Fabric
Cotton sheets for tropical weather
Why cotton still wins for Cameroon bedrooms, and how to wash sheets when the air is humid.
Cotton breathes
Polyester blends can feel clammy by midnight in Douala. Cotton wicks and dries against the skin. Percale — a crisp plain weave — is our usual recommendation for the coast. Sateen is smoother and a little warmer; save it for air-conditioned rooms or cooler towns.
Washing in humidity
Wash in warm water, skip overloading the machine, and hang sheets fully spread. Do not leave damp linen in a bag. A hot iron on cotton finishes the fibre and helps with mites. We print care on every set so the housekeeper or the family has the same instructions.
What to buy
A minimum useful cupboard is two sheet sets per bed so one can dry while the other is on. Add a third if you host. Shop our cotton bedsheets and keep a spare pair of pillowcases — they wear first.