I’ve been a cotton bedding loyalist for years, but recently I decided to give linen another try. I want to share my experience with Baloo Living’s pillowcases, including some surprises and the care routine that worked for me.
I’ve always been a loyalist when it comes to 100% cotton bedding. Whether it’s organic, Egyptian, percale, or sateen, I’ve tried just about every kind. Linen, on the other hand, has been hit or miss for me. I’ve tried it in the past and always found it a bit too rough and itchy for my taste, so I stuck with cotton and never really looked back.
That said, I recently decided to give it another try and ordered a set of @BalooLiving’s linen pillowcases (around $60 for the pair). It felt like a low-risk way to test the waters again without diving into a full linen set. I was curious to see if the experience would be any different this time.
When they arrived, I was eager to get them into rotation. I ran them through my usual care routine: Woolite detergent, a cup of vinegar, and a capful of eucalyptus oil. I don’t use fabric softener, and I dried them on low heat with wool dryer balls. For those wondering, we don’t currently have pets in the house. Eucalyptus oil can be irritating or harmful to some animals, so that is something to keep in mind if you share your home with furry friends.
If you are unaware, vinegar acts like a natural fabric softener. It also removes any finishing sprays that companies use on their bedding products to make them look and feel good for boxing and display. One thing I appreciated right away was that Baloo doesn’t use any sprays, softeners, or silicones for display or packaging. What I felt coming out of the box was the real, untreated fabric. That gave me a better sense of how it would soften over time through normal use and care.
Out of the dryer, they had that familiar relaxed linen texture. Not crisp like percale cotton, but soft in a casual, slightly crinkled way that felt cozy and inviting.
That night, I swapped them in for my usual Egyptian cotton pillowcases. To my surprise, I slept straight through until morning. That almost never happens. I usually wake up two or three times during the night due to one of my medications, but I didn’t stir once. I am not saying it was entirely because of the pillowcases, but it definitely stood out.
Straight out of the package, the fabric had a bit of roughness, which I expected, but after just one wash, they softened up more than I thought they would. The texture reminded me of one of my favorite Tommy Bahama linen shirts. They were breathable, laid-back, and surprisingly smooth against the skin. I even caught myself running my hand across the pillow a few times without thinking. It was contagious; once I started, it was hard to stop because the smoothness and softness were so unexpected. My wife noticed and kept saying, “What are you doing?” lol. There is something tactile and comforting about the fabric that cotton does not quite replicate.
They also reminded me a little of my Coyuchi crinkled cotton duvet cover, although the linen had more depth and texture. At around $60 for the pair, they already feel like a solid investment. I am now thinking about trying Baloo’s full linen collection, including the fitted sheet, flat sheet, and duvet cover. That is saying something, especially since I have been loyal to my DreamFit sheets for years.
If you have had a rough start with linen in the past, like I did, these might change your mind. They look relaxed, feel breathable, and I have a feeling they will only get better with time and more washes.
My care style: I wash them with Woolite, a cup of vinegar, and a cap of eucalyptus oil. No fabric softener. I dry on tumble low with wool dryer balls and remove them promptly. No ironing, no fuss. Just smooth them by hand and they come out looking great with that natural, relaxed finish.
I ordered directly from Baloo Living’s website (I even used the TMU discount), and the experience was smooth. Shipping was fast and the packaging was fully recyclable.
I will share an update after a few more weeks of use to see how they continue to evolve, but so far, I am glad I gave linen another chance.
Maverick
