WHAT IS BETTER POLYESTER OR COTTON?

There are so many types of materials online and it may be hard to figure out which one is the best. So here is a helpful guide comparing two of the most common types, polyester and cotton.

HOW THEY ARE MADE:

Polyester is a synthetic fiber made of plastic. It may be hard to believe but polyester simply a fiber made from petroleum, air and water. The process involves melting very small PET pellets and extruding them through holes to make the fibers. Polyester is not naturally occurring, nor does it have any natural fibers mixed in.

Cotton is a natural fiber that is grown and harvested in fields. After cotton is harvested, it can be spun and woven into many different products. Most people know what cotton is, but they may not know that there are many different types. Egyptian cotton is well known kinds for example. The different types of cotton are just different species that have properties some find to be better. Cotton can also be categorized as organic or not based on how it is grown.

BONUS: Microfiber is a fiber that is a mix of the two. There are certain criteria a fiber must meet to be considered microfiber. This mix is usually considered better than polyester, but each has its positives and negatives.

WHICH IS MORE COMFORTABLE?

Considering cotton and polyester are made in largely different ways, naturally they also have very different.

SOFTNESS:

Softness depends largely on the type of cotton or polyester you use. Some cotton, especially when not well made can be very rough. Polyester can also differ greatly in quality though. It is generally accepted though that cotton is the softer option.

BREATHABILITY:

Cotton is more breathable than polyester because it is hydrophilic (it absorbs water). Since polyester does not absorb water, it is less breathable and can cause you to sweat more at night. If you have problems with sweating at night cotton is usually the better option. Although some polyester materials do have finishes on the material to make it more breathable.

Ultimately, it comes to preference. Even though cotton is considered the better-quality material, some people simply prefer polyester, and others go with cotton. As mentioned before there are huge differences within each material type as well. A whole book could be written about just comparing different types of cotton to each other, let alone polyester.

WHICH MATERIAL IS EASIER TO MAINTAIN?

This is one place where polyester is the clear winner. Since cotton is hydrophobic, this means it absorbs messes much easier as well. While cotton’s absorption is helpful for a good night’s sleep, it is not so helpful for keeping it clean. Polyester does not absorb as easy as cotton, so it does not get dirty as easily either.

Cotton products are also much more likely to shrink than polyester. When put in the dryer, the large amount of water in the cotton products can cause them to shrink. Polyester does not shrink since it does not absorb nearly as much water. So, polyester will maintain its shape even when it does need cleaning, allowing it to last longer and save money.

Finally polyester generally wrinkles less than cotton. This is also due to the difference in water absorption mentioned earlier. Less water intake leads to less deformation or wrinkling of the product.

WHICH MATERIAL IS LESS EXPENSIVE?

As mentioned before, cotton is considered the better material, and it is usually more expensive too. Cotton takes longer to make and needs more resources than polyester. Ultimately making it more expensive to the final consumer. Although, the extra price may be worth it for those who prefer the quality. Other may also opt for a microfiber product as a happy middle.

WHICH MATERIAL IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Naturally one would think cotton is better, since it is a natural material, but it is not quite that simple. Both these materials affect the environment in different ways.

Cotton is one of the most water hungry crops grown by man. Using cotton products requires a lot of water, both while growing it and cleaning it. Read more about their impacts here.

Polyester on the other hand is made using fossil fuels, so it releases toxic greenhouse gasses into the environment. Ultimately, both materials, like most things we consume, and use have some impact on the environment. So it is important to get good quality products that will last a long time to reduce the amount we waste.

If you are looking to buy bedding and need some direction, here are some sheets we have both polyester and cotton available:

Cotton. Polyester