Good Reasons why Polyester shouldn’t be in your bed
By The House of Pillows Editorial Writers
At The House of Pillows, we really care about what goes in your bed. We know about materials, and we know which are best for you… and which are by far the worst for you. Today, we’re going to talk about good reasons why Polyester shouldn’t be in your bed.
What is polyester?
Polyester is the most popular of all synthetic materials. Indeed, polyester is a type of plastic. It’s man-made, cheap to produce, and 0% natural.
Because polyester has a very synthetic feel, it is often blended with natural fibers. Natural fibers have the breathe and feel good next to the skin. And so this dilutes the “synthetic” feel of polyester. Most bedding sold around the world is cotton-polyester blends.
How is polyester produced?
So, making polyester involves a chemical reaction. This chemical reactions involves coal, petroleum, air and water. It generally takes place at high temperature in a vacuum.
Polyester is made up of purified terephthalic acid (PTS) or its dimethyl ester dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and monotheluene glycol (MEG).
A petroleum by-product, alcohol, and carboxyl acid are mixed to form a compound known as monomer or “ester.” This reaction is known as polymerization. The polymer material created during polymerization is extruded while hot into long fibers that are stretched until they are about five times their original length. The resultant fiber forms an arrangement of molecules that is very strong.
Is polyester toxic?
So, the straight forward answer is: yes.
Polyester is a synthetic material which has many toxic chemicals embedded in it.
Synthetic materials such as acrylic, nylon, and polyester are made from chemicals such as thermoplastic, which outgas plastic molecules whenever they are heated.
How does this affect your life?
Well, in many ways.
When you dry synthetic clothes in a clothes dryer, you are outgassing these chemicals into your home and the environment.
Also, if you wear synthetic clothes, your body heat also releases these chemicals into the air and the chemicals are absorbed by your skin.
When you wear wrinkle free clothes you’re breathing in plastic and formaldehyde.
Perfluorochemicals (PFCs), including the nonstick additive Teflon is often added. This is for durability, stain resistance and wrinkle resistance. Indeed, many appreciate no-iron or wrinkle free clothes. But, most are unaware of the hazardous chemicals used to create that effect.
Also, PFCs are very persistent in the environment. They have been found in the blood of animals and human beings all over the world.
Researchers have serious health concerns regarding PFCs, including the risk of cancer. Indeed, like many other toxins in the home, PFCs accumulate in your body over time. PFCs can cause liver and kidney damage in laboratory animals, as well as reproductive issues.
Cotton polyester blends are often treated with formaldehyde. And also, softened with chemicals such as ammonia.
Also, Formaldehyde is often added to clothing to prevent material from shrinking. And since it’s applied with heat during processing it is forever attached to the fibers. So there’s no washing it out. Formaldehyde may serve as an irritant to onset asthma and asthma symptoms. And, according to EU classification, formaldehyde is a class 3 carcinogen.
Producers treat flame resistant fabric with flame retardant. This emits formaldehyde gas.
Most polyester is also manufactured with antimony. Antimony a carcinogen that is toxic to the heart, lungs, liver, and skin.
Also, Rayon is made from wood pulp hat is treated with caustic soda and sulphuric acid.
Many textile dyes and bleaches contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium and chromium.
So, is Polyester toxic?
Well… Yeah.
It’s one of the most toxic materials that most people have against their skin on a daily basis.
Here are some actually good reasons why polyester shouldn’t be in your bed
So, Polyester is pretty bad news.
Manufacturers try to promote the benefits of Polyester. But, there are many health risks associated to Polyester which are unacceptable.
Indeed, Polyester should be avoided as much as possible. Whether it be in your clothes or in your bed, natural and organic materials are always the safest option.
“Polyester is the terminal product in a chain of very reactive and toxic precursors.
Most are carcinogens; all are poisonous.
And even if none of these chemicals remain entrapped in the final polyester structure (which they most likely do), the manufacturing process requires workers and our environment to be exposed to some or all of the chemicals shown in the flowchart above (to see this flowchart and learn more about polyester, go here). There is no doubt that the manufacture of polyester is an environmental and public health burden that we would be better off without.”
Marc Pehkonen and Lori Taylor, diaperpin.com
1
Polyester carries carcinogens
One of the reasons polyester shouldn’t be in your bed, is because it carries carcinogens. Researches confirmed that excessive wear of polyester fabrics can generate problems such as skin, lung and heart cancer, among others.
2
Polyester can cause respitory infections
Polyester shouldn’t be in your bed because research has shown it can cause respiratory issues. Indeed, excessive wear of polyester fabrics can cause chronic and severe respiratory infections.
To learn more about respiratory infections caused by synthetic materials, visit this page.
3
Polyester can cause skin problems, or make skin problems worse
Polyester has also shown to cause, or o make existing skin problems worse, affecting or causing rashes, itching, redness, ezcema and dermatitis. So, if you already have sensitive skin, it’s clear that polyester shouldn’t be in your bed.
4
Polyester is dangerous for the environment
Not only is Polyester very harmful for people, but also it is dangerous for the environment. It’s hard recycle it. And it can take up to 200 years to biodegrade. Also, its production disposes toxins in the water and emits lots of pollutants in the air.
5
Polyester can affect sperm count in men
Polyester shouldn’t be in your bed also because it can cause reproductive issues. A study conducted in 1993 showed that polyester undergarments can reduce sperm count in men.
Indeed, the electrostatic potentials generated by polyester has been shown to reduce sperm count in men who wear polyester undergarments.
6
Polyester has shown to affect immune systems, especially those of children
In the Environmental Ilness Resource, Dr. Theresa Warner warns us of the dangers of the toxic chemicals found in synthetic materials such as polyester.
In her article, she says:
“Children are especially vulnerable to chemicals. Their immature immune and liver detoxification systems cause them to be much more sensitive than adults to such things as bleach, dyes, and toxic compounds.
When choosing the right fabrics for your children, many factors should be taken into account.
In general, the less chemical processing and fewer dies and finishes added to the fabric, the less likely the material is to cause an adverse/allergic reaction.
There are two divisions of fabrics: naturally derived and synthetic.
Synthetic fibers should be avoided for children. They are generally made of the primary sources petroleum and cellulose (cotton liners and wood pulp). They are not breathable nor absorbable, which makes them hot in summer and cold in winter. Frequently, they hold an electric charge, which produces static cling and requires chemical sprays.
Poly blends and cellulose-based synthetic fabrics (rayon, acetate, and triacetate) require heavy chemical finishes. These toxic chemicals can cause allergies, chemical sensitivities and serious health problems. “
At the same time, she adds:
“Natural fabrics include cotton, linen, wool, cashmere and silk. The best fabric for children is 100% cotton. Conventional cotton is the type sold in most stores. Although it has a few environmental drawbacks due to pesticide use, it is generally hypoallergenic, washable, breathable, soft and durable.
All children’s “sleepwear” is required by law to meet federal flammability standards. Most fabrics treated with flame-retardant chemicals continuously emit toxic formaldehyde gas.
Breathing formaldehyde gas above the levels of 0.1 parts per million for an extended period of time will cause many health problems, such as headaches, dizziness, scratchy eyes and throat, nasal congestion, coughing, and immune system abnormalities.”
7
Even recycling polyester is more energy intensive than producing natural fibers from scratch
During chemical recycling, the materials are chemically dissolved into their precursor chemicals. Polyester, for example, would be broken down into DMT (dimethyl terephthalate) and EG (ethylene glycol). These chemicals are then purified and used to make new polyester fiber. But the reality is that this is difficult and expensive to do.
Although recylcled polyester does use less energy than making virgin polyester, recycled polyester still uses a much higher amount than natural fibers.
8
Polyester takes more than 2 lifetimes to biodegrade
Although synthetic materials such as polyester do eventually breakdown, it can take up to 200 years to biodegrade!
9
Polyester doesn’t take care of your body during your sleep
Unlike wool, polyester does nothing to regulate your body temperature while you sleep. This is another reason Polyester shouldn’t be in your bed. Synthetic materials don’t breathe, and thus, will always leave you feeling too hot, or too cold. What’s more, most polyesters are “water resistant”.
What does this mean for the quality of your sleep?
It means the the 1-liter of body vapour everyone looses each night, will not be absorbed. Your body will feel damp. You will feel hot and uncomfortable in the summer. You will feel colder in the winter because the moisture on your skin will be cold.
So for higher quality sleep, we highly recommend sleeping in 100% natural and organic materials, as they are safer for your health, more breathable, and actually improve the quality of your sleep. Choosing natural and organic bedding, of course, is also better for the envrionment, and wildlife.
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I stay with a family member during the week and she has 70% polyester 30% cotton duvet covers – they are horrible! In the summer I have been getting little to no sleep because I’ve been lying in a pool of my own sweat and the covers have little balls that seem to have come up over time which make it even worse.
This is so helpful. Thank you!
So many are made from microfiber …people have no clue that this is polyester or nylon poly mix and think…oh this is great, they are cheap and durable and dont wrinkle as much. Lots of mistaken identity in this industry…reminds me of food companies making msg with yeast protein.
We couldn’t agree more on the matter. There is so many products that are marketed even with the natural composition only to find out it has 20 % of natural fibers used and the rest is Viscose or Polyester filling, yet marketed as if it were all natural.
That is what our mission is, to get rid of the polyester and viscose materials from being used, especially where they are in direct contact with the skin, since some of those materials are absorbed by the skin itself when in use. That is why we started this brand of products to solve two main problems in the industry. Firstly to get rid of polyester / viscose pollution to help the environment (polyester / viscose takes a long time to decompose and causes more harm in the long run) as well as to increase the public awareness to increase the production of natural materials and make them more accessible to an average consumer.
Appreciate the info here. I’ve noticed recently lots of stores have started carrying cotton/poly sheets instead of large selections of just cotton over the last year. It’s frustrating while shopping, especially as they like to still advertise or market these as “cotton sheets”.
Thank you for your message! We couldn’t agree more on the issue. We think people need to be informed more about it and that is one of our goals we are trying to achieve with our mission. Cheap products are still pricey, it’s just that you pay the price with your well-being.
I and my spouse had a respiratory issue from purchasing microfibre pillows and duvets…. and they were expensive. I had to get rid of them. I assume these are polyesters as well.
It’s best to stick with natural materials in these cases. Most cheap products you can find on the market are subjected to micro fibers but sometimes people sell also products at a high price yet offer only products made completely out of polyester or viscose.
Our advice is best to check the composition of each product on their tags (which by law should state exact composition of the product).
Rhonda, stores only advertise what the product is/says. What a product says on its package comes from the manufacturer, a.k.a. the company that makes it. Since manufacturer (not stores) like to trick you so you’ll buy something because you think it’s what you want, is the reason why you should always, always ready the small print sometimes found on the back of the bed sheet packaging but may be found on the front as well. If for some reason it’s not found in small print make sure you read the tags on them when you get home. If it has what you don’t want take those bad boys right back to the store.
I can’t agree more! That is exactly the problem this industry faces and as a consumer you always have to read the composition tags, that by law, have to be on every product!
Do you have suggestions for the best way to dispose of polyester items from your house?
It depends on the country/government.
In a lot of many european countries there are donation bins that go to charities. That’s one option of getting rid of them.
There are also some countries/cities that have bins where you can bring your textiles to be recycled but they’re not super common. If your city has them you can bring them there.
But it’s not straight forward and there is no real standardised way for normal households everywhere to recycle polyester textiles. That’s why we really need to stop buying and the reason why companies should stop selling and making polyester in the first place.
Polyester is detrimental from the day it is made to the day it is disposed. Consumers have no simple way of disposing/recycling polyester confidently. That’s why donation is the only and best short-term option.
Contact your local municipality and ask where the nearest textile recycling plant is, or how they recommend you dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way.
Don’t all pillows and matresses have to have flame retardent. (which has carcinogens?)
Isn’t the latex fill also a carcinogen?
There is a company that legally can sell you non-flame retardent beds and pillows with a Drs note.
In short no, yet those usually made for hotels have flame retardants pillows, mattresses or bedding made with specific purpose since the legislation prohibits use of non-flame retardant products. I am unsure If those products have carcinogenic substances in them, since we do not sell such products, but I am sure it is better to stick with only natural materials in these cases with certifications.
Most natural ones, such as ours, do not use those substances but it is best to be careful and stick with all natural products, just in case.
Thank you for such benefitial informations. A lot of people dont know all these bad things that they are using in everyday life like disposable plastics and synthetic materials like Polyesters. Thank you very much for doing good works.
I found this webpage because I was curious about whether cotton or polyester was better for clothing.
I’m not saying you’re lying but this blog post seems a bit fishy to me… You are demonising everything about polyester yet I don’t see a single source of information to back up what you are saying…
You then provide links to some expensive 100% cotton bedding products…
I’m very sceptical about anything I read on the Internet, especially when it is very one-sided, biased, has no sources to back up its claims and is trying to sell some expensive product.
And it looks like you could be trying to scare people into buying your products…
Hmmmm…. ?
Hi James,
Thanks for your feedback on this. Here are some of the sources used for this post:
https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/polyester-and-our-health/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151023084508.htm
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.7b01750
https://www.slideshare.net/Sujuan_Lee/s2820897-sujuanli-recoding-presentation
We understand your frustrations. In this world where information is cheap, and not always reliable, we often feel the same way. However, we spent a lot of time developing the House of Pillows, which entailed doing A LOT of research about all types of materials. Our goal with our blog is to share as much reliable information as possible about different textiles, natural and synthetic. We wanted to share this body of information about the possible side effects of polyester, what it is and how it’s made. We’re not trying to scare people simply for the purpose of selling our products. We best hope is that people will learn more about what’s best for their health and the environment.
We’ve learned that the current market for bedding – and other textiles is quite one sided since many companies “greenwash” consumers in the hopes of selling more products. We’re trying to go against that by providing real data about textiles, the benefits of natural ones and the potential dangers of synthetic ones.
Here is another blog post that talks about the benefits of natural materials:
https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/category/organic-fabric/
We’ve found no evidence that natural materials like wool and 100% organic cotton is bad for people or the environment, and a lot of evidence that synthetic materials can cause a lot of harm to people, the planet and animals. The whole point of The House of Pillows is to provide a truly 100% natural + organic alternative to what’s currently on the market: synthetic and synthetic blend bedding.
As for the cost of our products, it can be explained by the purely organic, natural and fair-trade origin of our products, which are also made to order (to avoid textile waste) in our own design studio by a team of professional seamstresses with over 10+ years of experience. Truly natural textiles are also 10 to 15x more expensive to source, which is also why the end product is more expensive than your average synthetic or synthetic blend bedding.
We hope this answers your concerns.
Hello!
I have some decorative polyester pillows on my bed. I do not place them to sleep at night on my bed; instead, they are placed on the floor until morning when I make my bed. Do you believe this is effecting my sleep/health even if they are not in direct contact with my body during the night?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Julie,
Firstly I think it is hard to say whether they are bad or good. As long as they have at least some sort of certification for the materials used. If not I would advise at least washing them, if they are machine washable since that way you can remove certain residues that might have been left since they left the factory.
Since you do not sleep with them I think It should be okay, but checking what certifications they have can’t hurt.
I hope this answer helps your concerns!