What is better Cotton or Polyester?

by Rifen Gonsalves, November 7 2022

One of the top & most dominant fibers in the Hotel Linen industry are Cotton and Polyester & are their products like bedsheets, pillows, towels & any other hotel linen products are the most preferred choice by Hotels, Resorts & Guesthouses. Cotton is a natural fiber & is obtained from the seedpod of the cotton plant. Well, Polyester is a chemicalized synthetic fiber made from a chemical reaction involving petroleum, air, and water. Many manufacturers & suppliers of Hotel Linen Suppliers like Rekhas House of Cotton say the best of both worlds is a blend of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester you can have the softness of cotton with the increased durability of polyester.

Now, Let’s know more in-depth

Cotton vs Polyester Introduction

Cotton is obtained from the cotton plant which are grown annually & these cotton fibres are composed of pure cellulose. Comfort, coziness & breathability are some of the great features of Cotton but few people know that its absorbency comes from how it is processed.

Polyester is a synthetic fabric and it is made chemically usually from petroleum, air & water. This fabric the world’s most popular synthetic textile, and it is used in thousands of different consumer and Hotel Linen Industries.

Chemically, polyester is a polymer primarily composed of compounds within the ester functional group. Most synthetic and some plant-based polyester fibres are made from ethylene, which is a component of petroleum that can also be derived from other sources. Polyester production and use contribute to environmental pollution around the world.

Cotton vs Polyester Similarities

• Cotton & Polyester are easy to manipulate & they can withstand both heat, bleaching, and detergents.

• Both are on the lower end of the fabric price spectrum.

• Cotton & Polyester both can be dyed any color.

• Both have a huge range of applications from apparel to homewares.

Cotton vs Polyester Differences

Cotton vs Polyester: Conclusion

We have compared the similarities and differences between these two fibers. They offer very different properties and for this reason, are often blended together. Cotton has an environmental edge since it is natural and biodegradable. But both fibers are incredibly versatile with diversified applications. If you want a comfortable breathable t-shirt or crisp fresh bed sheets, then 100 percent cotton would be the go-to. If you want protection from the elements during a camping expedition, you’ll want to reach for polyester garments, preferably from sustainable PET or plant-based sources.