What Are Microfiber Sheets?

A bed with sheets

Sheets have long been used as a layer of fabric on the bed, protecting the sleeper from scratchy bedding. While most sheets are made from cotton, polyester or a combination of the two, mircrofiber sheets are becoming more common.

History

In "The Book of Fine Linen" by Françoise de Bonneville, the authors states that the finest sheets were of linen, but most were of hemp, and the poorest woven from tow, scrap hemp or flax combings.

Sheets Today

In addition to cotton and polysters sheets, new advances in technology have made it possible to create bedding from very fine fibers, called microfibers.

Microfibers

A "denier" is unit of measure for the thickness of fibers. The website Microfiber.com says a microfiber refers to any fiber with a strand less than 1 denier thick. Microfibers are typically made from polyester and nylon polymers.

Benefits

Sheets made with microfibers provide good insulation, are wrinkle-resistant, stain-resistant, impermeable, breathable and wash easily.

Drawbacks

Microfiber sheet retailer, RuVal Linens, says that static cling can be a problem with microfiber sheets during dry, winter months.

References

• Hemp Museum: Textile History
• Microfiber: What is Microfiber
• RuVal Linens: Microfiber FAQ