Bed Beauties Blog

Bamboo… Sheets?

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, and can even sprout over 3 feet in one 24 hour period. At that growth rate, it’s a good thing that bamboo can be used in such an array of different industries. Bamboo is used for many things; furniture, paper, various types of construction such as flooring and housing, bamboo shoots are used a lot in cooking, and bamboo is even used in Chinese medicine for treating infections and healing. Bamboo is a versatile material and is also used in the textile industry.

Bamboo sheets are becoming more and more popular for their Eco-friendly “green” reputation, but also for their health benefits. Sheets made from bamboo wick away moisture, meaning that people that have a tendency to overheat in their sleep or suffer from night sweats, can seek relief from it’s natural properties.

Bamboo fabrics, especially sheets, are generally well ventilated and keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Sheets created from bamboo have the feel of silk, is antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and odor resistant.

Bamboo sheets can also block bacteria growth, as the natural anti-fungal properties of bamboo fabric are an anti-germ and pest repellent. The inherent substance that protects the plant in the growing fields, doesn’t actually get washed away or dissolved in the process, so it translates into a restful night of sleep for you. What that also means, is that Bamboo doesn’t need to be treated with pesticides and harmful chemicals during the growing process.

With the popularity of bamboo sheets on the rise, they come in a wide variety of colors, so you can use them in any type of bedroom or to fit any decorating scheme. They also come in every mattress size, from Twin to California King. So whether you have skin allergies, overheat in your sleep, or just like comfortable fabric, bamboo sheets are a great choice for you and your family.

Cotton Thread Counts

Generally speaking, when you’re ready to purchase a new comforter, sheet set, or bedding scheme you start to do a little research. If you have the time, you can carefully look into all the little things that make up the differences from one choice to another. Thread count, construction, yarn size, fiber quality, and the finishing process all make up different aspects of the overall quality of bedding item in question.

But more realistically, people generally forgo that process, and trust that a retailer has done that part already, and labeled a product accordingly or provided a detailed product description. Understanding what you’re reading on the label is key to being satisfied after you’ve made your purchase.

When searching for a bedspread or set of sheets, there are a few common misconceptions when understanding the quality of the item you want. Thread count is the biggest. Just because something has a high thread count, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be high quality. The thread count simply means the number of threads per inch of fabric, but if the thread itself isn’t made from a quality fiber, then high thread count is irrelevant.

The most popular types of sheets are 100% cotton, silk, bamboo and linen. 100% cotton sheets are by far the most popular, as many people find them more comfortable and affordable than others. But there is actually a large variety of quality in 100% cotton products. The length of the cotton fiber is what causes the major differences.

The longer the better as cotton threads go, because it allows for a stronger weave, which translates into a stronger fiber. Egyptian cotton is generally considered to be the best option for sheets, as they are made with long cotton fibers, which means they will be soft, durable, and comfortable. The key to a good night sleep is understanding what you are buying, so you can be happy with your purchase afterwards.

We often do things around the house that accounts for unsafe practice without realizing it, especially when it involves electricity.  With most people electricity seems mysterious and even dangerous. Actually its principles rests on simple logic and if you observe them  with precaution, you can eliminate some bad practices and unsafe conditions around the house.  It is always best to practice safety while working with electricity. It is helpful to know how the process of electricity works, and to use precaution when dealing with electricity because it can have fatal consequences when handled improperly.

First power from the utility company is fed through a service entrance, which are usually wires either overhead or underground. This source connects to a meter located outside or inside your house keeping track of your energy consumption. From there the power flows to a service panel which distributes it to different circuits serving various zones or particular appliances throughout your home. Fuses or circuit breakers in the service panel controls and serves to protect against any electrical malfunction or short that may occur, causing a potential fire, accident or injury.  Circuit breakers and fuse are usually rated in amps (amperage) usually 15, 20, 25 30 or 50 which is standard for most home appliances.

Electrical fires is one of the leading cause of fatality, personal injury and loss of property or damage. Approximately 8% of homes fires are started in the bedroom.  John R. Hall of the National Fire Protection Association posts an article dated May 2010;  ” In 2007 an estimated 51,800  home structure fires reported to US Fire Departments involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition”. Most statistics documents that some of the leading cause of home fires  are caused by system or equipment failure, incorrect wiring or faulty installation, overloaded circuits or extension cords. You may be guilty of some of these  “Do not Do“  acts without even realizing it. For instance how about those handy little  electrical adapters that we . find in most hardware stores, for connecting  a three prong electrical cord to a two prong electrical receptacle. Nice little apparatus right?  Wrong!  A three prong electrical cord is there for safety purpose, which is; that particular instrument or equipment needs to be grounded in case of a short. The power source is then passed through the ground and  grounds out eliminating any potential shock, hazard or harm. If an appliance or instrument is not grounded properly the device itself could become live, causing  shock, fatality or even a potential fire.

Another unsafe act is overloading a circuit. This is is having too many devices or appliance on a circuit as seen in the image below.  This can cause a short and start a fire in areas that you may not e able to see or have quick access to. Always check the amps of the circuit breakers in your service panel to make sure that you are not pulling at any moment more amps than what the breakers can supply. Even though breakers are designed to trip out in case of an overload preventing a fault, it is always best to practice safety.  If you are not comfortable with electricity, then get a good certified electrician to check your electrical service in your home. If you are comfortable working with electricity, the US Fire Administration site provides good information on safe basic  electrical practices.

Images cited: 1st image, “Electrical Safety” www.x-presselectric.com, 2nd image, “Home Fires”, www.ygoy.com“, 3rd image, “Unsafe Work Practice”, www.elcosh.org.

Making your bed the most  coveted place to retire to at night is the best natural sleep aid  you can get.  At least a one third of our life is spent in the bedroom sleeping. This is quite an important factor since good rest is vital to our health and stamina.  A great benefit to acquiring  ample amount of sleep is to spruce up your bed with quality bedding and a good supporting mattress,  this combination will aid  in getting continued nights of restful sleep.  Sleep restores energy to the brain cells according to Andrew A. Monjan PHD, and the  feeling of being  refreshed in mornings after a good night rest is because the brain  has recharged.

Using a feather bed or feather mattress topper under the high quality sheets will create a delightful feeling of softness and pleasantry,  and treating yourself to high quality sheets and bedding will aid in  eliminating nights of  sleeplessness. The best quality material for bedding  are found in Egyptian cotton and Bamboo fibers. Both are organic material  enhancing  the  absorbing of body moisture while increasing breathe-ability with its thin long staple fibers which aids in both your health and sleep.

Not only should you  take the necessary steps to provide yourself with good sleep aids, but also avoid common enemies of sleep.  Sleeping long hours during the day, resisting after dinner sleep attacks, watching late night drama movies, eating late night snacks, not having a regular time for bed all work against your ability to establish a good and healthy sleep routine.