Do Cooling Bed Sheets Really Work?
Author: Manchester Collection Date Posted:5 December 2024
Are you waking up during the night feeling hot and sweaty? Maybe it’s more subtle, with tossing and turning because your sheets feel stuffy and uncomfortable. If this sounds familiar, it’s likely your bedding isn’t doing enough to help you maintain an optimal sleeping temperature. The right bed sheets can make a huge difference - cooling bed sheets are designed to combat overheating by promoting airflow and wicking away moisture.
These sheets are made to create a more comfortable and restful sleep environment for hot sleepers and people living in a warm climate. But do they really work? In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of cooling bed sheets, their key properties, and the best materials to consider for a cooler night’s sleep. Whether you’re upgrading your bedding or simply looking for ways to improve your sleep quality, we are here to help you make an informed decision.
The Benefits of Cooling Bed Sheets
Temperature is one of the most important factors for high-quality sleep, and the ideal sleeping temperature, for most people, is between 15.5°C and 20°C. Cooler sleeping conditions help your body lower its core temperature, which some research has shown can be a natural trigger for deeper, more restorative sleep. Sleeping in a room that’s too warm can disrupt this process, making it harder to fall and stay asleep.
Cooling bed sheets are designed to help you maintain an optimal temperature by regulating your body heat and preventing overheating; plus, they wick away sweat to keep you comfy. These properties create a more comfortable sleep environment, especially if you’re a hot sleeper or live in a warm climate, like Australia. By keeping you cool and dry, these sheets reduce night-time tossing and turning, letting you sleep better.
That being said, while temperature plays a key role, it’s not the only environmental factor that affects sleep. Besides obvious things like calm and quiet, bed sheet colour psychology can influence relaxation - calming hues like blue or grey are known to promote a soothing atmosphere. Similarly, your bedroom wall colours and other decor choices can also set the tone for restful sleep.
However, that is not the focus of this article, so let’s get back to talking about cooling bed sheets.
Key Properties of Cooling Bed Sheets
When you are choosing cooling bed sheets, you should focus on two key properties:
- Breathability: Breathable fabrics allow air to flow through the sheets, which helps dissipate body heat and keeps you cool throughout the night. Well-ventilated cooling bed sheets ensure that excess heat doesn’t get trapped, creating a more refreshing sleep environment.
- Moisture-Wicking: Moisture-wicking materials pull sweat away from your skin and disperse it, allowing it to evaporate quickly. This keeps you feeling dry and comfortable, even on the hottest nights. Without this property, sweat can accumulate, causing discomfort and disrupting your sleep.
These properties depend on several fabric characteristics. The material itself plays a significant role, as some fabrics naturally excel in allowing air circulation and managing moisture. Texture also impacts performance, as smoother finishes tend to encourage better airflow, while rougher textures can trap heat.
The weave of the fabric is another critical factor, with looser, more open weaves often facilitating superior breathability compared to denser options. Finally, the thickness of the sheets affects both breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities, with lighter fabrics generally performing better in both areas than thicker ones.
So which materials are both breathable and moisture-wicking, making them best suited for cooling bed sheets?
The Best Materials for Cooling Bed Sheets
The best bed sheets for hot sleepers are usually made from high-quality natural materials; while synthetic blends can be both breathable and moisture-wicking to a degree, they are typically not the best option for cooling bed sheets. When getting cooling bed sheets, the best choice is to focus on:
Bamboo
Bamboo bed sheets are a popular choice for hot sleepers due to their exceptional breathability and moisture-wicking properties. Bamboo fibres naturally promote airflow, keeping you cool by preventing heat from getting trapped. Additionally, bamboo is highly absorbent, effectively wicking away sweat and allowing it to evaporate quickly.
Another advantage of bamboo is its silky-smooth texture, which feels gentle on the skin and resists clinging, even in humid conditions. Bamboo sheets are also eco-friendly, as bamboo grows rapidly without the need for pesticides or excessive water. These sheets often have a luxurious drape and a natural resistance to odours and allergens, making them ideal for sensitive sleepers.
Silk
Silk sheets are renowned for their lightweight, luxurious feel and their natural ability to regulate temperature, making them a prime material choice for cooling bed sheets. Like bamboo, silk’s smooth fibres allow for excellent airflow, helping to keep you cool in warmer climates. Additionally, silk is a protein-based fibre that can absorb and wick moisture, reducing discomfort from night sweats.
Silk also has hypoallergenic properties, which can be a relief for allergy sufferers. When talking about aesthetics, the fabric also has a natural sheen, adding an elegant aesthetic to any bedroom. However, silk requires more care to maintain its quality and durability, which may make it less practical for some households.
Low-Thread Count Cotton
Cotton is one of the most versatile materials, and it can be very breathable, making it a great choice for cooling bed sheets. However, how good it is for cooling bed sheets heavily depends on the thread count (TC). Low-thread-count cotton sheets, typically around 200 - 400 TC, are ideal for airflow because they feature a looser weave that allows heat to escape. Higher thread count sheets may feel luxurious, but their denser weave can trap heat, reducing breathability.
Cotton’s moisture-wicking ability further enhances its cooling effect, providing a fresh and comfortable sleep surface. The quality of cotton sheets also depends on the type of cotton that is used, with high-end types like Egyptian and Pima offering long, strong fibres that create the smoothest and most durable fabric. Regular cotton is also effective but may lack the silky feel of premium varieties.
Linen
Linen is another top contender for cooling bed sheets due to its natural ability to regulate temperature. Made from flax fibres, linen is highly breathable and allows for optimal airflow, ensuring you stay cool throughout the night. Linen’s loose weave and slightly textured finish contribute to its cooling properties, making it especially suited for hot climates.
What sets linen apart is its ability to absorb and wick away moisture while remaining quick to dry. Its durability and tendency to soften with each wash make linen sheets an investment that only improves over time. Although linen can feel coarse initially, its cooling performance and timeless aesthetic often outweigh this for many sleepers.
Shop High-Quality Cooling Bed Sheets Online
Once you decide what material you want your cooling bed sheets to be made from, the only thing left is to find where you can buy high-quality products. That is where we come in - at Manchester Collection, we have everything you need to create the ideal sleeping environment.
Our bed sheets range includes everything from bamboo sheets to Egyptian cotton sheets, and you can also find high-quality pillows and pillowcases, quilts and quilt covers, blankets, and anything else you need. Place your order online, and we will deliver the products right to your address, or visit a store near you and make the purchase in person.
If you need any assistance with your selection or have questions, please contact us, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.