Luxe Linens

Sleeping and bathing are two daily rituals. We snuggle between our bedsheets every night and towel our bodies dry after our daily shower or bath. But what do we really know about the fabrics in our bed and bath linens? For most of us, the answer is, not much at all.

These seemingly innocuous everyday items of creature comfort may actually be harbingers of toxins. Commercially grown cotton, found in most of these products, is laden with pesticides, making it one of the world’s most polluting crops. The long-lived pesticide and herbicide residues not only accumulate and persist in the environment; they typically remain in the fabric after production and continue to be released during the lifetime of the product.

Many other fabrics, both natural and synthetic, pose environmental and health concerns. For example, wool may be processed in toxic chemical baths, and the cloth used for making bedding is often bleached with dioxin-producing chlorine compounds. Toxic formaldehyde may also be part of the production of polyester-cotton blends commonly employed in making bedclothes.

As more people become aware of these unhealthy, unsustainable, and toxic methods of fabric production, organic alternatives are rapidly gaining popularity. Organically grown cotton is just one of the natural fibres being used for making organic bedclothes and bath towels.

The Next Designer Craze?

Once a popular, traditional fabric commonly used in North America, hemp was maligned for political reasons in the 1930s. But it’s making a dramatic comeback–and rightfully so. Hemp is a highly productive, ecologically sound crop that is easy to cultivate, pest-tolerant, and is a natural soil enricher.

Not only is organic hemp the trendiest fabric to be seen in–celebrities are wearing hemp shirts, shorts, dresses, caps, and even shoes–it’s becoming one of the “in” fabrics for sheets and towels.

Organic Linen and Wool

I can still remember the smell and feel of the linen sheets on the beds in my grandmother’s house. There was a crispness to them. The sheets literally snapped and crackled as she tucked me into bed at night. My grandmother came from the era when sheets and all linens were ironed. Linen is made from flax and, like hemp, is a more ecologically friendly crop than cotton.

Long considered the best cloth for bedding, organic linens are a good investment as, with proper care, they can last a lifetime. Organic linen, alone or blended with organic cotton and hemp, gives a luxurious feeling to sheets, pillow slips, duvet covers, and towels.

Organic wool, produced with sustainable farming practices and without toxic chemicals, is becoming more readily available. Blankets and throws made of organic wool have the unique appeal of suiting those who get very hot or very cold in bed.

Multiple Benefits

The smell and feel of natural organic fabrics are two of the most noticeable differences, but there are other significant benefits. There are no chemical washes or dyes, toxins, or pesticides used in the manufacturing of organic fabrics.

Some organic bedding and bath product manufacturers report that switching to their products has led to the relief of allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities, skin problems, and other persistent health conditions.

Newborns and infants are particularly sensitive to their environment, making nontoxic, chemical-free bedding and bath linens exceptionally important. According to one manufacturer, organic cotton sheets become noticeably softer with every wash, yet last for many years.

Food is not the only focus of the burgeoning organic sector. All aspects of daily life are under scrutiny as we reduce our impact on the environment while also hoping to improve our health. Choosing organic fabrics for our bedclothes and bath towels is another important step on the road to sustainable, organic living.

More Than Sheets and Towels!

Look at all the organic bedding that’s available now:

• bed pillows
• blankets
• cotton bedskirts
• cotton sheets
• comforters
• cotton duvet and comforter covers
• pillowcases
• quilts
• throws
• mattresses and mattress pads
• specialty pillows
• wool blankets
• baby quilts and blankets
• bumper pads
• cotton crib duvets
• crib comforters
• crib mattresses
• crib pads and toppers
• crib sheets
• infant bassinet liners
• hemp shower curtains
• cotton shower curtains
• cotton bath mats
• cotton bath towels
• cashmere wool bedding
• pet beds
• silk bedding

Source: Rawganique.com