How to Choose Bed Sheets for A Great Night’s Sleep

Aug 16, 2018 | Blog, Health, Insomnia, Sleep Tips

Bed linens are a key element to a great night’s sleep. The quality of your sheets can make all the difference for comfortable sleep. At night, our body expends heat and it is important to choose bedding that doesn’t trap the heat. When sheets trap body heat, the internal temperature of the body rises making one sweat and eventually wake up.

The one activity we do most in life is sleep, or attempt to sleep. We spend one-third of our life, or 26 years in bed.  We spend just under seven years of that time trying to get to sleep. Get to sleep faster with bedding designed to contribute to restful sleep. Here’s what to look for:

Pick the right material.  Natural fibers like cotton, bamboo, or linen are ideal to wick away perspiration.  For hot summer nights, a breathable sheet thread count between 200 and 400 will feel smooth, soft, and cool when temperatures soar.  If you want to trap body heat for warmth in winter, consider a sheet thread count above 400.  Department stores have sheet set displays that allow you to touch the fabric. To see what feels best, lay the fabric against your skin and do a side-by-side comparison.

Wash linens regularly.  Always wash new sheets before you put them on the bed. This ensures they are free of irritants from packaging.  As a general rule, wash linens every seven to ten days.  In addition, a pillow should be washed every six months or replaced. If you don’t shower at night before bed, you may find a need to wash sheets more often.  Fresh sheets and a clean sleep environment are critical to healthy rest and overall well-being.

Choose the best pillowcase. A good pillow can be the best accessory on the bed.  Along with the mattress, a pillow plays an important role in the support of healthy spinal alignment while you sleep. However, the pillowcase can be just as important.  While a cotton pillowcase absorbs dirt and oil for the skin, a silk pillowcase offers benefits to hair and skin.  An unwashed pillowcase can cause breakouts and wrinkles to the face and neck.

Do you tend to focus on sheets that look good or do you base it on how they feel?  The aesthetics of the bedroom are important. However, it’s also important to choose textiles that promote sleep, not deflect it.  You don’t have to spend a fortune on quality sheets, find what feels good to you and the rest will happen organically.

If new sheets still leave you restless, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at your sleep behavior.  Start here with SomnologyMobileDoc, an easy to use mobile app that stores data about how you sleep. A good night sleep is achievable, and Somnology can help.

Resources:

https://sleep.org/articles/choosing-sheets/

https://medium.com/thrive-global/3-reasons-why-sleeping-on-a-silk-pillowcase-is-beneficial-61f78270a971

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a19468/clean-bed-pillows/