What Are The Best Sheets For People With Allergies?

February 18, 2021 | Casper Editorial Team

If you can’t remember the last time you made it through the night without sniffling and sneezing, it’s time to start looking at the bed sheets you’re sleeping on. 

People suffering from allergies can have an allergic reaction to the mold and dust mites hiding in their beds. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, dust mites are the most common culprit of allergies from house dust.1 These pesky critters can live in your bedding, living off of dead skin cells and multiplying like crazy. 

The best bed sheets for allergies are hypoallergenic sheets, which are designed with special materials that keep mold and dust at bay. Hypoallergenic bed sheets feature tight-weave structures, which help eliminate dust mite access. Organic cotton, wool, and microfiber are all materials that make a good hypoallergenic sheet for fighting against a dust mite allergy. 

Keep reading for more information on the best sheets for allergies, and get ready to breathe easier next time you hit the hay. 

Top Four Hypoallergenic Bed Sheet Types

Just because you suffer from allergies doesn’t mean you have to suffer from a lack of bedding options. 

The sleep industry understands how important it is to make accessible, allergy-friendly sheets for folks who are sensitive to mold and dust mites. 

Silk, bamboo, tencel, and cotton are the most popular hypoallergenic materials. Let’s break down the differences and benefits of each:

  1. Silk 

This extremely soft material not only fights off allergens, it also soothes sensitive skin. Silk is a solid choice for people with allergies. Because a silkworm spins silk fibers in a cocoon, the silk is naturally designed to keep the worm safe from predators—like dust mites.2 However, silk sheets can be hard to care for and typically are the highest priced hypoallergenic option.

  1. Bamboo 

Increasingly popular bamboo sheets stay cool and dry with the help of the moisture-wicking bamboo plant fibers. Reducing moisture discourages the growth of mold and the spread of dust mites, plus the sheets are uber durable. Depending on where your bamboo sheets are manufactured, though, they may be made with certain chemicals that belie their eco-friendly label.

  1. Tencel

Tencel sheets come from the wood cellulose of eucalyptus trees, which are grown on sustainable farms. The fibers of these sheets, like bamboo sheets, work to wick away moisture, which in turn combats germs, bacteria, and indoor allergens. Tencel sheets are naturally soft and durable, but can be a bit pricey because of the complex process used to produce them. 

  1. Cotton

Classic organic cotton sheets are breathable, so moisture isn’t trapped and allergens cannot thrive. Because cotton is such a popular material, there are a variety of cotton types that will affect your bed sheet quality. Short-staple cotton is not as smooth or durable as long-staple or extra-long staple cotton, so be sure to check your label before purchasing. 

How to Fight Off Bedroom Allergens

Once you’ve invested in some solid hypoallergenic sheets, you’ll want to make certain that any allergens trying to creep into your dreams are headed off at the pass. 

The most important thing you can do is to make sure you wash and change your sheets regularly. Not sure how often to wash sheets? The Sleep Foundation recommends washing your sheets weekly.3 

In addition to breathable, tightly woven sheets, you may want to explore the following tips and tricks to keep allergies out of your sleep space:

  • Use a dehumidifier 
  • Use an air filter
  • Shower before going to bed
  • Use zippered hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers
  • Invest in a memory foam or hybrid mattress to combat allergens
  • Replace pillows regularly 

Creating a calm and clean sleep environment can help you keep your bedroom allergies at bay, which will let you drift off into the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night. 

Sleep Soundly with Casper 

Allergies don’t only exist in pollen-heavy spring sidewalks and tree nuts. Indoor allergens can negatively affect people with sensitivities, especially in the bedroom. 

If you are experiencing allergy symptoms every time you hit the hay, you may want to check out the label on your sheets. Silk, bamboo, tencel, and cotton hypoallergenic bedding is tightly woven and breathable, preventing moisture and eliminating mold and dust mites from your most sacred space. 

At Casper, we care about your allergies. That’s why we make top-of-the-line memory foam and hybrid mattresses that are designed to combat allergies with densely made materials and cooling properties. And we carry percale and sateen sheets that are both made of cotton and perfect for those who have allergies. Not sure which to go with? Check out our comparison guide on percale vs sateen sheets.

Ready to say goodbye to dust mites? Check out Casper’s collection of comfortable bed sheets today. 

Sources:

  1. Health.com. The Best Anti-Allergy Bedding.  health.com/allergy/the-best-anti-allergy-bedding 
  2. Real Simple. Best Hypoallergenic Bedding. realsimple.com/home-organizing/hypoallergenic-bedding-pillows-for-allergies-amazon 
  3. Sleep Foundation. Tencel vs. Cotton Sheets. sleepfoundation.org/bedding-information/tencel-vs-cotton-sheets 
  4. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Dust Allergy. https://acaai.org/allergies/types/dust-allergy
  5. Allergy and Asthma Care. Silk Is A Great Hypoallergenic Cloth. http://aacallergy.com/allergist-willow-grove-pa-tips/silk-great-hypoallergenic-cloth/
  6. Sleep Foundation. How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedding-information/how-often-should-you-wash-your-sheets