Nights in White Satin (Sheets) - Are they Really that Cool?

You might've heard it said that satin sheets are best to sleep on since they're not overly hot nor overly cool, creating an ideal sleeping temperature. Initially, this stands to reason and seems to be the case. When you touch satin, wear satin, or so, you immediately notice the fabric's improved breathability and the sensation of coolness.

Satin can feel like you're wearing nothing at all, and the fabric is often favored for making bed-clothing, lingerie, and so on. Well, in this article, we set out to ascertain once and for all if satin sheets are good to sleep in.

What Are the Benefits of Sleeping in Satin Sheets?

We've often heard it recommended that you should sleep on satin sheets, as they carry a wide range of benefits for your body.

The Amazing Benefits of Satin Sheets

• It's often recommended to sleep on a satin pillowcase if you have sensitive skin. This is because satin is non-absorbant, so any product you might be wearing does not transfer to the pillow and instead, stays on your skin. Satin is also a much gentler fabric, which won't aggravate various skin conditions, such as acne.
• Satin sheets are also preferable for your hair. Since satin is smoother, it reduces static and tangling in your hair.
• Since satin is smooth and soft, it also encourages you to fall asleep quicker (since you don't have to put up with itchy or coarse sheets).
• Satin sheets are cooler, and since they don't trap your body moisture, they do not get clammy or stick to the skin, thus allowing you to get better rest.
• Lastly, satin sheets do not retain dust, mites, or bacteria, which improves the quality of your sleep, as well as the air you breathe during the night.

However, sleeping in satin sheets also comes with a few disadvantages.

The Downside of Sleeping In Satin

• They're good at keeping you cool - too cold during the winter, though. This is why many people prefer satin bedlinen for the summers and cotton sheets (which gets warmer more quickly) for the winters.
• They're difficult to clean. Naturally, satin is a very gentle and delicate fabric. As such, you need to take good care while cleaning it. The sheets often require handwashing and special detergents.
• Satin sheets also tend to have a much higher price than other, more traditional fabrics (such as cotton), so be prepared to make a sizable investment.

Pro Tip: If you've found "satin sheets" at the price of regular sheets, don't buy into it. They're probably made of a blend that replicated satin's smoothness, yet may prove coarser in the long run.

Is Satin Breathable and Cool?

Yes, the generally agreed on answer seems to be that yes, satin is one of the best fabrics to sleep on because it encourages a cooler temperature. Apparently, that's what our body needs to get proper rest.

However, this also depends a lot on the type of fibers used to make the satin weave in your sheets. You see, it would probably be best to look for naturally-derived fibers, as those are infinitely more breathable and will indeed allow the passage of cool air and won't trap heat.

Yet, not all satin sheets you find at the store are made from natural fibers. Some of them are human-made, and that might negatively impact their breathability.

You should also pay attention to the number of threads contained within your sheets. Experts recommend aiming for a thread count between 400 and 800 for your bedlinen, as that will generally keep you cool and won't make you sweat during the night.

So the main takeaway here is to always aim for high quality, veritable satin sheets. They may be more pricey, but in the end, they will be worth every penny.

Satin Vs. Sateen - What's the Difference?

When looking for your ideal bedspread, you might come across a fabric marketed as "sateen." No, that's not some alternate spelling. Sateen refers to a cotton fabric with a glossy finish that replicated the feeling of satin.

But if you're wondering are sateen sheets hot or not, then the answer is yes! While sateen sheets may look and feel (to a certain extent) like satin sheets, they have none of their properties and are, in fact, much hotter even than regular cotton sheets. That is because sateen has some pretty powerful insulating properties that will help you keep warm.

As such, sateen sheets might be advisable for cold sleepers, or for those of you who experience brutally cold winters but are not an option for hot, summer nights.

What You Need to Know About Satin Sheets

• Satin Vs. Silk - Which Is Cooler?

  The short answer here is, silk is cooler than satin. This is because satin actually evolved from silk, and in time, made the shift towards manmade fiber, which immediately makes it less breathable. Silk is a natural hypoallergenic product that adapts to the surrounding temperature. As such, it's never too hot or too cool, making it ideal for comfy sleep.

• Are Satin Sheets Cooler Than Cotton?

  Yes, they are! However, satin sheets are often challenging to maintain, so you'll need to take excellent care of them to maintain this cooling ability in the long-term.

• Which Is Cooler, Percale or Satin?

  It's difficult to say. While satin sheets may start out more breathable, they degrade over time. Percale is a highly breathable cotton weave that is soft and resistant, and as such, may prove more breathable in the long run.

• Will Satin Sheets Keep Me Cool in Summer?

  Yes, they will. Since satin doesn't absorb the sweat coming off your body, it doesn't get clammy and is better equipped to keep you cool, even on hot summer nights.

Bottom Line - Are Satin Sheets Worth It?

Yes, for a cooler sleeping experience, high-quality satin sheets are an excellent option, especially if you are on a stricter budget and silk is not an option (though if you can, you should probably opt for silk).