Which is better silk or satin sheets?
If you’re looking to buy some new bed sheets then you might be wondering if silk is better than satin or vice-versa.
This article compares silk and satin sheets in details to help you decide which one is right for you.
What is silk?
Silk is an animal protein fiber produced by certain types of insects for building cocoons and webs. Creepy right? Who would imagine something so refined and beautiful would come from bugs, but it is true and fascinating. According to Today I Found Out, larvae produce silk and although many insects produce silk, the mulberry silk moth is the main insect used for the commercial silk industry. Silk is breathable, comfortable, one of the softest fabrics, and highly prized material. Today I Found Out also says China leads the world in silk production and is responsible for approximately 58,000 tons each year and about 74% of the world’s supply of raw silk.
What is satin?
Satin is actually a weave and not a natural fiber like silk. Fiber is the actual thread from which the material is made and weave is how you make it. Traditionally, satin will have both a glossy side and a dull side. It is made using combinations of other fabrics like nylon, rayon, polyester, and even silk. A popular stain is charmeuse, which is a man-made luxury fabric (polyester) from finely woven material.
The differences between silk and satin
The biggest difference between the two is that silk is a natural fiber and satin is a weave. Satin can be created by used silk or other materials. Silk comes with more strength and silk will have a more shimmery appearance compared to satin’s glossy surface with a dull back. Both have their backings from China but silk is harder to produce, as a single thread requires silk from thousands of silk worms. This makes silk much more expensive than satin which comes from synthetic fibers.
Which is better?
Silk bed sheets are better than satin bed sheets at regulating your temperature, feeling comfortable, and combating allergies; whilst satin bed sheets are better than silk bed sheets in terms of lower cost and keeping warm – with both being equal in terms of absorbing sweat and ease of cleaning.
Satin will be much cheaper than silk but if you want to use only a natural fiber, then silk may be the better of the two. Although satin will provide the same benefits as silk when made with the better woven technique like charmeuse satin, check to see the ratio of fillers or fabrics in comparison to the silk in the satin weave to determine just how well it will measure up to silk.
Have you tried both silk and satin? Which worked better for you?