Beyond a Good Night’s Sleep: The Ultimate Guide to Pillowcases
October 21, 2021
Is there anything better than climbing into bed with fresh sheets and a cosy blanket after a long day? Probably not. It’s one of those things to look forward to once you get your daily tasks out of the way. And these days, with the on-again, off-again lockdowns, we all find ourselves staying in bed a lot longer than usual. Not that anyone’s complaining.
Truth be told, waking up 10 minutes before work starts sounds a whole lot better than a half-hour commute. Plus, you don’t even have to change and get ready. It definitely doesn’t get any more convenient than that.
In any case, we all spend at least a third of our day in bed. So it’s definitely not surprising at all when we spend quite a bit of time picking out our sheets and comforters because we all want what’s best.
You probably have loads of ideas on how to vamp up your bedroom. But do you want to know the most important part of your bedding? You guessed it, it’s your pillow. If you really put some thought into it, you realise that the type of pillow you have can truly make or break the whole experience.
While that makes complete sense, the truth is most people are so focused on the pillow itself that they forget one very important aspect that goes along with it – getting a super soft pillow case to wrap it up in. But see, we’re here to make sure you’re not one of those people.
What Material of Pillow Case Is Best?
First thing’s first, the type of material you choose for your pillow case can have a major impact on your overall comfort. For this reason, we’ll be going over all the major options available.
Cotton
Quite expectedly, cotton comes first on our list because it’s all-natural, soft and breathable. Because of its lightweight and airy properties, cotton allows the air to circulate freely and helps regulate your body temperature. Plus, it’s super absorbent which means it’s great at wicking away moisture and keeping your skin dry.
One of the best things about cotton pillow cases is the fact that they’re non-irritating and hypoallergenic. By allowing your skin to breathe, you effectively minimise the risk of rashes and allergic reactions. As a result, your skin looks much healthier and radiant.
Not only does cotton absorb moisture from your skin, it also removes excess oils from your hair. By doing this, it stimulates blood circulation to the scalp which effectively raises the levels of nutrients present in your follicles. All of this combined results in stronger and thicker hair, something that we’re all striving towards.
Linen
Much like cotton, linen is also completely non-allergenic and soothing to the skin. But don’t be fooled by its light and feathery touch, it’s actually much more resilient and tough than it looks. And thanks to its insulating capabilities, it keeps your body temperature at the desired level at all times.
One particularly beneficial aspect of linen is its anti-static feature. Essentially, what this means is that your hair won’t be frizzy and spikey when you wake up in the morning. Eventually, your hair will be much healthier and easier to style.
Silk
Silk pillowcases have that ridiculously smooth and premium feel on your skin. The material itself is inherently temperature-regulating which means there’s little to no chance of your sweating profusely while you sleep. While it’s good at keeping excess moisture away, silk also helps hydrate your skin and hair to the desired levels.
And you know how many times you’ve woken up with lines on your face from tossing and turning all night? While they do go away fairly quickly, they can cause substantial damage to your skin in the long run. By using a silk pillowcase, you effectively lower the risk of creases and wrinkles from inflicting constant damage on your skin.
In addition, its polished texture helps prevent your hair from getting frizzy and tangled which will ultimately make your hair less brittle and prone to breakage. No more suffering from bedhead each morning and spending hours on end trying to detangle those curls.
Satin
This premium pillowcase material allows your pores to breathe freely which greatly lowers the possibility of breakouts and acne. Unlike all the other materials, satin is great at trapping moisture and keeping your skin and hair hydrated. This is especially beneficial if you suffer from dry and flaky skin.
Despite its delicate appearance, satin will probably last much longer than all its harsher alternatives. When taken care of properly, it won’t get damaged or torn even with frequent use.
How Do You Choose the Best Pillow Case?
Now that we’ve got the materials down, let’s take a peek at some other factors that should influence your decision.
Size
Generally speaking, there are four pillowcase sizes in Australia. The standard and arguably the most common one is 48×74 cm. But before you decide on the size of the case, you need to measure your pillow. It might sound ridiculous but you’d be surprised at how often people sleep on a pillowcase that’s either too big or too small when compared to the one they actually need. Plus, finding the right pillowcase is much easier once you know what you’re looking for.
Thread Count
You’ve probably heard about this term before but let’s explain what it means. In short, it measures the number of threads per square centimetre which helps you figure out the coarseness of the fabric. Most people assume that a higher thread count results in a higher-quality fabric but you don’t have to go for the highest number there is. For everyday use, a thread count of about 150-200 should do just fine. Anything higher than that is considered extra luxurious and maybe a tad bit unnecessary.
Closures
There’s more than one way you can patch up a pillowcase, including zippers, buttons, fabric overlaps and even decorative ties. They don’t really make much of a difference in terms of functionality, so really it’s up to you to decide how you want to put the finishing touches on your cases. Whichever one you pick is bound to serve you well for many years.
How Often Should You Wash Your Pillowcase?
In broad terms, the usual norm is every 5-7 days. In other words, once every week. You might be able to stretch it out to once every two weeks but that’s about as far as it goes. If you keep the same pillowcase on for too long, it can cause breakouts and rashes in all sorts of places. You definitely wouldn’t want any part in that.