Material

What fabric or maternal works best for damp wet weather? I suspect cotton will not dry, and will eventually rot, whether kept inside or outside. I tried drying some all cotton shirts in my garage during a semi-rainy week and it took all week to semi-dry. If it was real wet outside I suspect it would never dry. Think some other fabrics must be better at drying in high humidity. I am defiantly no expert on this subject so need to ask. What materials would be best to have around for what purposes. For example what materials would make good towels both for dishes, and body drying. What would work for keeping warm in cold windy wet weather, outside with no place to go to dry out? I know for some, wool is scratch, and not comfortable. Is there one or more type of material best to put close to the body, and another for saving body heat, and another for shielding for water and wind. What to use - Polyester, wool, nylon, silk, Polyester/cotton mix, etc.; when is it best to use what material is the question? Possibly, for the cotton and other products we could use colloidal silver during washing to help cut down on the rot possibility.

What do the people in northern climates wear while sleeping, when there electricity goes off, and the house is cold in mid winter? What sheets do they use? I find my cotton sheets feel cold at 60-65 degree. What is this basic survival information.

Offered by Mike.

My sister is Texas writes: Flannel is indeed the warm way to be in a cold bed. Flannel sheets are even made for water beds. But without the heater for the water, the bed gets so cold that you cannot put enough blankets between you and the waterbed mattress to keep away from the cold. The cold comes through.

Cotton fiber

is the best against the skin. It breathes and absorbs moisture. Feels good. But the fiber is porous and fat. By fat I mean the fiber is thick and hairy. Like the end of a Q-tip as compared to a smooth thread for sewing. One is skinny and dries fast and the other is fat or thick and porous and dries slowly. It retains moisture and that is why it takes so long to dry. Flannel is brushed cotton fiber and is even more porous so it takes longer to dry.

 

Synthetic fabrics

are skinny man made fibers. They do not retain moisture at all. 100% polyester fabric is the best. It is very warm to wear and sleep in. It dries very quickly because it doesn’t absorb moisture. That also makes it hot in the summer. The new thicker Polarfleece is wonderful even as coats and blankets. It is just thicker 100% polyester that has been brushed. Polarfleece is a brand name of 100% percent polyester that has been processed to be brushed so it feels soft like flannel cotton shirts. It is tremendously lightweight, doesn't wrinkle, is very very warm because it traps the body heat, and it washes easily and dries quickly. It just is too hot for summer. There are many brands out there, but if you ask for Polarfleece fabric, you will get thick 100% polyester even if you buy a cheap brand.

 

Silk

is a natural fiber that has the same warm properties as polyester, but it does let moisture out and breathes with the body. It is good for winter and summer. It dries quickly. But it is expensive.

Offered by Mike.