How do cooling blankets work?

Cooling blankets regulate body temperature. These blankets are lighter and tend to be more breathable.

A sleeping environment that is a bit too much on the hotter side will be uncomfortable for people. But with the help of a cooling blanket, any excess body heat can be absorbed, and you can feel much more comfortable (also check the top rated cooling mattresses for hot sleeper).

Let’s discuss how these cooling blankets work and some more details, so read on.

What is a Cooling Blanket?

For those of you who don’t know, a cooling blanket is a type that does not keep you warm. This is what the name implies exactly. Instead, these cooling blankets assist you in regulating your body temperature so you can enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep (also check the best selling bed cooling systems).

A research study in 2017 found that people tend to deal with typical sleep patterns in the hot summers more than in cold winters. This happens because your body heat traps in the blanket.

Now, if you throw off the blankets, the heat won’t remain, and you tend to get cold at an uncomfortable level. So, you have to turn up your AC, resulting in a bigger energy cost and lesser humidity. This drives the costs high and potentially results in breathing issues.

NASA has been involved in the development of these cooling blankets. There are small micro capsules embedded into the fabric of the blankets.

These capsules are famous as thermocules and can absorb heat when the ambient temperature increases. They can release heat when the ambient temperature is low. So, the overall thermal environment remains optimal for the sleeper.

These blankets come with an active cooling mechanism, pretty much like those electric blankets that have a heating system in them. But the overall goal here is to create a stable environment for the sleeper.

How Do Cooling Blankets Work?

NASA developed these cooling blankets to get through high-temperature zones. Our bodies tend to release heat when we sleep, which goes into our bedding and mattresses. That’s why it tends to feel warm when you get up from bed.

The problem becomes much more troublesome when some mattresses hold more moisture and heat. As a result, the overall sleep conditions become too hot for you, and you begin tossing and turning on your bed.

But if you don’t have a mattress not made to regulate body temperature, consider going for a cooling blanket. Of course, these blankets are special materials that can wick away heat and moisture (also check the top rated cooling mattress toppers).

Thermoregulating fabrics

It might seem that this is a pretty rare and complicated type of fabric, but that is not the case. These fabrics are the types that can help in reducing heat.

They do so by wicking away moisture from your body. So, your overall body temperature remains down, and you sleep nice and comfortably.

Some of the more popular thermoregulating fabrics that you can find are polyester, cotton, wool, and acrylic. Bamboo fabric is another good option that has thermoregulating properties.

Now, these fabrics are pretty lightweight, and they are extremely breathable too. Some even come with pictures and blends of other cooling materials. You will find that 100 percent cotton blankets are excellent for breathability and moisture wicking.

Heat conducting technologies

There is another technology at play here, and that is thermal conduction. In simple words, this technology involves the overall transfer of heat from a hotter object to a colder war. And there are various ways to achieve that,

• Phase-change materials are handy as they come with microcapsules and can dissipate heat to ensure a comfortable sleep.
• Gel-based materials are another infused option, which can absorb heat and regulate temperatures effectively.
• Gravity or weighted blankets have heat-conducting technologies and social thermal fabrics to keep you comfortable at night. These blankets are usually filled with glass beads, pellets, or rice. They are not only great for keeping you cool but can also help you in dealing with anxiety (check 7 amazing weighted blankets for anxiety).
• Another type is the air-cooling blankets that tend to mimic your ACs. They have cold air pumped into them, replacing the heat from your body as you sleep.

Benefits of Cooling Blankets

Now, there are various benefits of these cooling blankets. These include the likes of,

Improved sleep quality

When it comes to sleeping cool, cooling blankets tend to improve the overall sleep experience.

These blankets can influence your thermal environment and circadian rhythm, according to a study in 2012. Of course, your blood pressure will drop with lower temperatures, and you will feel more comfortable.

Reducing air conditioning cost

As these blankets tend to come in handy in reducing overall heat and moisture, you won’t need to turn your AC to lower temperatures. As a result, you won’t have to deal with those hefty electricity bills.

Reducing night sweats

Sweating at night can make your overall sleep experience extremely miserable. And for that, cooling blankets come in handy because of breathable materials.

Consequently, your body heat will reduce under the blanket. A recent study has found that cooling blankets are extremely useful cooling technologies for therapeutic purposes.

How to Choose a Cooling Blanket?

People tend to be different regarding how much heat their body releases during sleep.  Somepopel tends to sleep much hotter than others. Their body has different toleration levels during sleep.

Therefore, not all need a similar type of cooling blanket. Therefore, when you are looking to buy cooling blankets, there are various aspects that you need to consider.

Size

The size of the blanket you need to go for will depend upon the size of your bed. These blankets are available in different sizes ranging from crib to king size.

You should wear an oversized blanket if you want to double it on cool nights. And this is especially the case if someone else is going to be with you and sharing the blanket.

Weight

You need to consider the overall weight of the blanket. Some blankets are extremely lightweight and weigh only a few ounces. While others tend to be around 25 pounds or so.

Weighted blankets feel a bit more secure as compared to traditional blankets. But they are not the right options for pregnant women or children. It’s always a good idea to discuss the matter with your physician.

Format

These blankets come in different formats. These range from coverlets, quilts, bedspreads, and comforters. Their performance tends to vary from one another. You can go for the right options based on your preferences.

Fabric

Linen and cotton are the best ones to die for their breathability and moisture-wicking properties. But if you’re looking for softness over anything else, you should consider going for eucalyptus or bamboo (also check 6 great bamboo weighted blankets). These are some of the best options you can explore regarding fabric for cooling blankets.

High-tech

These fabrics come with temperature-regulating minerals or micro-capsules. These blankets tend to be more expensive. They are better for warmer climates, but the temperatures drop overnight.

Washing requirement

You will find some of these cooling blankets come with special requirements for cleaning and washing. Following these requirements might not be the easiest option for everyone.

Do cooling blankets need to be plugged in to work?

No, most cooling blankets do not need to be plugged in. They are made of fabrics that naturally promote airflow and wick away moisture. Some high-tech cooling blankets do require power and contain tubes of circulating water or a fan system, but many work through passive cooling materials.

How long do cooling blankets stay cold?

This depends on the material and construction of the blanket. Basic cotton or bamboo blankets provide some evaporative cooling as moisture wicks away, but the effects are limited. Blankets with phase change materials or gel infusion can feel cool to the touch for 6-8 hours. High-tech circulating water or air flow blankets provide more consistent cooling as long as they are powered on.

Can you put a cooling blanket in the dryer?

It’s best to air dry cooling blankets to preserve their cooling capabilities. The high heat of a dryer can damage phase change materials, thermocules, or other cooling technologies embedded in the blankets. Check the care instructions for your specific blanket – some may allow low or no heat tumble drying, but air drying is the safest bet.

What is the Purpose of a Cooling Blanket?

The primary purpose of a cooling purpose is to keep you cool and comfortable at night. It’s an ideal option for anyone who sleeps hot at night. This is a good choice for anyone who lives in hot climates where temperatures at night drop significantly.

Cooling blankets tend to be made of highly breathable materials. These materials can effectively wick away moisture, and they can dissipate heat. You will feel much more comfortable while laying under these sheets.

As they are available in different sizes and are the same of different materials, you can choose the right one based on your preferences and requirements.

How Does a Cooling Blanket Stay Cold?

The materials in developing these cooling blankets tend to be highly breathable. Plush comes with moisture-wicking properties to ensure the fabric dries up fast.

Apart from that, some of these blankets have different heat and moisture-wicking properties that can eliminate heat or moisture. Both these factors contribute significantly to ensuring that your blanket stays cool at all times and you won’t have to deal with any sweaty nights.

These blankets are made of fabrics ranging from cotton lines to bamboo and Tencell. These fabrics are pretty exceptional when it comes to wicking moisture and dissipating heat.

Therefore, these are the properties you will need in your cooling blankets to ensure they can tackle the heat from your body and keep it from accumulating under your sheets.

Conclusion

Cooling blankets are pretty handy when it comes to dealing with night sweats. If you are the one who tends to sleep hot, then this blanket will come in handy for you at night.

Cooling blankets can come in handy for hotter climates where night temperatures are significantly lower. These cooling blankets are made of different materials; some come with various other technologies.

But they are all equally effective, and you must choose based on your preferences. Cooling blankets are designed to normalize hot sleep conditions. Therefore, anyone who has to deal with night sweats will love using these blankets.

Most of them are made of highly breathable and moisture-wicking properties. Therefore, they can dissipate what from your body and trap away moisture to make you feel comfortable at night.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5446217/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29288014/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3427038/