Are polyester bedding harmful?

Is polyester in bedding harmful? This is a question that visitors often ask on forums or try to find information on their own. To understand the topic, you first need to find out the origin of the material, its composition and read reviews of people who purchased such bed linen, pillows or blankets.

Advantages of polyester lies in its additional natural components, since fiber is almost never found in its pure form, and if such fabrics exist, they are very rare. In combination with polyester are usually:

• cotton;
• elastane;
• viscose.

As a result of such close “commonwealth”, a wear-resistant, elastic, durable, but at the same time pleasant to the touch fabric is obtained. Its advantages are durability, tensile strength, easy washing and quick drying. If the fabric consists of pure polyester, it is very similar to natural silk.

But the raw materials for creating fiber are petroleum products called polyesters, which themselves are toxic and harmful to health. Due to its low price, PEV (polyester fiber) is very popular today and is used in various branches of light industry.

In terms of its chemical composition, polyester can be compared to spandex or fleece, but in terms of performance characteristics the latter are very inferior. They are less durable, have an electrifying effect, and have poor tensile strength.

Today, bed linen is increasingly being made from PEV; printed polyester is used to make pillows and blankets. But, in fact, the raw materials from which the material is produced are toxic. However, before it is turned into soft tissue or filler, it goes through a number of chemical treatments.

Polyester in its pure form is very harmful, which is why manufacturers dilute synthetic fibers with natural ones. The resulting microfiber no longer poses a threat to health, and modern technologies make it possible to achieve not only strength, but also environmental friendliness of the material. Therefore, the use of polyester for sewing bed linen and printed polyester for making pillows is not prohibited, and is even considered justified in terms of saving the family budget.

The main advantages of polyester fiber

Advantages of artificial fabrics:

1. shine makes products attractive;
2. things don't wrinkle;
3. on hot days it has a cooling effect, this quality is especially important for bedding;
4. Stains of various origins can be easily washed off sheets and duvet covers;
5. after washing, things dry quickly;
6. there are no fleas in pillows and blankets, and they are not afraid of moths either;
7. the fabric does not shrink or stretch;
8. does not cause skin irritation or rashes, so this is an ideal option for allergy sufferers.

Due to the fact that PEV is used even for sewing children's clothes, making diapers and underwear, one can judge that it is completely safe. A pillow with natural down or feathers is not only an allergen, it harbors bed mites and multiplies pathogenic microbes. Synthetic fillers do not have such consequences.

In terms of care, the fabric is also unpretentious:

• Can be washed in a machine and even with cold water;
• set the gentle washing program on the unit; do not mix items made from light PEV with dark items;
• no need to bleach;
• if ironing, then only on the minimum setting;
• After numerous uses, sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers do not lose their original color.

Perhaps these are all the rules, there is nothing complicated about them.

Is polyester really that dangerous?

From all of the above it is clear that synthetic material has more advantages than disadvantages. For example, in the USA, polyester is one of the most popular, and Americans value their health very much.

Natural additives used by fabric manufacturers make bedding sets pleasant to the touch and as comfortable as possible. Pillows filled with polyester are incredibly soft.

Blankets and throws can even be washed, which is not possible with batting and feather products. Cleanliness, as we know, is the key to health. The absence of electrostaticity ensures that the fabric and filler do not attract dust, in which pathogenic microorganisms quickly multiply.

Mattresses for cribs are made from polyester.They can also be washed, which is very important, because a child’s bed can sometimes be wet, and pathogenic bacteria can grow in it. After washing, the mattress no longer poses a threat to the baby, and the product dries very quickly.

The material also has disadvantages that are not harmful to health:

1. pillows flatten and no longer take their original shape;
2. if a person sweats while sleeping, the fabric does not absorb moisture, and this can cause discomfort;
3. Over time, threads begin to show through the seams of the set.

Another bad moment – the structure of the fibers can accumulate fat, which is produced by the human body along with sweat, so such sets should be washed more often than products made from natural fibers.

But if you compare bedding made from other fabrics and linen made from polyester by price, then for the same amount you can buy a set, for example, made of calico and two or even three made of synthetic fabric. Therefore, in terms of service life, the score is in favor of PEV.

When purchasing a new set of polyester underwear, it is recommended not to lay it out immediately, but to first wash it in warm water without powder or soap, but using conditioner. Then the fabric will become softer and more pleasant to the touch. The same should be done with synthetic underwear.

However, like any other materials, polyester fabric comes in different qualities. When you buy a kit, you can smell it. You should not purchase a product with a strong chemical smell.

Often, low-quality goods are revealed only after a short period of use, which manifested by body coloring. Or after washing, when a previously bright set becomes pale and dull, and the water in the machine, on the contrary, becomes intensely colored.It is strictly not recommended to sleep on such underwear.

As a rule, bedding sets are tightly sealed at the factory, and sellers strongly resist opening the packaging. If the buyer is denied a thorough inspection and feeling of the fabric, he should pass by and find a product for which the seller will not be ashamed.