• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • Moving house? Get your Wi-Fi connection right!
        • earth hour festival earth hour Singapore WWF SingaporeSwitch Off for Earth Hour by WWF Singapore
        • Lydia Ko plays golf tournament in singaporeWatch a women’s golf battle for the Team Series title!
        • real estate in united states owning property in USOwning Real Estate in the United States
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Elke & man k9 empawer walkWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • St Patrick's Day 2023 - irish pubs and drinking spotsSt Patrick’s Day: Great bars to celebrate at
        • Lydia Ko plays golf tournament in singaporeWatch a women’s golf battle for the Team Series title!
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • 10 places for teenagers to hang out in Singapore
        • Mental health support for toddlers to teens
        • Fun obstacle course in Singapore for kids and adultsHomeTeamNS challenges you to the ultimate obstacle course!
        • education system in Singapore Astor international schoolAstor: Small Singapore school with big impact
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Beautiful interior design by Arete CultureNeed decorators, home stylists or interior designers?
        • Affordable art in SingaporeBuying affordable art in Singapore – it is possible!
        • Where to buy a really good bed and mattress in Singapore
        • co living Singapore coliwoo5 reasons to choose co-living in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • property in sydneyBuying property in Sydney
        • international health insurance for singapore expatsHealth insurance for Singapore expats
        • Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • Chloe from E&A InteriorsBuilding a holiday villa in Sri Lanka from start to finish!
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • local desserts in singapore - Rainbow ice cream breadMust-try local desserts in Singapore
        • St Patrick's Day 2023 - irish pubs and drinking spotsSt Patrick’s Day: Great bars to celebrate at
        • Best Restaurants in Singapore – Where to eat for foodies!
        • 3 Greek restaurants for your Mediterranean food fix!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Niessing gold jewellery in SingaporeI discovered a 150-year-old jeweller in Singapore!
        • Boutique Fairs Singapore fairs in Singapore6 New brands at the Spring edition of Boutique Fairs Singapore!
        • hairdressers in singapore balayage and blonde highiightsBest salons for blonde highlights and balayage
        • ultherapy amaris bLook attractive with or without your face mask!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • Here’s why sleep is so important
        • core exercises in singapore7 Singapore Pilates studios for core exercises & more!
        • at-home personal training yoga in singaporeYoga classes in Singapore, and the benefits!
        • Here’s what inspires a top urologist in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Bamboo Bed Sheets v Cotton – What’s the difference?

17th August 2021 by Rebecca Bisset 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/cotton-or-bamboo-bed-sheets-which-is-better/

When it comes to choosing bed sheets, pillow cases and duvets, all things are definitely not made equal! In the old days, we used to look at thread count for softness. Now we have a lot more fabrics to choose from, including bamboo bed sheets, and plenty of other aspects to consider when making a choice.

Comfort is of course the main thing people think about when it comes to bedding, which makes sense. The average person spends almost 230,000 hours of their life in bed – that’s approximately 26 years! Comfort doesn’t only mean softness though, as temperature regulation and material quality play a huge part in a comfortable night’s sleep.

Are cotton or bamboo bed sheets better?

Cotton and bamboo sheets and bedding are both common choices, and both are readily available. Bamboo is fairly new to the game, whereas cotton has been a traditional staple for many years. There is much debate on whether bamboo or cotton is the superior choice.

Cotton and bamboo bedding both have their strengths and drawbacks, and there are compelling arguments for each.

bamboo bed sheets
NakedLab’s gorgeous range of bamboo silk bedding

# Cotton Bedding

Cotton is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world; more than 27 million tons of it are produced each year. (That’s equal to 27 t-shirts for every single person on earth!) Cotton is so commonly used because it’s soft, durable and easy to care for. There is also no shortage of options when it comes to cotton sheets. The price is usually reflected in the quality of the material used. Egyptian cotton sheets, for instance, are highly rated as among the most luxurious bedding options for their softness and durability. At the other end of the scale, you have ‘regular’ or ‘common cotton’. It’s still soft, but nothing in comparison; it also tends to be cheaper, far less durable, and non-organic.

No matter what grade of cotton sheets you choose, they’re likely to be comfortable, breathable and easy to clean. But, cotton has a slightly darker side. Widely regarded as one of the ‘dirtiest’ crops around, cotton is far from a sustainable, environmentally friendly choice. Approximately half of all textiles in the world are made from of cotton, and a huge amount of space is required for that purpose. Acres of land that was originally the natural habitat of countless plants and animals is transformed into land for cotton farming.

Cotton also uses vast amounts of water. It takes up to 20,000 litres (over 5,000 gallons) of water to produce just 1kg (2.2lbs) of cotton. This makes cotton one of the thirstiest plants on the planet. In addition to this massive ‘water footprint’, cotton farming uses huge amounts of agrochemicals, in the form of pesticides and insecticides. These expose both growers and consumers to toxic carcinogenic chemicals during the production process.

# Bamboo Bed Sheets

Bamboo bedding is pretty new but it’s growing in popularity; and bamboo sheets do tick the majority of the boxes of what people look for. They’re incredibly soft, for example, and they’re thermal regulating. They are fairly similar to high-grade cotton when it comes to breathability and durability.

One of the key selling points for bamboo bedding is its sustainability rating. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world; some species grow up to three feet a day! It doesn’t require the use of pesticides or any other agrochemicals, nor fertiliser or irrigation, both of which are common in cotton farming. This lack of chemical exposure means that bamboo bedding sets are ideal for those with allergies and sensitive skin.

A common concern that came to light when bamboo started to become popular for bedding and clothing, was the fact that certain animals rely on bamboo to stay alive. For example, 99% of a giant panda’s diet is made up of bamboo. However, these animals eat over 25 types of bamboo – mainly arrow bamboo, black bamboo and water bamboo; the bamboo species used to make fabric is called Moso bamboo, and is not, and cannot, be eaten by pandas. So, bamboo bedding is panda-approved too!

It’s important to note that bamboo is of course still a plant-based fabric source that uses water and land to grow. It is, however, far gentler on the environment than any of its counterparts.

NakedLab’s bamboo bedding sets
Plenty of colours to choose from
bamboo sheets for kids
Soft and hypoallergenic
bamboo sheets for babies
NakedLab’s cot sheets

The breakdown

Durability

Both are very durable and long lasting when taken care of properly. Cotton sheets get softer with age while bamboo sheets hold their dye better, with colours and patterns remaining vivid.

Comfort

Bamboo bedding is usually smooth and soft, though this is often dependent upon the weave. Likewise, cotton’s comfort is weave-dependant and the grade of cotton used obviously plays a part. Cotton can sometimes start off rougher, but soften significantly after a few washes; bamboo retains the initial ‘silky’ feel for an extended period.

Cost

Cotton sheets vary hugely in price; it’s very much a case of ‘you get what you pay for’. They can start very cheap for low-quality cotton, but can easily increase more than ten times for top-quality, Egyptian cotton products. While no bamboo sheets are as cheap as the low-grade cotton, high-quality bamboo bedding is far more affordable than the highest quality cotton alternatives. The highest quality for the best price is unarguably bamboo.

Temperature Control

Both cotton and bamboo are natural materials, therefore very good for temperature regulation while sleeping. Some people believe bamboo is a better material for breathability and keeping cool, especially during night sweats or hot flushes, or if you live in a tropical climate. That makes it ideal for bedding. On the other hand, others prefer cotton for similar reasons. It tends to come down to your personal preference, as both provide temperature neutrality.

Care

Finally, cotton and bamboo bedding are both machine-washable and can either be tumble-dried or air-dried. Both are durable and can easily withstand routine washing.

NakedLab is a bedding company that focuses on high-quality, vegan bamboo silk bedding. See the complete range of sheets, bedding and more at nakedlab.com.

 

Here’s our guide to furniture stores for setting up your home, or just if you want some new gear!

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Home Decor Homes Kids Tags: bamboo bedding nakedlab

Rebecca Bisset

Heading up Expat Living, Rebecca started off in photography and video. A bit of a nomad before Singapore, she likes to travel when she can but she finds looking at properties as exciting!

You May Also Like

Mental health support for toddlers to teens

home cleaning sendhelper

Here’s how you can get your rental deposit back

education system in Singapore Astor international school

Astor: Small Singapore school with big impact

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.