Best Cooling Bedsheets in Singapore - The best materials in 2024 explained by fabric makers
Table of Contents:
- What makes a bedsheet Cooling?
- Best Overall Cooling Material - TENCEL ™
- Best Budget Cooling Material - Bamboo
- Best Crisp, Durable and Cooling Material - Egyptian Cotton Sateen
- Bamboo vs TENCEL ™: Which is the Better Cooling Option?
- TENCEL ™ vs COTTON: Crispness or Softness?
- Fabric Crafters Tip: Weave and Material Considerations
What makes a bedsheet cooling?
It’s hard to stay cool in Singapore’s tropical weather and are many options available in the market, but what exactly makes a set of sheets cooling?
In this article, we’ll take you through various fabrics and materials in the perspective of a fabric maker to help you make an informed decision on your next set of sheets.
Out of all the materials and techniques available in the world, we break down to the best ones that are functional and within the reach of regular households.
TENCEL ™ Bed Sheets - Best Overall Material
TENCEL™, sourced from eucalyptus trees, is known for its eco-friendly and cooling characteristics. These sheets offer excellent moisture-wicking abilities, ensuring a dry and comfortable sleep. TENCEL™ has become widely popular these days and it is also hypoallergenic and anti-fungal.
You can be certain that you're getting the highest quality in all aspects and fabric traits due it's stringent manufacturing process.
Since TENCEL™ has great moisture absorbing properties, this trait nullifies the high humidity factor in Singapore's climate. It's porous fiber structure allows air to flow through, resulting in a cool touch, making it one of the best choices you can find.
Shop TENCEL™ bedsheets here.
Bamboo Bed Sheets - Best Budget TENCEL ™ Alternative
Bamboo sheets has been popular for their natural cooling properties. Like the TENCEL™, the fabric's breathability allows optimal air circulation, wicking away moisture and keeping you cool. They are also hypoallergenic and soft, making them a great choice for those seeking comfort at a budget.
For both TENCEL™ and Bamboo, the most popular choice to craft them is in LYOCELL (Closed loop process). The main difference between TENCEL™ and Bamboo is that bamboo is a significantly more affordable material due it being easily found and produced, however it is difficult to trace its source and quality control is usually minimal.
If you require budget sheets that are cooling, Bamboo is one of the best choices and there are many choices that you can find in Singapore!
Find Bamboo bedsheets here:
Egyptian Cotton Sateen Bed Sheets - Best Crisp Cooling Material
Egyptian Cotton Bed sheets are a classic luxury choice, cherished for their crisp and cool feel. Similar to the above materials, cotton is a natural fiber and also has a porous structure, allowing air to flow through.
However, the point here for cotton fiber is that you have to craft it in a certain way so that it is cooling. Here are the key points you have to look for:
1. It has to be Sateen weave. Sateen is a weave, while Satin is a polyester material. This is a popular mistake that most consumers make because of the similar sounding names.
2. It has to have a minimal tread count of 300 per square inch (single ply), which means that it isn't too thick. This means a yarn size of at least 60s. The higher the number, the finer the yarn and the more cooling it will be.
3. It has to be 100% Cotton. Any mix of polyester in this blend would cause it to have heat trapping properties.
4. Egyptian cotton species are known to have longer and finer fibers, this improves the smoothness and softness of the fabric. The improved smoothness is due to the fact that there are less fiber ends protruding from the yarn itself, thus making the fabric less heat-trapping, making it cool.
Note: Most cotton sheets in the world are not made for the purpose of being "cooling". They are popular all rounder sheets.
If you're looking for Cotton that is similar to the cooling properties of bamboo and TENCEL™, Check out Oak & Sand's Giza Egyptian Cotton sheets that are made by the finest 140s Egyptian Cotton yarns. These Cotton sheets are unbelievably crisp and cooling.
Shop Giza Egyptian Cotton Sheets here.
Bamboo vs TENCEL ™: Which is the Better Cooling Option?
Bamboo and TENCEL™ share similar properties when it comes to cooling bedsheets. As they’re both materials with naturally cooling properties, it may be hard to decide between the two.
As fabric makers, we chose TENCEL™ for several specific reasons: Quality fibers & assurance. Since our aim here is to craft the best possible fabric without considering the price of the source, TENCEL™ naturally takes the win here.
Being branded also means that TENCEL™ fibers have a name to stand by, reducing the chance of lemon-quality fibers being sent down the supply chain.
TENCEL ™ vs Cotton:
The main difference between these two materials is their "Crispness". Also, it is harder to find Cotton that is actually as cooling as TENCEL™, unless the cotton material is specifically made to be "cooling".
In terms of pricing, Quality Cotton can be priced similarly to a set of TENCEL™ Bedsheet, and occasionally be more expensive due to the rarity of Egyptian cotton.
Taking price out of the picture, if you love the crispness of fresh sheets and see durability & longevity of the sheets as important factors, choose Giza Egyptian Cotton sheets. (Please see above for cotton specifications to look for)
If soft and silky fabrics are your priority, look no further than TENCEL™ bedsheets.
Fabric Crafters Tip: Other Weave and Material Considerations
When looking for cooling bedsheets, not all weaves are made the same. Sateen would be your best bet for cooling bedsheets as the weaves are not as tight as Percale, allowing air to flow more easily.
While Percale is more durable, it's less breathable than Sateen. With today's technology, Sateen would be durable enough for daily use.
In terms of material, natural options such as Cotton, TENCEL™, and Bamboo are porous and for better airflow, unlike synthetic materials like microfiber.
