Sleep Cooler with Glaciotex Cooling Covers and Other Mattress Cooling Covers

The Science of Sleep Temperature

Your body wants to naturally regulate or control your temperature. If your temperature rises, your body puts out heat or begins to sweat in order to cool off your skin. 

Your bedroom should ideally be a temperature of 60 to 67 degrees. If your body isn’t cool enough while sleeping, it can make it more difficult to get to and stay asleep. Your body will try to cool you off by releasing heat and causing you to sweat. Trying to sleep when you’re too warm can keep you tossing and turning. This can lead to restless nights and even develop into sleep problems like insomnia.

Materials Matter: Decoding Cooling Cover Fabrics

Here are some of the commons types of materials used in cooling mattress covers:

Natural fibers: 

Natural fibers like cotton, bamboo, wool and latex tend to be more breathable than synthetic materials. This is because natural materials absorb moisture, and wick sweat from your body. They help regulate temperature and tend to have lighter-weight material. 

Open Cell Foam: 

Mattresses made with open cell foam have small air pockets in the foam layer that helps with better airflow. Traditional foam mattresses don’t have as much airflow as hybrid mattresses because they don’t have coils, unless they’re made with breathable foam material.

Phase-change Materials: 

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are materials that absorb and release energy (heat!) over a period of time. Translation: Cooling covers that use phase-change material helps you feel cooler when your body temperature rises. 

These materials can be put in the foam and fabric layers of a mattress cover and work activity while you sleep to regulate body temperature. Research shows you can start feeling cooler while lying on top of the cover after 20 minutes. But the downside is they can peak and at some point, are unable to absorb any more body heat. 

GlacioTex

GlacioTex cooling covers have fabric with cool-to-the-touch fibers that pull heat away from your body. This cooling feature can either be purchased separately as a GlacioTex cooling cover, or it might be incorporated directly into the top layers of the mattress. They don’t affect the comfort or firmness level of your mattress. 

Covers can often be removed and laundered to remove particles and dust mites, making them appealing to those who need hypoallergenic properties. But GlacioTex can be slippery, where fitted sheets could slip or come off with movement. 

Beyond the Fabric: Other Factors Affecting Cooling Performance

While some mattress covers have cooling technology built in, some contain materials and features that offer breathability and cooling on a smaller scale. 

• Breathable Cover: The weave of the cover fabric can affect air circulation. Latex mattress covers are made with natural materials and are more breathable than synthetic materials like polyester. Mattress covers made with foams that are open-cell or gel-infused can help you sleep cooler than memory foam, which can retain heat.
• Mattress compatibility with covers: Some waterproof covers may not work with a cooling cover. Using a mattress protector might make the cooling properties a little harder to feel, but they can still work. 
• Cover construction and thickness: The thickness of a cooling cover can be affected by body weight. Plus-size sleepers might get more benefit from a thicker cover for the cushioning and pressure relief. 

Benefits of Using Cooling Mattress Covers

Cooling mattress covers should do three things: pull heat from your body, reduce sweating, and increase your comfort while you sleep. 

Regulates Temperature

Body temperature is naturally lower at night while you sleep, so feeling cooler by sleeping on a cooling mattress cover can keep your temperature regulated, helping you sleep soundly. 

Decreases Sweating

If you deal with night sweats or hot flashes, there’s few things worse than waking up soaking in sweat. Cooling covers pull heat from the body, keeping your internal thermostat happy, and therefore, it doesn’t feel the need to sweat. 

Creates a Comfortable Sleep Environment

Opening windows, using a fan, wearing lightweight clothing (or none at all!) and sleeping on breathable materials can all contribute to a better — and cooler — night’s sleep. 

Choosing the Right Cooling Mattress Cover

Generally, people who could benefit from cooling mattress covers tend to either:

• “Sleep hot” or get overheated while they sleep
• Live in a warmer climate 

If this is you, or you can relate to both of these, you can benefit from a cooling mattress cover. And better yet, one with more advanced cooling features like GlacioTex or PCMs. Basically, the more cooling you need, the more advanced the features can help. You might be able to get away with covers with moisture-wicking properties or an organic cotton cover, but they won’t be as cool as an actual cooling cover. 

Caring for Your Cooling Mattress Cover

You’ll want to make sure you understand how to properly clean and maintain your cooling mattress cover to prolong its lifespan. 

• Follow your cover’s care instructions: Read your mattress cover’s label to know how to care for that particular cover. Fabrics have different requirements for washing and drying, or if they’re spot-clean only. You don’t want to risk ruining an investment like a mattress cover. 
• Treat stains right away: Inspect your cover every time you change your sheets. Don’t let spills or accidents sit. In general, use an enzyme-based stain remover or a laundry detergent with a brush to really get into the stain. Baking soda and vinegar are also good at removing stains. Follow cleaning instructions for your particular cover to treat specific stains like urine or blood. 
• Wash your cover separately: They can be bulky, so for the most efficient cleaning, wash your cover alone so it has room to spread out to get clean. 
• Dry on low or no heat: Usually, washable covers can be dried on low heat, but air-drying is best since it can prolong its life. Make sure it’s completely dry before putting it back on your mattress.