Bedding accessories and utilities land among the most significant elements of home interior and bedroom décor. While every one of us prefers to spark up our sleeping spaces with class and elegance, comfort takes priority. Moving along the line, bringing home a pair of natural bamboo pillows can be a viable option. You may have heard about the product made by big brand, sealy natural comfort bamboo pillow, but have you ever digged deeper about natural bamboo pillows? These eco-friendly head supports are crafted with the utmost care from naturally available bamboo fiber extracts that undergo organic processing to deliver the finished product. As for the pillow stuffing, the material filling is composed of shredded memory foam to provide maximum comfort when you crawl in to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest.
While these bolsters have everything to unleash a relaxed and tranquilized sleeping comfort, there happen to be some common misconceptions about the credibility of bamboo pillows as a dependable bedding accessory. Thanks to the internet-based information sharing platforms, a variety of myths have found their place in peoples’ minds about the reliability of bamboo pillows. Some of the posts regard the memory foam filling of these headrests to be highly toxic, while others complain about bamboo fibers being transformed into viscose rayon through high-intensity chemical processing.
The hypoallergenic characteristics of bamboo pillows are further, deemed as lacking proper industrial testing and authoritative proof, and the health benefits are also under question. The concise reality, however, lies much ahead of the aforesaid myths. Realizing the benefits of bamboo pillows as a nature-centric and health-conforming accessory for your bedding spaces would be a wiser thought. Discussing the same grounds, the following article attempts to make logical corrections to some of the commonly believed delusions about bamboo head supports.
1.Composition and Manufacturing of a Bamboo Pillow
As far as the fabrication and crafting of bamboo pillows are concerned, these headrests come to you in a count of 2 essential utilities, namely the pillow cover and the pillow itself. On a general examination, the pillow cover is seen to be crafted out of bamboo fibers, while the inside filling of the pillow is majorly composed of memory foam. Diving a bit deeper into the exact fabrication requisites, there are some major aspects worth looking at. Adhering to the concern, let us get into the explicit and detailed fabrication prospects of bamboo pillows in what follows next:
Starting with the pillowcases, these are generally fabricated from processed bamboo fiber extracts, but there are several other alternatives to choose from. The prominent ones include organic and synthesized cotton, polyester, rayon, etc. Sometimes these alternative materials are even combined with these alternative materials to obtain a hybridized fabric.
Moving ahead to the pillow filling, the major preference is enjoyed by the memory foam alternative. However, a composition of wool, cotton, latex, polyester, down filling, and polyfill, along with some other synthetic materials can also be used. Like the pillowcases, the pillow stuffing can also be hybridized with a combination of the aforementioned alternatives. It is important to note here that the memory foam filling comes in two variants, that is, the shredded and solid filling structures.
Talking of the specific suitability of the above alternates, the firm structure of the solid memory foam filling works well for sleepers who are victims of neck and back pain. Such users need firm support to enable a proper spinal alignment, which is effectively catered by the solid filling. The shredded memory foam stuffing, on the other hand, is best suited for hot sleepers, since the individually stranded foam structure increases the airflow. The third class of gel-infused memory foam filling that comes with minute gel particles to ward off the body heat is another good alternative for those who sleep hot.
Moving ahead to the manufacturing constraints, a lot needs to be observed and understood when it comes to the actual process of fabricating bamboo pillows. Speaking in the light of the conclusions drawn from some trusted research reports, bamboo pillows imbibe a partial composition of natural fiber extracts derived from the parent plant, along with a hybridized union of some chemically processed materials. Focusing on the treatment of the extracted bamboo fiber material, the latter undergoes a series of chemical inclusions to get the final casing material. As for the filling material stuffed within the pillows, chemically processed, memory foam filling obtained from polyurethane is used to fabricate the bolsters.
2.Fabrication of Different Parts of a Bamboo Pillow
(1)Materialization of the Bamboo Pillowcases
When looking through the fabrication of bamboo pillow covers, the latter are crafted primarily with viscose rayon. Looking into the origins of the bamboo fiber material, the latter comes from timber-like, fast-growing bamboo species. This one is a semi-synthetic material, derived from the successive treatments of the naturally obtained bamboo fibers with a series of chemicals. The result is an absorbent, shiny and soft fabric, bearing a close resemblance to silk. The entire set of activities performed here is collectively termed the ‘Viscose Rayon Manufacturing Process’.
Talking of the aforementioned manufacturing process in enough detail, the latter involves a conversion of the raw cellulose fibers of the bamboo plant into a chemically synthesized fabric. The process begins with extracting and crushing the plant fibers. This is followed by immersing them in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, which facilitates the dissolution of the raw fiber cellulose. The resultant viscose solution is then passed through several chemical treatments to get a ripened product.
The next step is to pass the solution successively through a spinneret and a roller-spindle arrangement. The chemically processed bamboo fibers are then bleached and dried for fabric weaving. The underlying reason behind subjecting the bamboo fibers to such a rigorous manufacturing process is the resultant softness, which is a highly preferred characteristic when the talk is about bedding accessories. Since the truly organic bamboo fibers cater to a coarse and rough finish, they are not deemed fit for fabricating bamboo pillowcases in their original form.
(2)Materialization of the Bamboo Pillows
Moving into the discussion about the manufacturing of bamboo bolsters, the latter are generally stuffed with shredded memory foam filling, but there can be other alternatives also, like, cotton, wool, latex, buckwheat, down filling, etc. Stressing on the memory foam alternative, this stuffing material is constructed of polyurethane, which is a manually synthesized material. Similar to bamboo fibers, the polyurethane material is also subjected to a series of chemical treatments to transform it into the liquefied or viscose state.
The aforesaid treatment induces the property of elasticity into the polyurethane material, causing the memory foam to be conveniently referred to as viscoelastic foam. Due to the virtue of being elastic, the synthesized memory foam filling can properly align with the shape and posture of your body while you sleep, thus ensuring maximum comfort. The characteristic is additionally beneficial in helping the pillow to regain its original shape when the pressure exerted by your body is removed.
Such flexibility further aids to provide complete support to your neck and head as you enjoy a deep and comfy slumber. While the aforesaid properties of the shredded memory foam filling make it reliable pillow stuff, the fact that the latter undergoes a chemical synthesis to acquire the same cannot be denied.
3.Are Bamboo Pillows Environmentally Friendly?
Talking of the credibility of bamboo pillows in line with the environment, the first impression comes of having a positive impact, considering the bamboo fiber fabrication. As much as the factor feels appealing, it happens to be true because the raw cellulose fiber extracts are eco-friendly and biodegradable. The natural decomposition capability of the cellulose fibers makes these bolsters conveniently recyclable.
Moving ahead to the sustainability criterion, bamboo fibers excel on the grounds of an easy harvesting and re-growth process. This can eventually aid in the prevention of cutting down trees on a mass level to extract cellulose fibers to construct textile and material fabrics. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant, which can affordably adhere to the concern of furnishing raw materials for textile fabrication on a large scale.
4.Are Bamboo Pillows Organic And Natural?
In the light of the fact that the raw material for bamboo pillows is a naturally extracted cellulose fiber, it can be regarded as bearing the natural essence. Keeping the aforesaid aspect in mind, choosing to sleep with a bamboo pillow as your headrest would make you feel fresh and comfortable. The bamboo fiber extracts further make these pillows extremely breathable on account of the stranded filling that caters to proper airflow. The thermo-regulating properties of bamboo pillows further assure you of a natural sleeping comfort by maintaining your body temperature at an affordable level.
5.Are Bamboo Pillows Toxic?
The naturally occurring bamboo fiber extracts present in these pillows make them free from toxins and harmful contaminants. It is by the virtue of these natural fibers that bamboo bolsters possess hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking characteristics that do not allow the bacterial and microbial dwelling to harbor on the pillow-skin contact surface. The shredded memory foam filling additionally prevents the invasion of micro-organisms through its impermeable structure. Sleeping on a bamboo pillow thus keeps you free from allergies and is best suited for people with sensitive skin.
As for the moisture-wicking properties, bamboo pillows do not absorb sweat and other body fluids that may contain harmful residues, thus preventing the pillow surface from releasing any odd smells. You can therefore always get a clean, hygienic, and moisture-free surface to rest on, without having to worry about skin infections.
6.Conclusion
Bamboo pillows are a great sleeping accessory to compliment your bedding spaces with class, style, and comfort. There are, however, a lot of myths regarding the credibility of bamboo pillows in line with the natural and eco-friendly aspect of usage. Crafted from naturally available cellulose fiber extracts of the bamboo plant, these pillows are woven into shredded memory foam filling. As far as the fabrication process of the pillow materials is concerned, the raw materials do undergo a definite amount of chemical processing. This, however, does not render them unfit for use in any way.
Talking of the high-end benefits of bamboo pillows, these are manufactured from biodegradable materials that can be conveniently recycled, thus putting a notable limit on deforestation activities. Moving ahead, the hypoallergenic, thermo-regulating and moisture-wicking properties of bamboo fibers are the default characteristics of bamboo pillows, which make them free from bacteria, microbes, and toxic chemicals that do not dwell on or get absorbed on the pillow surface. Bamboo pillows are a great choice for enjoying a naturally comforting and cozy sleeping experience.
