Good quality sleep is worth investing in. If you’re one of those cold sleepers who shiver in bed, now is the perfect time to buy cosy sheets. While breathable cotton is fantastic in the summer, snuggly flannelettes are hard to beat in the winter (or any other time you want to get warm and cosy). Flannelette sheets, made of cotton and brushed to gentle perfection, provide thick yet breathable warmth that is difficult to achieve with other fabrics. And, because most flannelette sets become softer with each wash, you won’t have to replace them every season.
The Advantages of Flannelette Bed Sheets
Sleeping on high-quality flannelette sheets will help you stay warm at night without turning up the heat. Because of a process called “napping,” which forms insulating air pockets on the sheet’s surface that retain body heat, flannelette can help you stay warm all night. If you’re worried about getting too hot while sleeping – look for 100 per cent cotton flannelette. Like all cotton bedding, the flannelette is breathable and excellent at absorbing sweat and wicking it away from the body.
High-quality flannelette has a fuzzy texture and is exceptionally soft to the touch. Keep in mind, though, that low-quality flannelette might be harsh on your skin. Since flannelette is a highly durable fabric, a high-quality set should last for years if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take proper care.
Sleeping on a flannelette sheet set is way healthier than turning on the thermostat at night. Indoor heating dries up the air, causing your nasal passages and throat to dry out. This makes you susceptible to catching a cold, getting a sinus infection or flu. Winter aggravates the discomfort of older people with arthritic joints. Flannelette sheets are the ideal sleeping option for them as the flannelette will keep them warm even when they toss and turn.
Common Flannelette Materials
The most prevalent flannelette fabric is cotton. It’s highly breathable and moisture-absorbent (which is a must for people who sweat a lot at night). Cotton flannelette sheet sets are soft and dry to the touch. Keep in mind that 100% cotton flannelette sheets may shrink somewhat after the first few washes.
Micro-flannel is a fabric manufactured from fine, tightly woven polyester strands. Micro-flannel has the advantage of shedding less lint than cotton flannelette and not shrinking in the wash. Because synthetic yarn has more small threads that are elevated during napping than cotton, it may feel softer than certain cotton sheets. It also keeps the fuzzy feel for longer. On the other hand, synthetic flannelette lacks the breathability and moisture-wicking characteristics of cotton.
Some flannelette can be a blend of cotton and polyester. These sheets contain specific characteristics of both materials: they are more breathable than 100% synthetic flannelette but will not shrink as much as 100% cotton one. The disadvantage is that these sheets will pill much more quickly. This is because polyester makes cotton fibres harder, resulting in many microscopic fibre clusters (pills) that stick to the foundation fabric.
Flannelette sets can also be made of wool, but these sheets are very hard to find these days and are usually custom-made. However, if you still want to feel like you’re sleeping on wool, a high-quality wool blanket or a wool-based mattress pad can be a solid investment.
Always opt for sheets that state specifically that no chemicals, including flame retardants, are used no matter the material. You don’t want to put your family in danger by exposing them to chemical-laden sheets every night for at least 8 hours.
What to Look for When Buying Flannelette Bed Sheets
While thread count sells most luxury bed sheet sets, flannelette is characterised by weight. The weight of flannelette is measured in ounces per square meter (or grams, in metric measurements). Sheets of better quality will weigh at least five ounces per square meter, i.e. 170 grams per square meter.
A good rule of thumb is that the higher the ounces per square meter, the higher the quality of the sheets. However, there may come a time when the flannel weight is no longer beneficial since it’s too heavy. This is a question of personal preference but bear in mind that when it comes to the weight of your flannel sheets, more isn’t always better.
Proper Care Tips
Pilling is one of the most typical problems with flannel sheets. This happens when the brushed cloth begins to lift and form little material balls. However, pilling is most common in lower-quality cotton and linen bedding. Aside from choosing the right fabric blend, the best technique to avoid pilling is to wash your sheets properly.
First, combine 1/2 cup vinegar with the detergent in the washer to reduce shrinking, colour run, and pilling, which are all frequent laundry issues. Avoid using fabric softener. Use a moderate, light detergent. Only use lukewarm or cool water to wash. Wash sheets separately from other materials to avoid rubbing against the sheets and raising the brushed fibres. If pilling persists, you can use a fabric shaver to remove the small fabric balls that remain on the sheets.
It would be best to wash your flannelette bed sheets every week or two because body oils and sweat, dead skin, dust mites, and other icky things accumulate on bed linens that aren’t visible to the human eye. On the other hand, over-washing isn’t a problem with flannelette because it’s robust and long-lasting. You won’t face any washing problems as often if you follow the proper instructions above to avoid pilling.
We recommend to air dry your flannelette bed sheets if you can. Sheets in the dryer tend to rub together, which causes pilling. The sheets’ surface elevates the already brushed fibres on the surface as they rub against each other in the dryer. They eventually degrade, and the fabric begins to pill.
