them in something organic and toxin free. Hmmm. My birthday is coming up soon. I need to drop a hint to my husband and have bookmarked this site.
Thanks so much!
Alyssa
Best Organic Lifestyle says
Jersey sheets are my favorite too. I love being cozy 🙂 thanks for stopping in Alyssa!
micmicy says
hi! hope your doing good,in my whole life i didi not know if there are different bedding fabrics i just know only cotton as the best but now i learn something new and all of that so thanks to your page.
Because without passing over then i would not know about this and the good thing that i learn too is that apart from learning different type bedding fabric again i learn that usually cheap things does not work at and always they have payback in different ways especially interm of health.
What can i say more than thanking you for writting this page and for doing that you have saved most of us in way to another.
Best Organic Lifestyle says
thanks micmicy, we try really hard to bring the best information to the surface for our readers.
Cathy says
Thanks for putting up this wonderful article about organic bedding. I always thought it was some kind of fad, but the information made me realized that health also involves what we put and cover ourselves with.
I had a look at Coyuchi on The Ultimate Green Store and they have such beautiful looking bedding.
I just ran out of fresh towels to use at home and may just order some from Coyuchi to start my own organic collection.
Best Organic Lifestyle says
Thanks Cathy! Organic is more than just a fad, it is actually the way we used to do things! Our grandparents would have lived an organic lifestyle 🙂 It is my hope that in the future, organic will be the norm.
Sangeeta says
Very detailed and informative post on organic bedding. I was unaware of many facts about the list of good organics but after going through your detailed article, I can select the best organic bedding for my home.
Just checked the link of The Ultimate Green Store Website that is quite impressive and has a huge selection of organic products for home. Thanks for sharing.
Best Organic Lifestyle says
Thanks Sangeeta 🙂 They have a pretty good selection of drool-worthy bedding!
lifebeginswithyourhealth says
Interesting article, I never knew before reading your article there was organic bedding. I do purchase organic food as much as possible.
I enjoy hearing about more ways to live healthy, health is a very important topic in my life. How long has organic bedding been on the market? I also try to buy natural cleaning products as well to limit my exposure to chemicals.
Best Organic Lifestyle says
I am not sure how long organic bedding has been available on the market, would be interesting to look into the history of organic textiles. I am sure that for most of our history, all bedding was organic.