It’s not always easy to get a good night’s sleep in the warm summer months. This is due to the fact that high temperatures affect our comfort level, which in turn affects our ability to sleep. The optimal sleeping temperature for adults is considered to be 15 to 18 degrees, but summer temperatures are sometimes far higher than that. So what can you do to make sure you get a good night's sleep even in summer?
Cooling bedding plays an essential role in helping you get a good night’s sleep in the summer. In this article, we’ll tell you which bedding materials are best suited for the summer and how they keep our bodies cool. In addition, we’ll answer the question of whether summer bed bedding made from microfibre are a good choice.
How does cooling bedding work and what makes it so special?
Although tightly woven fabrics help keep us pleasantly warm in the winter, they can cause heat to build up under the duvet in the summer. For this reason, fabrics that have air channels to transport both heat and moisture to the outside are your best pick in the summer.
Given that we lose up to one litre of sweat per night, it’s normal for moisture to collect beneath your duvet and bed sheets. It’s important for your bedding to have air channels so that this moisture can be released to the outside. If this doesn’t happen, the moisture accumulates throughout the night and we wake up covered in sweat. In the worst case scenario, it can lead to the buildup of mould and attract dust mites.
Another important advantage of cooling fabrics is that the materials can breathe. While winter bedding retains body heat, cooling bedding has exactly the opposite effect. It allows air to circulate, allowing the temperature under the blanket and the temperature in your bedroom to balance each other out. This prevents heat from accumulating and improves the quality of our sleep.
Which bedding keeps you cool?
For bedding to have a cooling effect on the body, it must meet three important factors. It should:
- Be able to regulate humidity
- Be breathable
- Be able to balance the temperature
Materials that meet these criteria are usually smooth and feel soft against the skin. Fabrics like silk and linen fall under this category. Materials with a roughened and fluffy surface, such as flannel or terry, are therefore not suitable as summer bedding, as they act as insulators.
Which material is suitable as summer bedding?
In the following section, we would like to present a few materials and fabrics that make for great summer bedding.
Satin bedding
Along with the plain weave and the twill weave, satin is one of the three main fabric weaves. Satin bedding is commonly made by using cotton, though nylon or other types of wool are also often used. Satin bedding is not always smooth, it can also be bought as a matte version, which is called “Peau De Soie.”
Visually, satin has a shiny, glossier side and a duller side. Textually, satin feels soft and pleasant against the skin and is also breathable. Satin is therefore not only used for bedding, but also for clothing. Since satin is somewhat cheaper than silk and still has a cooling effect, it is often used as an alternative to the latter.
Seersucker bedding
Like satin, seersucker is generally made from cotton and often has a crepe-like surface that is perfect for warm summer nights. The processing methods for seersucker bedding are complex, which is why it is usually priced a little higher. However, seersucker is very convenient and easy to care for as it does not need to be ironed.
Microfibre seersucker bedding is a somewhat cheaper variant. However, microfibre is typically used to make a fabric thicker and heavier. So, if you want bedding that will keep you cool in the summer, you should opt for cotton seersucker bedding.
Percale bedding
Another bedding type that will keep you cool in the summer is percale. It is mainly made of fine threaded cotton, but blends or even pure polyester can also be used as raw material. Percale bedding is produced by using the plain weave and is very finely woven. The dense weave makes it very long-lasting and tear-resistant.
Due to its smooth surface, percale has a cooling effect on the skin, but it can also be used all year round. It is extremely kind to the skin; if organic cotton is used to make it, it does not trigger allergic reactions. Since percale is also air-permeable, it is often used as a fabric for shirts or blouses.
Does microfibre bedding keep you cool?
While microfibre and polyester are often assumed to be the same thing, this is in fact not the case. The term “microfibre” is only used to describe the fineness of the fibres, it is not a material itself. However, microfibre is often made from polyester or other synthetic fibres such as nylon or acrylic.
High-quality microfibre bedding can be used in both winter and summer. It is available in either a smooth or roughened surface. While synthetic fibres are usually not as good temperature regulators as natural fibres, some can wick moisture to the outside. Allergy sufferers sometimes use microfibre bedding for this reason.
Although high-quality microfibre fabrics are highly durable, the cheaper versions are more prone to tearing and are more brittle. Opinions are divided as to how microfibre feels against the skin, as some swear by the smooth surface and others find it distracting.
Cooling summer bedding from Zizzz
At Zizzz, we offer bed linen in two fabric weaves, both of which are great for the summer: percale and satin. We carry duvet covers, fitted sheets and pillowcases made in these two materials. Both our satin and percale bedding are made from organic cotton. This means that no chemicals or artificial fertilisers were used to grow the our cotton.
We offer the satin bedding in its natural écru colour, while our percale bedding is available in multiple colour combinations.
Conclusion
If you often feel hot and sweaty during those warm summer nights, you should choose bed linens which keep you cool and dry, as this will increase your sleep comfort and promotes good sleep. Natural materials such as cotton or linen are good picks here. The fabrics percale, satin or seersucker feel pleasant to the skin and are breathable.
When it comes to summer bedding, you should make sure that it’s temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking. Natural fibres are better suited than artificial ones.
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