Cotton Pillow Cover

Cotton pillow covers: breathable, matte and easy to wash

Cotton is the most familiar pillow cover fabric in Indian homes, and for good reason. It breathes, it absorbs moisture on warm nights and it washes easily again and again. If you sleep warm, prefer a matte, natural feel against your face, or simply want covers you can wash every few days without worrying, a cotton pillow cover is a dependable choice. Soft Souls cotton pillow covers are 100% cotton with a floral print, sized for 18 × 28 inch pillows, with an envelope closure, in sets of two.

Why cotton suits Indian nights

Cotton fibres absorb moisture and let air move through the weave. On a humid night, that means a cotton cover feels fresh rather than slippery or clammy against your cheek. Satin feels cooler at the first touch, but cotton tends to stay comfortable through a long, warm night, especially under a fan rather than an air conditioner. Cotton also feels the same in every season: crisp in summer, soft in winter, never slick.

What a plain cotton weave feels like

Our cotton covers use a plain weave, the simplest and most common way to weave cotton: each thread goes over one and under one. The result is a matte, slightly textured surface that grips the pillow and does not slide about. It does not have satin's sheen; it has the quiet, natural look of everyday cotton that softens with every wash.

Our cotton pillow covers

• Fabric: 100% cotton, plain weave
• Design: floral print
• Size: fits 18 × 28 inch pillows
• Closure: envelope flap, no zips or buttons
• In the pack: 2 pillow covers

Which pillows do they fit?

The covers are cut for 18 × 28 inch pillows, such as our large kapok pillows. On a 15 × 22 inch pillow, such as our cotton pillows or our smaller kapok pillow, the cover will be loose and the pillow may slide inside. Measure your pillow from seam to seam before you order. A well-filled natural pillow sits snugly in a cover of the same size.

The envelope closure

Instead of a zip, an envelope cover has an inner flap at one end. Slide the pillow in and tuck its end under the flap. Nothing presses into your face, nothing can break, and the cover washes and dries flat.

Cotton or satin?

• Choose cotton for breathability, a matte natural feel, a cover that stays in place, and carefree washing.
• Choose satin for a smooth, cool-to-touch surface with a soft sheen that hair glides over.

Many households keep both and switch with the season: satin for warm evenings when that first cool touch feels good, cotton for humid monsoon nights and for anyone who dislikes a slippery pillow.

Cotton covers on a natural pillow

Natural fills such as kapok and cotton breathe best when the cover breathes too. A cotton cover over a kapok or cotton pillow keeps the whole pillow made of natural, breathable layers, which many people prefer in a hot climate. It also protects the pillow's own ticking from hair oil and sweat, so the pillow itself needs washing far less often.

How often to change cotton pillow covers

Your face, hair and skin rest on a pillow cover every night, so it needs washing more often than a bedsheet. Change cotton covers once or twice a week, and more often in summer or if you use hair oil. With two packs you always have a fresh pair ready.

Caring for cotton pillow covers

1. Turn the covers inside out to protect the print.
2. Machine wash on a gentle or normal cycle with a mild detergent.
3. Wash with similar colours, and keep a new printed cover apart from whites for the first wash.
4. Dry in the shade; strong sun fades printed cotton over time.
5. Iron on a medium setting while slightly damp for a crisp finish, or simply smooth them flat.

Avoid bleach on printed cotton. For hair-oil marks, rub a little mild detergent into the spot before washing.

Cotton pillow cover questions

Are they 100% cotton? Yes.

How many covers come in a pack? Two.

Do they shrink? Cotton can shrink slightly in hot water or a hot dryer. Wash in cool or lukewarm water and dry in the shade.

Will they fit a kids pillow? Our kids pillows are 12 × 18 inches, so an 18 × 28 inch cover is too big.

A printed cover on a plain bed

A floral cotton cover is an easy way to bring pattern into a bedroom without changing anything else. It works best against a plain sheet: on a navy or silver grey bedsheet, a printed pair of pillow covers becomes the one decorative touch on the bed. Keep the printed pair for the front pillows and plain covers on the sleeping pillows behind, or use them on their own for a cheerful guest bed.

Cotton for guest rooms and travel

Cotton covers are forgiving. They do not crease badly, they dry fast on a line, and they survive a hot iron better than satin. That makes them a good choice for a guest room that is used now and then, and for packing in a bag when you travel to stay with family.

Complete the bed

Pair cotton covers with a natural kapok pillow or a cotton pillow for a fully breathable bed, or browse all pillow covers.

Part of our Pillow Covers range. Also see Satin Pillow Cover, Silk Pillow Covers.