The Right Fibres to Keep You Comfortable in Bed During Humid Weather

During Australian summers, the average maximum temperature dips just below a sweat-inducing 30 degrees Celsius. When day turns into night, it helps to have breathable bedding fibres for a comfortable sleep. Too much humidity can keep us awake and reduce the time we spend in NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, both of which we need to remain healthy and restore energy.

Thermoregulating fabrics can keep you cool, wick away moisture, and help you maintain a comfortable, optimal body temperature through the night, as temperature changes can be a cause for interrupted sleeping patterns. Not all fibres have thermoregulating properties, however, so it pays to know which types of bedding are better at keeping you cool.

Here are the common bedsheet fibres and how well they perform in hot climates.

 

Cotton

Cotton is a very heat-friendly fabric. Lightweight and breathable, cotton sheets come in multiple different weaves, including:

Cotton Percale Weave

Featuring a one-over-one-under weave, cotton percale bedsheets are soft yet crisp. Percale sheets often sit between 180-300thc, making them lightweight and one of the best bed sheet materials for humid weather. Cotton percale is typically easy-care and can be used year-round.

Cotton Sateen Weave

Known for its silky sheen and super soft texture, cotton sateen features a tight three to four-over and one-under weave at a 45-degree angle. These usually have thread counts of 300 to 600, which makes them thicker and warmer and a little less breathable than percale. So, we typically recommend reserving your cotton sateen bedsheets for cooler weather or substituting the weight with a lighter cover.

Cotton Jersey Weave

Unlike the first two sheet types, the jersey is knit, not woven. While 100% cotton jersey bedsheets can be super lightweight, stretchy, and airy, we don’t recommend using these during humid weather. Since it's a woven fibre, it traps air between its weave and can make you feel hot. Jersey is often used as a substitute for those that don’t like the feel of flannelette but need a warm sheet.

Flannelette

Textured cotton is perhaps the most appropriate way to describe flannelette sheets. Made from brushed cotton fibres, flannelette bedsheets are thicker than other cotton weaves and very cozy. Although these fibres are breathable, flannelettes retain heat and are not ideal for humid weather.

 

Bamboo

Bamboo and cotton blends are highly breathable. When blended together, they feel extremely luxurious to the touch and are one of the best cooling bed sheets. Bamboo sheets are delicate, hypoallergenic, and cool your body even if you sweat profusely.

Ideal for year-round use, bamboo fibres keep you cool during summer and warm during winter.

 

Linen

One of our top bedsheet choices for extremely humid weather, linen sheets are breathable, durable, and have natural moisture-wicking properties. Linen is a great fabric for hot Australian weather. As a thicker fibre, linen sheets are constructed using an open square weave and can range in weight depending on the fabric construction and quality of the fibres.

In short, cotton percale, linen, and bamboo-cotton blended sheets all feel dry to the touch, making their fibres perfect for Australian summers and humid weather in general.

 

Polyester

Although polyester bedsheets are long-lasting, affordable, and wrinkle-resistant, they aren’t a great choice for humid weather. As a synthetic fibre type, they don’t naturally breathe or wick away moisture. Poly-cotton sheets are often used due to being extremely easy-care and affordable.

 

Conclusion

To sleep comfortably during sweltering Australian summers, go for fibres that are lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking, and made from plant-based materials. Although your body already regulates its temperature while you’re sleeping, you can help the process by wearing and sleeping on fabrics that are breathable.

Loose weaves are better than dense, tightly woven fabrics because they contribute to breathability. A high thread count traps a lot of heat between its threads, and 1000THC bedsheets are one of the warmest sheet options out there. It’s important to shop by fibre type to find what is ideal for you.

Choose a comfortable bedsheet fabric that cools your body naturally and absorbs sweat. If you must use layers, select lightweight and natural materials. Make sure your room is well-ventilated by opening a window, turning on an electric fan, or using air conditioning.

The Hotel Linen Co. offers a wide variety of options for hot nights. Browse our collection of bamboo sheet sets, cotton sheet sets, and linen sheet sets and start enjoying cooler nights and more comfortable sleep.

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