Winter bedding for allergy sufferers: Flannel, brushed cotton or TENCEL?
Teilen
In winter, bedding gets thicker – and that is exactly what makes many allergy sufferers uneasy. Brushed qualities such as Biber flannel and flannel are considered dust traps, while smooth qualities such as TENCEL are considered allergy-friendly, but less warm. Which winter bedding for allergy sufferers is the right one cannot be answered in one go: it depends on what temperature you wash at, whether you sweat at night and how sensitive your skin is to the surface.
What really matters with winter bedding for allergy sufferers
Four points determine which quality ends up on your bed – and the thickness of the fabric is only partially one of them:
- The washing temperature. Dust mites are only reliably killed from 60 °C. Pure cotton qualities such as Fine flannel, Edelflanell and Melange-Flanell are generally designed for this, while TENCEL should be washed at 40 °C. The care label of the respective item is always the deciding factor.
- Moisture management. Mites need a damp microclimate. TENCEL absorbs moisture and releases it again, thus depriving mites and bacteria of part of their means of survival – this works around the clock, regardless of the washing temperature.
- The surface and the fluff. Brushed qualities release excess loose fibers from the brushing process during the first three to five washes. This is typical for the material and stops – if you react sensitively during this phase, wash the set separately and inside out before the first night.
- Substances and skin compatibility. Our bedding is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified and tested for harmful substances. For sensitive skin, the feel also counts: a fine, soft fluff is perceived differently than a coarse one.
Biber Flannel, Flannel or TENCEL: a direct comparison
The following overview shows what each quality is made for. All prices are direct manufacturer prices – and with us always free of shipping costs, without a minimum order value.
| Quality (item number) | Property | Ideal for | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castell Edelflanell (0080752, 0080447, 0080458) | brushed cotton, as a fixed set 135x200 + 80x80 cm, highly washable | The affordable entry into warm winter bedding | approx. €29.95 |
| biberna Fine flannel (0006722, 0007253) | Around 160 g/m², very high loft, pure cotton, designed for high washing temperatures | For those who get cold and do not want to do without hot washing | from approx. €49.95 |
| biberna Melange-Flanell (0840500, 0840506, 0840507) | Our further development of Flannel: even fluffier and softer, 100% cotton | For those who get cold and have sensitive skin | from approx. €49.95 |
| biberna TENCEL (0470500, 0474495) | Smooth Lenzing fiber, moisture-regulating, washable at 40 °C, all-year-round quality | For those who sweat at night and need a dry bed climate | from approx. €49.95 |
| biberna Mako-Satin (0615211) | Combed cotton in 4/1 sateen weave, smooth and cool, high-quality zippers | Smooth surface plus high washing temperature | from approx. €59.95 |
An overview of all smooth-woven, hot-washable qualities can be found in our collection Allergy-friendly bedding, the warm qualities are in the Winter bedding.
Which one is right for you?
You have a dust mite allergy and do not want to get cold in winter despite this. Then stick to pure cotton that can be washed hot. The biberna Fine flannel bedding (0006722) from approx. €49.95 is the original quality from the family that biberna invented in 1968: around 160 g/m², very high loft – and a fabric that withstands regular hot washing without losing its fluff.
You wake up damp at night and the bed feels clammy. Here warmth does not help, but moisture transport. The biberna Tencel bedding (0470500) from approx. €49.95 absorbs the moisture from the night and releases it again. biberna was the first manufacturer of Tencel bedding – the fiber keeps the microclimate in the bed dry, and that is exactly what mites and bacteria do not live well on.
Your skin reacts sensitively to every new textile. Then the feel decides, not the grammage. The biberna Melange-Flanell bedding (0840500) from approx. €49.95 is our softest warm quality – 100% cotton, even fluffier than classic Flannel. We developed this quality ourselves; it is almost exclusively available from us worldwide.
You want to try warm winter bedding first. Then do not spend 50 euros right away. The Castell Cotton Edelflanell bedding in spruce (0080752) costs approx. €29.95 and comes as a finished set in 135x200 + 80x80 cm. If brushed cotton suits you, switch to the original quality next winter.
Those who want a smooth surface and the high washing temperature will find both in the biberna Mako-Satin bedding (0615211) from approx. €59.95 – cooler in feel than Flannel, but unbeatable in smoothness.
What is often overlooked
The bedding is only the top layer. The largest part of the mite population is not in the pillowcase, but in the mattress. Those who change the bedding, but do not change anything underneath, only solve half the problem. What protection belongs directly on the mattress, read in our guide Mattress protection for dust mite allergy; which sheet fits with it is stated in Dust mite allergy in bed: Which fitted sheet is the right one?
Fabric softener is the silent enemy. It forms a film around the fiber and takes away exactly the loft that you bought brushed cotton for – with TENCEL it additionally disrupts the moisture absorption. Leave it out; a short, mild dryer cycle fluffs the fluff better than any care product.
The washing rhythm beats the washing temperature. A set that goes through 60 °C every two weeks brings more than one that is only hot washed every six weeks. Therefore, plan two affordable sets to change rather than one expensive one.
Durability instead of purchase price. We weave Melange-Flannel in our own house in Hamminkeln; we deliver all qualities directly to you. That is why you get original quality at a price for which significantly lighter goods are often offered in retail. Do not calculate in euros per set, but in winters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flannel bedding unsuitable for allergy sufferers?
No. The brushed fluff looks like a dust trap, but consists of pure cotton and is generally designed for high washing temperatures. The deciding factor is that you wash hot regularly – then there is nothing against Flannel in winter. More on this in Flannel bedding for dust mite allergy.
Are 40 °C sufficient for TENCEL for allergy sufferers?
40 °C does not kill mites, but washes out allergens. TENCEL works in a different way: The fiber keeps the bed climate dry, and mites need moisture. Those who do not want to do without hot washing combine TENCEL with an encasing washable at 60 °C or choose a cotton quality.
Does flannel fluff more than Flannel?
Both release loose excess fibers at the beginning, that belongs to the brushing process. After three to five washes, the effect is over. Why that is and when it is no longer normal, we explain in Flannel bedding fluffs and pills.
Which quality is the best for children with sensitive skin?
Melange-Flannel, because the feel is particularly soft – we offer our own children's designs such as zoo animals (0840520) and locomotive (0840521). An overview can be found in the Children's bedding.
Can I combine winter and all-year-round quality?
Yes, and for many allergy sufferers that is the most practical solution: TENCEL as a basis for the whole year, a Flannel or Melange-Flannel set for the cold weeks. This way you always have a second set in the closet, while the first one is in the laundry.
What does shipping cost?
Nothing. We always deliver within Germany free of shipping costs, for every product and without a minimum order value.
Conclusion: Those who want to wash hot and get cold, take Fine flannel. Those who sweat at night, take TENCEL. Those who have sensitive skin, take Melange-Flannel – and those who want to test first, start with Edelflanell. You get all four qualities directly from the manufacturer, free of shipping costs and without a minimum order value.