What Is Viscose Fabric?
Viscose, also called rayon in North America, is one of the most widely used textile fibres in the world. You'll find it in everything from blouses and dresses to bedsheets and weighted blanket covers. It has the look and feel of natural fabrics like silk or cotton but is produced through a chemical manufacturing process.
The key characteristic of viscose is that it starts life as natural cellulose, typically wood pulp from beech, eucalyptus, or pine trees, but is dissolved and reconstituted into fibres using industrial chemicals. This is why it's classified as "semi-synthetic."
How Is Viscose Made?
The viscose production process involves several chemical steps:
- Pulping: Wood (or bamboo, cotton linters) is pulped to extract pure cellulose
- Steeping: The cellulose sheets are treated with sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)
- Xanthation: Carbon disulfide is added to create sodium cellulose xanthate
- Dissolution: This is dissolved in dilute NaOH to form a viscous orange solution
- Spinning: The solution is extruded through spinnerets into a sulphuric acid bath, forming solid fibres
- Finishing: Fibres are washed, bleached, and dried into yarn or staple fibre
This process gives viscose its silk-like drape and softness, but the chemical inputs (especially carbon disulfide) make it more environmentally impactful than truly natural fibres.
Is Viscose Breathable?
Yes, viscose is moderately breathable. Here's what that means in practical terms:
- Moisture absorption: High, viscose absorbs 50% more moisture than cotton (by weight)
- Air circulation: Good, the fibre structure allows airflow
- Heat retention: Low, does not trap body heat like polyester
- Drying speed: Slow, holds moisture longer than polyester, which can feel cool but clammy
For warm sleepers, viscose can feel cool and comfortable, especially bamboo viscose, which has a naturally smooth, cool-to-the-touch texture. In very humid conditions, however, 100% cotton or linen may wick moisture away faster.
Is Viscose Natural or Synthetic?
This is where viscose gets nuanced. It is classified as semi-synthetic:
- Natural origin: Made from plant-based cellulose (wood pulp)
- Synthetic processing: Transformed using industrial chemicals
- Not biodegradable in the same way as cotton: The chemical treatment changes the fibre's environmental profile
Terms like "bamboo viscose" or "bamboo rayon" are common on labels. While the source material (bamboo) is sustainable, the process is the same chemically intensive viscose method, which is why regulators like the FTC in the US and the Competition Bureau in Canada scrutinize "bamboo" labelling claims.
Viscose vs. Cotton: Which Is Better for Sleep?
| Property | Viscose | Cotton (Percale) |
|---|---|---|
| Softness | Silky, smooth | Crisp, gets softer with washing |
| Breathability | Good | Very good |
| Moisture wicking | High absorption | Good wicking |
| Durability | Lower (especially when wet) | Higher |
| Wrinkle resistance | Low, wrinkles easily | Moderate |
| Shrinkage risk | High if machine-washed hot | Low-moderate |
| Environmental impact | Moderate (chemical processing) | High water use, pesticides |
| Price | Budget to mid-range | Budget to luxury |
Bottom line: Cotton edges out viscose for durability and ease of care. Viscose wins on silky feel and initial softness. For bedding, the choice often comes down to personal preference, hot sleepers tend to prefer bamboo viscose; people who want low-maintenance sheets often prefer cotton.
Viscose vs. Polyester
Polyester and viscose are often blended together in budget bedding. Here's why they're actually quite different:
- Origin: Viscose is plant-based; polyester is petroleum-based
- Feel: Viscose is softer and more natural-feeling; polyester can feel plasticky
- Breathability: Viscose breathes; polyester traps heat significantly
- Durability: Polyester is more durable, pilling-resistant, and holds colour better
- Washing: Polyester is easier, machine wash warm, tumble dry; viscose needs more care
- Sustainability: Both have significant environmental footprints
For bedding, viscose is the better choice over polyester if sleep temperature is a concern. A polyester sheet can make a warm sleeper significantly more uncomfortable overnight.
Bamboo Viscose: Is It Worth the Premium?
Bamboo viscose (often marketed as "bamboo sheets") is viscose made from bamboo pulp rather than wood pulp. It shares the same chemical processing but bamboo as a source plant has some advantages:
- Bamboo grows very quickly without pesticides
- Bamboo requires less water than cotton
- The resulting fabric tends to be exceptionally soft, often compared to cashmere
- Bamboo viscose has a naturally cool, smooth surface that many sleepers prefer
At Mattress Miracle, we carry cooling and temperature-regulating sleep accessories that complement bamboo viscose bedding, particularly for sleepers who run warm at night.
Is Viscose Good for Bedding?
Viscose and bamboo viscose appear in:
- Sheets: Soft and cool; popular for hot sleepers
- Pillowcases: Gentle on hair and skin (less friction than cotton)
- Weighted blanket covers: Soft outer covers for weighted blankets often use bamboo viscose
- Mattress protectors: Some bamboo viscose covers offer moisture-wicking properties
- Duvet covers: Smooth, drapey feel
The main caution: viscose weakens when wet. It's more fragile than cotton during washing and should be washed on a gentle/delicate cycle in cold water. Tumble dry on low or air-dry to prevent shrinkage.
How to Care for Viscose Fabric
Viscose requires more careful laundering than cotton or polyester. Follow these guidelines:
- ✅ Machine wash cold, gentle/delicate cycle
- ✅ Use mild detergent (avoid bleach)
- ✅ Tumble dry on low heat OR air-dry flat
- ✅ Iron on low heat while slightly damp to remove wrinkles
- ❌ Do not wash hot, causes significant shrinkage
- ❌ Do not wring or twist, weakens fibres
- ❌ Do not tumble dry high, can cause irreversible shrinkage
- ❌ Do not use fabric softener sheets (can leave residue)
Frequently Asked Questions
From Our Brantford Showroom
Talia, sleep specialist at Mattress Miracle: "Viscose comes up most often in two contexts: bamboo bedding and mattress cover fabrics. The marketing is confusing because viscose, rayon, and Tencel all describe similar regenerated cellulose fibres but with different processes. Real bamboo viscose feels cool, drapes well, and wicks moisture. Cheaper viscose blends without the breathability claim are usually polyester-heavy. The fibre content label always wins over the front-of-package marketing."
Viscose in Quebec (Viscose / Rayonne)
Viscose in Quebec French is "viscose" directly, sometimes labelled "rayonne". Bamboo viscose is "viscose de bambou". The fibre content labelling rules are identical across Canada under the Textile Labelling Act, so the label tells the same story in either language.
Yes, in North America, viscose is most commonly called rayon. They are the same fabric. The term "viscose" is more commonly used in Canada and Europe; "rayon" is the standard term in the US.
Yes. Viscose is lightweight, breathable, and absorbs perspiration, making it a popular choice for summer blouses, dresses, and loungewear. It drapes beautifully and feels cool against the skin.
Viscose has minimal natural stretch on its own. When blended with elastane (spandex), it becomes stretchy. Pure viscose fabrics are not stretchy and should be handled carefully when wet.
Viscose production uses significant chemicals (sodium hydroxide, carbon disulfide, sulphuric acid) that can be environmentally harmful if not properly managed. Closed-loop manufacturing systems (used for Tencel/lyocell, a related but greener fibre) recapture these chemicals. Standard viscose has a larger environmental footprint than Tencel but lower land and water use than conventional cotton.
Both are cellulose-based semi-synthetic fibres, but lyocell (brand name: Tencel) is made using a closed-loop solvent process that recaptures chemicals, making it significantly more eco-friendly than standard viscose. Lyocell also tends to be more durable and less prone to shrinkage.
Bamboo viscose pillowcases are popular for their silky feel and moisture-wicking properties. They can be gentler on hair than cotton, reducing friction that contributes to breakage. However, they require more careful washing than cotton pillowcases.
Yes, viscose is considered a good choice for warm sleepers. It's more breathable than polyester and feels cool and soft against skin. Bamboo viscose in particular is marketed specifically for its temperature-regulating properties in bedding.
Shop: Browse All Mattresses
Shop This Topic at Mattress Miracle
Popular picks at Mattress Miracle:
Or shop our mattress collection in our Brantford showroom.
Find Cooling Bedding at Mattress Miracle
Looking for sheets, weighted blanket covers, or bedding accessories that keep you cool at night? Our Brantford showroom carries a range of bedding options for hot sleepers, visit us or shop online.
Browse Sleep Accessories →