Are Bamboo Bedsheets Good (Or Just Marketing Fluff?)

So you have heard that bedsheets made of bamboo fiber are natural, non-toxic, soft, hypoallergenic, sustainable, and whatever else that people claim. But think again, didn’t the salesman say the same thing about cotton, wool, silk, cashmere, linen, and whatever else is out there?

Bamboo bedsheets are good in the sense that bamboo itself is a naturally hypoallergenic and sustainable material. But the many questionable parts are the comfort level, which climates it is suitable for, what goes into the process of making it, and the practice of “sustainable harvesting”.

Yes, before you get brainwashed by the salesman, let us explore both sides of the story. Read on!

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Good The Bad The End

 

BAMBOO BEDSHEETS – THE GOOD

What is so good about a bamboo bedsheet? Salespeople and articles all over the Internet have pasted “it’s gold” everywhere, I am just going to parrot some of the main points here quickly.

 

COMFORTABLE

Bamboo bedsheets are soft and they are unlike “other regular fabrics”. Instead of becoming coarse, hard, and raspy after many washing cycles – Bamboo fabrics become softer and smoother instead. The longer you use the bamboo bedsheet, the more comfortable it becomes.

 

BREATHABLE

Bamboo fabric is a breathable material, sweat and moisture don’t stay trapped on a bamboo bedsheet for long. That makes it perfect for the sweaty folks, enjoy better nights of sleep without a mushy and soggy bedsheet. This also mean mold is less likely to grow because of a lack of moisture.

 

 

HEALTHY

Bamboo has hypoallergenic properties naturally, they repel dust mites and allergens. In simple terms – It’s good for people who have to cope with allergy issues such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, runny eyes and nose.

 

DURABLE

Bamboo is used in construction since the ancient days, and bamboo constructs from thousands of years ago have been unearthed by archeologists. There is no doubt that it is a very durable material, bamboo bedsheets are going to last very long.

 

 

BAMBOO BEDSHEETS – THE TRUTH & THE BAD

Now that we are done with one side of the coin, let us explore the other side of it. Here is a small sharing of my own experience of using a bamboo bedsheet, and some of the “not-so-good” points.

 

NOT GOOD FOR COLD CLIMATES

Yes, bamboo fabric is breathable. That sounds cool, and bamboo bedsheets are in fact cooler than cotton and wool. They work great during summers and for hot climates, but forget it otherwise for cold climates. Bamboo bedsheets don’t retain heat as much, they are not really meant for cold places.

 

 

COMFORT LEVEL IS SUBJECTIVE

Yes, bamboo bedsheets are generally considered “comfortable”. But that is subjective to various factors:

  • Personal opinion, they are nowhere near silk and satin.
  • The mattress itself matters. One does not put a bamboo bedsheet over a bad mattress and magically turn it comfortable.
  • In cold places, bamboo bedsheets are probably going to become “uncomfortable” instead.

 

QUITE A HASSLE TO MAINTAIN

While it is not as bad as silk and satin, maintaining a bamboo bedsheet is still somewhat a hassle – They have to be washed separately. Unlike cotton or wool sheets that can be washed with the rest of the laundry load.

 

 

NOT REALLY “NATURAL”

People don’t just walk into a magical bamboo forest with a saw, and come walking out with a “miracle bamboo bedsheet”. Some form of factory production and processing has to happen.

It will be nice if the production is truly “natural” and does not include the use of bad chemicals in any form. But fingers crossed – Even washing requires the use of detergent. What else goes into the production of a bamboo bedsheet? Only the manufacturers themselves know.

 

NOT REALLY “SUSTAINABLE”

Salespeople keep on ranting about how the bamboo sheets are “sustainable”. But some environmentalists sing a different tune – If you think about it, the land is cleared for growing bamboo. The original biodiversity will be destroyed and gone forever. In other words, the environment changed when people start to grow a bamboo forest.

The good thing about nature is that it will “readjust” itself when the food chain and ecosystem changes. The bamboo forest simply attracts different kinds of pests, animals, and diseases. When there is an outbreak – Human intervention steps in with pesticides and other forms of animal control. “Sustainability” is not a good word to use when there is a lot of human intervention.

 

 

THE END – GOOD OR BAD?

So, are bamboo bedsheets good or bad in the end? That is actually a very subjective question. They are better for hot climates, but not so good for the cold. If you are into “sustainability”, then cotton can also be grown sustainably. It all boils down to your own personal preferences, don’t be cheated by all those marketing fads.

Thank you for reading, and we have come to the end of this short guide. I hope it has helped to answer your doubts. Good luck and have better nights of sleep!

 

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