THE QUESTION

Hi Alexandra,

Any home organic companies you recommend? Sheets and towels can be so expensive I’m hesitant to just buy them “blind” – I’ve purchased some Gaiam organic sheets and they are fairly cheap feeling and ill-fitting.

Thanks,

Lis

THE ANSWER

Dear Lis,

Thanks for the query. I hear you louder than I’d like. I bought several sets of organic sheets about 5 years ago and they’re currently worn so thin they’re tearing. I don’t remember my conventional sheets before then wearing out so soon. I don’t wash them overy often, and usually only in cold water. The dryers in my building are industrial so maybe that’s a factor. Then I purchased another organic brand when my daughter moved into a twin bed. These are already wearing through after only 3ish years.

Having only personally used two brands, I’m unfortunately not up to suggesting brands, especially as what I like might feel uncomfortable to you. That said, I will explain how to go about finding the best of what’s on the market. I must admit I’d buy my ripped brands again anyway. There are too many excellent reasons to buy organic cotton sheets beyond durability and fit, including that the Sustainable Cotton Project says cotton farming uses about 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and more than 10 percent of the pesticides. These happen to be among the world’s worst pesticides. I choose organic to avoid being involved with that system. Besides, now I have many lovely rags to clean with.

It’s hard to know what’s what in the world of organic cotton. I try to buy from manufacturers who say they work with certified cotton and specifically mention  third party labels like USDA organic, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), or sets that meet Oeko-Tex standards. I also have natural undyed and unbleached sheets. It can be difficult to find out the specifics on manufacturing processes and the safety of dyes. So I just go natural. There are certainly sheets on the market adhering to these standards that come in colors. Another thing to consider is country of origin. If you want to support local farmers, you might not want your sheets from places as far away as China or India. When it comes to food, it’d widely accepted that USDA organic domestic is more trustworthy than USDA organic international. I assume the same goes for cotton. It’s harder to police. Since cotton is a crop, I also like to look for Fair Trade labels or mention on the sheet packaging (these aren’t always available).

Here’s a little something on linens from Planet Home:

The greenest sheets (and towels) are the ones you already have.  But it buying new, choose 100 percent organic cotton, either undyed or dyed in an ecofriendlier fashion.  Choosing organic is mainly about making a positive environmental impact; the exposure to toxins from contact with the cotton itself while sleeping is minimal.  Dyes, on the other hand, can come off on skin and are environmentally harsh.  If you see something called “green” cotton, don’t mistake it for organic.  It’s conventional cotton that hasn’t been bleached with chlorine or treated with formaldehyde, a carcinogen.  Bamboo is an eco-friendly material, but not when it is made into a fabric.  Bamboo sheets are basically rayon and not a great choice.  If you’re going to use conventional sheets (or towels), natural fibers are best.  Do not purchase anything with a permanent press finish, which is treated with formaldehyde, a VOC that you will inhale as you sleep.

If you’re reading this and have an organic sheet and towel brand you love, trust, and think makes a durable product, please say so in comments!

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