Is Organic Bedding Better?

Organic products have become increasingly popular over the past few years. And, it's not just about food; the obsession over organic products has crossed over from our kitchens into our bedrooms. To put things into perspective, statistics have shown that the global organic bedding market could reach $1.1 billion by 2028.

But what makes organic bedding better? Why are so many people switching to organic bedding? Are they any different from standard bedding?

In this article, we'll discuss the pros and cons of organic bedding, what to look for when shopping for one, and whether it's worth it.

Read on to learn more.

What is Organic Bedding?

Organic bedding is the kind of bedding that doesn't contain harsh chemicals, such as wrinkle-resistant chemical treatments, known for releasing formaldehyde. This chemical compound irritates the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High exposure to formaldehyde can also lead to certain types of cancer.

What is Organic Bedding Made Of?

This bedding mostly contains organic fabrics and materials such as organic cotton and wool. 

Pros of Organic Bedding

Here are some reasons why you should choose organic bedding.

Safe, Healthy Sleep

Because organic bedding does not contain chemicals, sleepers can enjoy safe and healthy sleep. This is particularly beneficial for sensitive sleepers and kids. As mentioned before, some chemicals in regular bedding can irritate the sleeper, and lead to certain types of cancer.

Sleeping on organic bedding gives you peace of mind, knowing that you are safe from irritation and carcinogens. This also guarantees long nights of healthy sleep.

Sleeps Cool

You'll appreciate sleeping on organic bedding, if you're a hot sleeper. This bedding sleeps cooler than regular bedding.

Eco-Friendly

Since organic bedding does not contain chemicals and toxic pesticides, they are friendly to the sleeper and the environment. Here's why.

When fertilizers (not natural fertilizers) and chemicals are used to grow organic materials, such as organic cotton, they tend to find their way into the soil and water. This poses a great danger to the ecosystem. For instance, when rainwater washes chemical-filled soil into rivers, it leads to water contamination, consequently endangering aquatic life.

Great for Sleepers with Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you probably know how important it is to keep it clean. This explains why some people would rather travel with their own pillows for sleepovers, or even when spending nights at hotels. Such people tend to be picky about where they sleep, and most importantly, what they sleep on. If you are that kind of a sleeper with sensitive skin, you won't have to worry about waking up to skin allergies, skin rash, and irritation, because organic bedding is naturally hypoallergenic.

No Off-Gassing Smells

Regular bedding comes with off-gassing smells, which can be irritating and risky to sensitive sleepers. This smell hangs around the bedding for the first few days, but slowly disappears. For this reason, some manufacturers instruct users to let the bedding sit for a few hours (or even days) before using them. But, that shouldn't be the case when you purchase organic bedding.

Note that the off-gassing odor derives from preservatives and toxic chemicals used to manufacture the bedding. But, since organic bedding doesn't contain chemicals, you won't have to worry about off-gassing odors when unpacking.

No Shrinking

Bedding made with organic cotton doesn't shrink after washing. This is because organic cotton is a natural fiber. On the other hand, unlike organic cotton, conventional bedding tends to shrink after a few washes, which can be quite frustrating. The last thing you want is to find out that your new favorite sheet no longer fits your bed, simply because you washed it.

Exceptionally Durable

Organic bedding tends to last longer than conventional bedding, because the chemicals used to grow and manufacture conventional bedding weaken with time. On average, organic cotton can last for at least three years before losing its quality. 

Biodegradable

One of the greatest benefits of organic bedding is that it is biodegradable. This means it can break down into the environment when you get rid of them.

Conventional bedding (like conventionally-grown cotton) doesn't usually break down into the environment. As a result, it pollutes the environment with chemicals, and fills up space in landfills. On the contrary, organic bedding, such as certain organic cotton sheets, takes around two weeks to begin decomposition, keeping the environment safe and clean.

Easy to Maintain

You don't need an owner's manual to learn how to take care of organic bedding. But, unfortunately, you can't say the same about regular bedding like conventional cotton.

For instance, a single drop of the wrong laundry detergent is all it takes to ruin the quality of certain conventional bed sheets made with non organic cotton. Because they contain toxic chemicals, some of these chemicals react aggressively with certain laundry detergents.

On the other hand, organic cotton sheets are easy to clean and dry in a regular washing machine and dryer.

Better Comfort

Comfort is one of the most important things sleepers consider when choosing bedding. The good news is that organic bedding is known for being comfortable and friendly on the skin. For example, organic cotton sheets have a warm, body-hugging feel that guarantees healthy, uninterrupted sleep.

Cons of Organic Bedding

No bedding is perfect, but organic bedding is close enough. That said, let's discuss some cons you should know.

Expensive

Organic bedding is more expensive than regular bedding. This is partly because it has better quality, and lasts longer than regular bedding, such as conventional cotton.

The price difference is also because organic materials, such as wool and organic cotton crops, take longer to grow. The lengthy organic cotton farming process leads to higher demand and lower supply.

Less Available

Because organic materials take longer to grow and process, organic bedding isn't usually easily available in the marketplace. For instance, companies that sell organic cotton bedding often run out of stock within a few days or weeks of updating their inventories. But that's not surprising, given the numerous benefits of sleeping on organic bedding.

What to Look for in Organic Bedding

Now that you understand the numerous benefits of organic bedding, let's discuss what to look for when shopping for it.

How Organic is It?

Because actual organic bedding is usually in high demand, and low supply, some manufacturers take advantage of the shortage to sell products that are not 100% organic. That is not the problem, though. It is only a problem if they fail to inform consumers that their products do not contain 100% organic materials.

It's not enough to describe bedding as "organic", but some manufacturers do it to boost sales. For example, if the product contains only 50% organic materials, it cannot be considered 100% organic. But, rather than stating that it's not 100% organic (because they risk losing buyer's confidence), the manufacturer will only describe it as "organic" without disclosing additional information.

Therefore, it is advisable to shop for bedding that is 100% organic, or at least 95%. Anything less than that might not offer the benefits we discussed earlier.

Has the Bedding Been Certified?

Most organic cotton bedding, or organic bedding in general, comes with some form of certification to prove that it is truly organic. For example, the Global Organic Textile Standard ensures that textile manufacturers meet certain requirements for the manufacturing process of organic bedding. In addition, certified organic bedding usually has a tag or label to prove its quality. And, because being GOTS-certified is a major selling point, it is highly unlikely that the manufacturer will fail to disclose this information, if indeed it has been certified.

Does Thread Count Matter?

When shopping for organic bedding, you have probably read or heard that you should check the thread count. Some consumers argue that the higher the thread count, the better the quality of the bedding. This is true and false at the same time. Here's why.

Although it's important to check the thread count, this factor alone doesn't determine the quality of the bedding. For instance, it's not uncommon for organic cotton bedding with a high thread count to have inferior quality. For this reason, you should always check for quality before anything else.

Is it Wrinkle-Free?

If the answer is yes, then drop it and run. Understandably, this might be quite surprising to you. After all, what's wrong with having wrinkle-free bedding? Isn't it good to have bedding you can simply wash and use without worrying about ugly wrinkles?

That's right. But, then, not all that glitters is gold.

When bedding is labeled as "wrinkle-free, easy care, permanent press," or other similar fancy terms, chances are it contains formaldehyde. Earlier, we mentioned that this chemical causes irritation, and increases the risk of cancer among sleepers. So, although wrinkle-free bedding sounds tempting, the risks involved are too high.

What Type of Fiber is it Made Of?

When shopping for organic bedding, you should always opt for one made with 100% natural fiber. Natural organic fibers are known for their comfort, breathability, naturally soft texture, and the ability to wick moisture and regulate body temperature. Examples of natural fibers include silk, hemp, organic cotton fibers, and linen sheets.

FAQs

Is Organic Bedding the Same as Natural Bedding?

There is a slight difference between organic bedding and natural bedding. Unfortunately, some manufacturers use these two terms interchangeably to confuse buyers when shopping for bedding. On one hand, organic bedding refers to bedding that does not contain harmful chemicals.

On the other hand, natural bedding, such as an organic mattress, contains natural materials, such as organic cotton and wool. This does not necessarily mean that natural bedding does not contain harmful chemicals. Rather, it could mean that although it contains chemicals and other harmful materials, it is still made of natural materials.

To further understand the difference between 'organic' and 'natural' bedding, keep in mind that 'organic' refers to how the materials used to manufacture the bedding have been cultivated and processed (free from chemicals). But 'natural' simply means that the materials, but not all, derive from nature.

What does "Organic Natural' Mean?

The term "organic natural" or "natural organic" when describing bedding means that the bedding does not contain chemicals, and that it also contains natural materials, such as organic cotton and wool.

Always check the contents of the bedding before purchasing. Some manufacturers use these terms to attract buyers, and not necessarily describe their products' contents.

What Does Organic Cotton Mean?

When used to describe bedding, the term "organic cotton" means the bedding contains cotton that's free from chemicals and other harmful substances. In other words, it means the cotton was grown organically. However, this doesn't mean that the organic cotton was processed organically. It is, therefore, important to ensure that the said organic cotton has been processed organically as proof of its organic status.

The Final Verdict: Is Organic Bedding Worth It?

There is no doubt that organic bedding is better than non-organic bedding.

This bedding offers comfort, safety, and eco-friendliness.

Although organic bedding is usually more expensive than traditional bedding, the price is justified. In addition, the bedding lasts longer, making it worth the investment. You'll not have to worry about shopping for new bedding every few months.

That said, you'll likely come across numerous brands and bedding products claiming to be organic. For this reason, it's always advisable to keep extra keen when shipping for such bedding.

For a better shopping experience, follow the tips we discussed earlier when looking for organic bedding. With those tips in mind, you'll find bedding that's not only safe and comfortable to sleep on, but also good for the environment.

PlushBeds has a wide array of organic bedding, including sheets, comforters, pillows, mattress protectors, and pillows.

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