Ever wondered what’s the significance between different types of bedsheets?
In between choosing prints and navigating through high mark prices, it’s tough to know which bedsheets to choose.
Much less, which are the best bedsheet brands in Malaysia! Here’s your starter guide on how to know what to look for when selecting bedsheets so you get your money’s worth!
Table Of Contents:
Types Of Bedsheets
Bedsheets come in all sorts of materials. But for the Malaysian climate, 100% natural fibers are preferable.
1. Tencel Bedsheets
Tencel bedsheets are gaining traction in Malaysia with cotton getting pricier. This material is light and agreeable with hot weather.
They look and feel similar to cotton bedsheets too. Although they are more resistant to wrinkling.
Price-wise, Tencel bedsheets are not that much cheaper or expensive than cotton bedsheets.
Note: Tencel is a brand name for lyocell – a fiber produced from wood pulp
2. Silk Bedsheets
There aren’t that many places to get silk bedsheets in Malaysia, but it is possible.
However, it’s a time and labor-intensive process to produce silk from silkworms and hence, this drives up the price of silk bedsheets considerably.
But while silk bedsheets feel cool and luxurious with an enviable sheen:
The high care and maintenance necessary to upkeep silk bedsheets is another disadvantage that many prefer to pass on.
3. Cotton Bedsheets
Cotton bedsheets have been around for a while. And because of our hot climate, cotton bedsheets in Malaysia are highly sought after.
There’s also a huge variety of different brands, prints, finishing, and variations of thread count available when it comes cotton bedsheets.
Organic cotton bedsheets cost a lot more than their non organic counterparts. Cotton is usually grown with an abundant use of pesticides and investing in organic cotton bedsheets is one way to ensure that your body doesn’t come in contact with any of these unwanted chemicals.
There are other sub-types (I.e. weaves) of cotton bedsheets like jersey or flannel but these are not popular in Malaysia since they are thicker and not as breathable.
The main disadvantage of cotton bedsheets is how easily they acquire wrinkles. Low quality cotton bedsheets will also pile quickly after a few rounds of washing.
4. Egyptian Cotton Bedsheets
For those that can afford to splurge on premium bedding, Egyptian cotton bedsheets in Malaysia are an amazing choice for the tropical climate.
Egyptian cotton is the highest grade of cotton with an incredibly silky feel but at the same time, it’s highly resistant to aging (I.e. the dreaded piling).
Note: Pima or Supima cotton is one step below Egyptian cotton and is considered high quality cotton
5. Bamboo Bedsheets
Bamboo bedsheets is the other non cotton but “natural fiber” alternative that feels similar to but isn’t as expensive as silk or Egyptian cotton.
While bamboo is natural and often touted as environmentally friendly, the process of turning hard bamboo into soft pliable fibers (I.e. bamboo rayon) is chemically intensive.
The end product is a breathable and durable material not unlike Tencel bedsheets.
6. Microfiber/ Polyester/ Polyblend Bedsheets
Microfiber and synthetic bedsheets are a whole lot cheaper than natural bedsheet materils we have listed here.
Pure polyester sheets can feel very rough and hence, there are many bedsheets that weave a blend of synthetic and natural fibers.
For the most part, synthetic alternatives to bedding are the most uncomfortable material for bedding particularly if you happen to sleep in a room without air conditioning.
And any oil or grease stains can be difficult to remove. However, polyester-blend sheets are a solution for kid’s bedding if you’re worried about other kinds of stains.
Note: Microfiber is very finely woven polyester that is stain-resistant
Moreover, these types of bedsheets can have a very smooth finish that feels similar to natural silk and are thus labeled as satin sheets. Knit satin is rougher than woven satin.
Aside from their lower pricing, the other advantage that synthetic bedsheets have over natural fiber bedsheets is their resistance to wrinkling! Plus, they dry very fast.
7. Linen
These are not popular in Malaysia although they are another natural fiber that would work in Malaysian climate.
That said, linen is stiffer (but also more durable) than cotton too so you cannot expect them to feel as soft as cotton bedsheets! Even if they’re just as breathable.
Additionally, linen has a tendency to bleed in the wash if the bedsheet is dyed with bold colors.
How To Choose Bed Sheets
Besides the style of bedsheet you desire for your bedroom (I.e., plain or patterned), these are all the important criteria for picking out bedsheets.
And they definitely affect the price of the bedsheets. Something to note if you want to save your money for the best mattress in Malaysia too!
1. Material
This matters especially if you want to avoid turning around on sticky sheets at night!
Always go for natural fibers if you want a breathable material that sleeps cool.
Yes, they are more pricey but considering that most of us sleep for more than a third of our lives, it’s worth the investment!
2. Size
Don’t assume that the bedsheet sizes in Malaysia are standard. Remember that the thickness of mattresses can vary a lot (e.g., 4 inches to 14 inches).
You might also have to take your mattress topper into consideration.
A common mistake is to pick a single instead of a super single bedsheet size.
Likewise, a Californian King (or Queen) sized bedsheet will not be a perfect fit on a standard sized king (or queen) mattress.
To be on the safe size, always cross-check the measurements of a bedsheet with your mattress dimensions before bringing it home!
Related: Bed Size Guide: How To Choose The Right Bed Size
3. Care And Maintenance
How much effort are you willing to put in to keep your bedsheets looking fresh and wrinkle-free?
Do not get natural silk sheets unless you’re prepared for the work that goes into maintaining them!
Type Of Weave
This affects how smooth the sheets feel on your skin.
Loose weaves like percale (or plain weave) will feel rough compared to a sateen weave.
Sateen weaves feel smoother and more luxurious with a higher tolerance against wrinkles but they are not as durable as percale weaves.
Dobby weaves on the other hand, have some texture to them to create patterns in the sheets (e.g., raised squares).
Thread Count
Thread count plays a key role in the durability of the bedsheet. The higher the threadcount, the better the quality of the bedsheet.
Higher TC bedsheets can feel smoother too.
As such, higher thread counts tend to be more expensive.
For cotton bedsheets, there are thread counts as low as 120 (e.g.linen) and thread counts as high as 900. By comparison, microfiber sheets can have a TC of more than 1,500!
On that note, you don’t have to get the highest thread count you can find. Something above 250 TC for a cotton bedsheet is usually good enough for most people.
Conclusion
Distinguishing between different types of bedsheets and choosing them goes beyond looking at thread count!
Natural fibers like cotton are always a safe bet for bedsheets in Malaysia but in some cases, you might want to look at other alternatives like polyblends or Tencel.
Related: Full Review Of The Joey Bedsheet Set In CloudBamboo™️
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