Do “cooling” mattresses actually work?

One of the biggest trends in mattress and sleep products over the last few years has been “cooling” features that claim to help address the issue of overheating during sleep. These trends come and go in the mattress industry and always claim to use the latest and greatest technology. The problem? This “technology” rarely lives up to the hype.

At The Original Mattress Factory, we don’t put anything in our mattresses that doesn’t offer a benefit to the sleeper. We rigorously test our products and materials, and we only use what works. Mattress gimmicks are everywhere, but you won’t find them in our products.

The problem with common cooling features

Gel-infused foams are one of the most common “cooling” features used in mattresses. At first glance, this sounds like a good idea: items that use gel often feel cool to the touch. But there are a few problems with this material.

These foams typically have a very, very small amount of gel in them. Many of these foams are dyed to make it seem like they have more gel than they do. But this dye — and the tiny amount of gel — have no real effect on the sleeper. These foams are typically several layers down in the mattress (and will typically be covered additionally by sheets and a mattress protector), so it has no direct contact with the sleeper.

However, even if there was a significant amount of gel in the foams, it still wouldn’t function as advertised. A gel ice pack is cool when it comes out of the freezer, but it eventually warms to your body temperature with contact.

Gel-infused foams are just one example of the cooling features on the market whose benefits are debatable. That’s why it’s important to take your time when mattress shopping. Learn all you can about the features and materials used in a mattress, and be skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true.

At The Original Mattress Factory, we’ve designed our mattresses with materials that have been proven to help sleepers stay cool, like breathable cotton in many of our innerspring mattresses and an air flow layer in our memory foam models.

How to stay cool at night

While these over-hyped mattress features might not help you stay cool at night, there are still some other things you can do to beat the heat:

• Turn down the temperature: Keep your room between 60-67 degrees for optimal sleep.
• Wear light, breathable clothing and bedding: Light bedding and sleepwear will help prevent you from overheating.
• Use a fan for air circulation: The white noise from a fan can also help you sleep.

Ready to start your mattress buying journey? Come to The Original Mattress Factory first. No one knows more than our team about what makes a great mattress great. Whether you buy from us or not, you’ll be better prepared to make a smart mattress buying decision. Find a store near you.