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Sweaty nights can nullify the comfort of any mattress. A memory foam mattress can be a tricky pick for hot sleepers. It comes with hard-to-ignore benefits like pressure relief and body contouring. There are ways to make a bed cooler and it can be a boon if you have a hot mattress.
Being from the mattress industry my friends have a common question about how to make a memory foam mattress cooler to avoid hot flashes.
The memory foam mattress has a normal tendency to trap body heat. It is advisable to buy a memory foam mattress with a gel-infused top layer. It absorbs and circulates body heat.
Another option is to buy a memory foam mattress with an open-cell structure. We understand buying a new mattress is an option but someone searching to make the bed cooler may be keen on using the existing mattress than buying a new one.
There are numerous ways to make your old memory foam mattress cooler. The core idea is to make the upper layers breathable. Let us look into various on making a cooler bed.
Cooling Sheets:
Someone who sleeps hot needs to invest in good cooling sheets for a memory foam mattress. The bed sheets you need to avoid are silk and polyester. Anything that feels shiny and silky in texture should be avoided.
Check the thread count of the bedsheet. The sheets with higher thread count are silky, and slippery, and do not allow temperature regulation. The best bet in terms of thread count is 180-350.
Buy good cotton sheets like Egyptian cotton or linen.
Cooling Pillow:
The pillow may seem like not contributing to hot flashes but they have a vital role. People often complain of sweaty heads at the night. A warmer head can raise body temperature. Use pillows filled with natural fibers. The best cooling pillows are filled with buckwheat, bamboo fiber, natural feathers, and cotton.
Mattress Cover:
Use a mattress protector and cover made up of breathable fabric. Pick a mattress cover carefully as cheaper covers are often less breathable and trap body heat. The ideal mattress cover is made up of good cotton with a thread count of around 200.
One of the most common, good, and affordable are CoolMax® covers for memory foam mattresses. CoolMax® a soft and synthetic fabric, was developed by Invista (formerly DuPont Textiles and Interiors) in 1986 that effectively helped in moisture-wicking and keeping the surface cool.
Cooling Mattress Toppers and Pad:
A mattress topper is an easy way to enhance the life and features of an existing mattress. It is one of the common solutions to make a memory foam mattress cooler for hot sleepers.
We have a dedicated article on some of the best cooling mattress toppers available on Amazon right now. Do check it out.
The cooling mattress topper can be infused with active charcoal or gel-based memory foam. It should be around 3-inch in thickness. It gives an extra thickness to your existing mattress. There are some additional benefits like better support and pressure relief.
It is the best way to give a new life to an existing mattress and solve the issue of hot sleeping.
Bed Base or Foundation:
The foundation can play a vital role if you are facing issues with the hot mattress. Consider buying a new foundation that allows the circulation of air beneath the mattress.
The foundation base or platform should have spaces or a slatted bed base for easy movement of air and breathing.
Bonus Tip: Smart Room Temperature Regulation:
For a good night’s sleep, our body temperature has to be a bit lower to promote a deep sleep cycle. The slightly cooler temperature helps in better sleep.
Set the room thermostat to between 68-70 degrees to regulate room temperature. Use a ceiling fan to circulate air in the room.
I hope these tips will help you to keep cool in a memory foam mattress.
Do you know why memory foam mattresses are hot?
Memory foam is a highly dense material so it retains heat and moisture. Many individuals prefer memory foam mattresses and have been an industry favorite for the last two decades. Since its availability to the common public after its release from NASA. The customers have received their products with open arms.
There has been a lot of innovation to make memory foam more soothing. It has been tried and infused with a variety of materials to make it cooler.
The most common being the addition of the gel layer, infusion of activated charcoal, and green tea extract. They keep you feeling cooler and fresh.
The memory foam was developed by NASA in the mid-’60s by altering the chemical compositions of polyurethane to make it temperature-sensitive with increased density and viscosity. These properties provide better support and pressure relief but also trap heat.
The extra body hug provided by memory foam further makes you feel warmer.