How to Choose a Good Cooling Blanket
In order to find the best cooling blanket for you, it’s best to consider a few key elements and features of each cooking blanket. Depending on your specific requirements, some may suit you better than others.
Material
A simple starting place when considering the elements of a cooling blanket is to discuss the materials used to make a blanket specifically cooling. The best cooling blankets are made of lightweight, breathable materials that encourage airflow. At the same time, they should be heavy enough so you can feel something comforting on top of you keeping you cozy in bed. Here are some of the most common materials used in cooling blankets:
- Cotton: Cooling blankets can often be made of cotton since it can be woven into a lightweight and airy texture. Cotton naturally wicks moisture away from the body so you’re left cooler and not sweaty. The material doesn’t trap in heat so any extra heat your body is producing will dissipate. Cotton blankets are also easy to wash and dry.
- Linen: Although typically heavier than cotton, linen is derived from the flax plant and offers great breathability. Some linens aren’t as soft as cotton but most get softer as more wear and washes occur. Linen is known to be durable and outlast many other materials. You’ll find linen bedding and clothing to be popular in warm climates.
- Silk: While silk is a light fabric, it has a tendency to adjust to your body temperature. The material feels great against skin, and is cool to the touch. Cooling blankets made with silk work well for evenings that will cool to a comfortable temperature
- Down: We usually associate down with warm winter comforters, but down can be incorporated into cooling blankets, just with less loft. Down comes from the fine and soft geese and duck feathers that lay under the tougher exterior feathers. With a less dense filling, down can work well in a cooling blanket because of its breathability and encouragement of airflow. Down is ultra soft with a comforting feeling we’re all looking to snuggle in.
- Polyester/Synthetic: Polyester and synthetic materials are a chameleon in the bedding world. The material can be made into a huge range of warming or cooling fabrics. The cooling fabrics will be lightweight, easy to clean and feel as soft or softer than cotton. Generally polyester/synthetics will be cheaper than 100% cotton. They’re also easy to launder.
- Natural and Organic Materials: Blankets made of natural and organic materials are great for those with sensitive skin or those wishing to be environmentally friendly. Bamboo is a popular renewable choice for natural blankets. Organic materials aren’t processed with harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, which can cause skin irritation. Most organic and natural materials will be more breathable than a synthetic material. Bamboo, for example, is cool to the touch and often feels softer than silk but retains its coolness better than silk. Keep in mind not all natural material is organic, so check the label if organic is what you’re after.
Weave
The weave of the blanket can be just as vital to the coolness-level as the material. The weave can control how much ventilation is possible or how tightly it’s going to hold in heat. Thermal weaves are common in cotton blankets and can be loose to allow for a lightweight covering. Waffle weave is also popular with cooling bedding since the pattern allows for room between layers, letting air freely move in and out.
Durability
Cooling blankets made of cotton and linen are especially durable. High-quality linen can last over ten years and gets softer as time goes on. Most natural fabrics will also be quite durable and stand up to many washes.
Cleaning
Warm sleeping means more sweat, so cooling blankets should be washed often. Some cooling blanket materials like cotton, linen, and bamboo are easy to wash, although they may do best put out to line dry. Synthetic and polyester materials are typically dryer friendly. Down will most likely require professional dry cleaning. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure your cooling blanket will have the longest lifespan possible and won’t shrink.
Return Policy
When shopping for a cooling blanket, finding one with a good return policy can be a huge advantage. Many companies offer a 30-90 day trial period where you’re free to use the blanket like you normally would but can return it for free within the allotted time. Especially if purchasing online without being able to physically feel the material, a good return policy will provide assurance that you can easily send it back if it’s not the perfect fit for your cooling needs.
Other Ways to Sleep Cool
A cooling blanket will certainly help you sleep soundly during the night, but it’s possible to get even more cooling power with a few other additions. Choosing the right mattress and bed sheets can drastically alter how hot or cool you feel during the night. Here we get into some specifics to add extra cooling to your bedding.
Choosing the Right Mattress and Bedding
Mattresses and bedding come in a wide range of breathability which will decide if they sleep hot or cool and will help you decide which is best for your needs. Softer beds made of memory foam or latex have a tendency to absorb more heat, making it a warm night. If cooling is what you’re looking for, you’re better off with a hybrid or innerspring mattress that allows for ventilation. Those two mattress constructions will be significantly cooler.
In the same way blankets can be made with specifically cooling materials and weaves, so can other bedding like sheets. The best cooling sheets will promote dryness, ventilation, and comfort. They are often made of similar materials to the cooling blankets like cotton, linen, or natural fabrics. Generally thin, cooling sheets will absorb any moisture so you stay comfortable, cool, and dry throughout the night. Most cooling sheets will be machine washable.
Other Cooling Products
A few other items on the current market can help maintain a comfortable temperature while sleeping.
The ChiliPad is a mattress pad with a built-in temperature regulation system using chilled water. The mattress pad goes under the fitted sheet like a standard mattress pad. The ChiliPad is easily adjusted with a control unit where users can adjust the temperature to their desire.
BedJet is another bedroom addition that can help you sleep cooler. The unit is placed at the foot of the bed with a hose that goes under the sheets. The unit then circulates fresh air into the bed at whatever temperature it’s set to. The BedJet is also available as a dual unit so couples can have two different temperatures of air blowing on either side.
The Eight Sleep Pod is a good choice of mattress for hot sleepers. The mattress is equipped with smart technology throughout its four foam layers which regulates temperature during the night. While foam inherently absorbs heat, the technology overrides that, keeping the bed cool.
Room Temperature and Sleepwear
In addition to the mattress, sheets, and blankets on a bed, sleeping too hot could be linked to the room temperature or your sleepwear. Thermoregulation functions best when the room temperature is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. With the temperature ideal for thermoregulation, your body will find it easier to enter deep sleep and wake up rejuvenated.
Sleepwear can also play a role in our sleeping temperature. One of the best things to wear to bed is nothing at all. Sleeping naked reduces any impact clothes may have on the temperature our body is trying to achieve. If sleeping in the buff isn’t for you, pick pajamas that are made of breathable materials like cotton or linen. Make sure the sleepwear is easy to move in and feels comfortable on the skin. Jersey knit materials are often popular sleepwear because of how easily they move. Be sure whatever you wear to bed is clean to avoid any skin irritation.
