When searching for pillowcases, there are often many different options to choose from. Pillowcases are bought for the average consumer to use at home, and for commercial use, below being just a few examples of many:
Medical facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities
Hospitality industry such as hotels, motels and Airbnb’s.
Institutions such as correctional facilities and detention centers.
Of all the different choices in pillowcases, two of the best to consider are 100% cotton and cotton polyester blend pillowcases.
Cotton is, of course, a natural fiber, while polyester is a man-made fiber. If it is truly 100% cotton, the pillowcases have no man-made element in the fiber. These are soft and very nice indeed. The folks who love 100% cotton point out that the all-natural fiber results in a more breathable, luxurious, and natural material that is easy to maintain and that will stay soft for years and years.
Those who are in the other camp, the man-made fabric camp, will mention the benefits of easy care, less wrinkles and possible longer shelf life. Cotton tends to tear or rip more easily and can have some shrinkage in the dryer, which are a few disadvantages that those who prefer man-made material will point out.
One option that can be a compromise between these two different options are the blends such as the cotton polyester blend pillowcases. Cotton polyester blend pillowcases have some of the advantages of both man-made and the natural cotton material. Cotton polyester blend pillowcases typically lasts longer than 100% cotton pillowcases when laundered, so there is that advantage, and they also wrinkle less. Although not as soft as a 100% cotton, the fact that the cotton polyester blend pillowcases are often 50% or more cotton fabric, which does add to the softness feel while still having the polyester benefit of the longer shelf life and the less need for ironing. In other words, one can have the best of both worlds with the cotton polyester blend pillowcases.
Cotton polyester blend pillowcases are a good compromise, therefore, for many consumers.
Common characteristics to consider when buying cotton polyester blend pillowcases are:
- Size: Pillowcases come in sizes that correspond to pillows, naturally, so if you’ve already purchased pillows, it is a good idea to choose cotton polyester blend pillowcases that will fit what you have purchased.
There are only a few sizes of pillows in the US. The Euro pillow, which is square and is 26 inches by 26 inches. Next is the standard size, which rectangular and is typically 20 inches by 26 inches. This is the size recommended for twin, full- and queen-sized beds. The King pillow, which is designed for king beds, is also 20 inches high but it is much longer at 36 inches long. Buy cotton polyester blend pillowcases that will fit the pillow!
- Hem size: Standard hem size is approximately 1″ to 1.5” hem on open end. For cotton polyester blend pillowcases this works well.
- Colors: The most common color for cotton polyester blend pillowcases is white. This color is often used by establishments as hotels and motels, in addition to facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These types of businesses obviously purchase in bulk and make up a huge portion of the market for cotton polyester blend pillowcases. The main thought might be bleaching, and white is just a the safest color that comes to mind when thinking of bleaching linens. However, cotton polyester blend pillowcases come in wide assortment of colors and are often safe for bleaching. Colors such as blue, green and different hues of brown can be used to add a different vibrancy or feel to cotton polyester blend pillowcases
- Thread count: Cotton polyester blend pillowcases can come in many different thread-counts. The thread count is the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square inch of fabric. The higher the thread count, the softer the cotton polyester blend pillowcases will feel, but also the more expensive it will typically be. When looking at advertisements for sheets and pillowcases they will often display either a “T” in front a number or a “TC” following a number. This stands for thread count. Generally, the higher the thread count the softer the cotton polyester blend pillowcases will feel. So, for example, T-130 cotton polyester blend pillowcases will usually not feel as soft as a T-250’s. It is not necessarily a huge difference, however. For many of us, it might not be all that noticeable at all. In fact, a January 2008 Consumer Reports article said,
“Thread counts between 200 and 400 are fine. Within that range, a higher number may provide a softer feel. With counts over 400, the main difference is price.”
Taking that a step further, T-180 thread count cotton polyester blend pillowcases are definitely less expensive than a much higher thread-count, and T-130’s even more so. Both are actually used widely by commercial facilities such as medical centers and lower priced motels but also by some for residential use (the average homeowner). Once the cotton polyester blend pillowcases are washed a few times, the difference between a T-180 vs a T-300 may not be worth the difference in price.
One other very important criterion to keep in mind when buying cotton polyester blend pillowcases is to keep in mind your intended purpose. If you are planning to use the cotton polyester blend pillowcases on a bed that is used regularly a higher thread count should be used. Lower thread counts such as T-130 are great for summer camps, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, craft projects or virtually any low-cost cotton polyester blend pillowcases needs. T-130 cotton polyester blend pillowcases are usually made of a Muslin blended material. This is a blend of fabric that may have slight fiber colors other than white. It will often look grey when the fabric is examined closely.
To summarize, when it comes to pillowcases, cotton polyester blend pillowcases make a great choice. Both cotton and polyester fabrics have their own benefits that when combined, provide a great solution for all types of scenarios and settings. Cotton polyester blend pillowcases are great for cooler, indoor environments like healthcare facilities. Although cotton polyester blend pillowcases aren’t 100% cotton nor100% polyester and therefore do not get the full benefits of either fabric, the benefits of the blend get a little of the best of each.Next time you order coverings for your pillows, maybe try cotton polyester blend pillowcases.
