These days, memory foam is considered the pinnacle of comfort because of its ability to mold itself to fit your shape and cradle your body. In a study of over 25,000 memory foam users, 9% reported their mattress warmed up to an uncomfortable degree. If memory foam was designed for comfort, why would it get so uncomfortably warm?
Memory foam will hold heat if air can’t circulate through it, as a lack of circulation will cause your mattress to warm up considerably. If your memory foam mattress is making you too hot, try replacing your bed frame or using specialized cooling pads.
Why does memory foam hold heat?
Memory foam is designed to basically “hug” your body, cushion your body’s pressure points, and give you a perfect night’s sleep. When you sink into the foam, you essentially seal the foam under your body. This traps air inside the mattress and warms it up gradually.
Eventually, you’ll be sweating, and this clammy feeling only makes it worse. Though this problem is a big pain, there are many ways to solve it. Keep reading to find out how you can ensure you’ll be comfortable all night long!
Choose a breathable type of memory foam.
Considering a lack of air circulation is what heats up memory foam, you’ll want to use memory foam made up of breathable material. There are three types of memory foam that are used most often:
Traditional Memory Foam
Traditional memory foam mattresses have been around since 1991, 11 years after NASA introduced memory foam technology to the public. These mattresses quickly became all the rage because of how comfortable they were.
However, traditional memory foam is not the best material for your mattress, as it holds the most heat when compared to the other types of material. To counter this, you can use cooling pads or cooling sheets that can regulate your body temperature.
Plant-based Memory Foam
Plant-based memory foam, though not as widely used as traditional or gel memory foam, is a much better option.
Plant-based memory foam uses eco-friendly materials, which is much better for the environment compared to the chemicals used to make other types of memory foam. Also, the natural plant fibers that make up this foam make the mattress more breathable than those that use traditional and gel memory foam.
Gel Memory Foam
Gel memory foam is a good alternative to traditional memory foam. It is a combination of a gel material and traditional memory foam and is proven to be more durable than traditional memory foam. Gel memory foam also absorbs body heat and will keep you cooler than traditional memory foam will.
Allow air to circulate through your mattress.
To allow air circulation throughout your mattress, make sure you use a bed frame that does not cover up too much of the surface of your mattress. Some bed frames have a solid base paneling that blocks the fibers of the memory foam and cuts most of the air circulation.
Make sure the foundation of your bed frame is made up of slats that allow air circulation instead of just one solid base. Another type of bed frame you can consider is one that has a net structure encasing the mattress. These are durable and lightweight and allow the circulation of air throughout the mattress.
Regulate the temperature of your room.
Keep the temperature of your room at around 60 to 67°F (16 to 19°C). This is the recommended sleeping temperature and will not only help you fall asleep but will help keep you cool at night.
Other ways to keep the temperature low in your room are turning off all electronic devices such as lamps or generators. These machines will produce heat and warm up your room.
You can also consider installing a Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier in your room to decrease humidity to make sure you don’t sweat.
Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier, 1200 Cubic Feet (150 sq ft), Compact and Portable for High Humidity in Home, Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom, Basement, Caravan, Office, RV, Garage with Auto Shut OffUse Cooling Products on Your Mattress
If you don’t want to replace your memory foam mattress and are looking for a cheaper option, cooling pads, sheets, and toppers are a great idea. These products can be placed on your mattress to cool it down and offer more air circulation, and there are many options you can choose from.
Cooling Sheets
Bamboo cooling sheets are a popular option for those trying to cool down they’re mattresses. These specialized sheets use breathable plant fibers that allow air circulation.
If you don’t want to buy a new bed frame or mattress, cooling sheets are a cheap and effective substitute.
Cosy House Collection Luxury Bamboo Bed Sheet Set – Hypoallergenic Bedding Blend from Natural Bamboo Fiber – Resists Wrinkles – 3 Piece – 1 Fitted Sheet, 1 Flat, 1 Pillowcase – Twin, SilverCooling Pads
The ChiliPAD Cube 3.0 is more expensive than most other items on this list but is very useful.
This product is a temperature-controlled mattress topper that pumps chilled water through a pad to cool you down. This gadget is a popular choice for those who want to keep their bed at a specific temperature.
Cooling Bed Toppers
BedStory 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Toppers are a good choice if you are trying to cool down your mattress. These toppers are also a bit more firm than a normal memory foam bed, so they are useful if you find your bed too soft.
These toppers are also made of gel memory foam. If you have a traditional memory foam mattress, buying one of these toppers would be a good idea. These toppers are made up of the same type of foam as gel memory foam mattresses.
Though these toppers are more expensive than cooling sheets or pads, they are also much more effective and comfortable.
BedStory 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Cooling Gel Infused Toppers for Bed, Premium Mattress Pad with Removable Soft Cover, 2-Layer Ventilated Design & CertiPUR-US Certified Foam, Queen SizeMattress Protectors
Sleep and Beyond myMerino Toppers are also another type of mattress topper you can try out. These toppers use wool instead of gel to guarantee you aren’t too warm when you sleep.
Wool is a great alternative to gel for many reasons. It doesn’t have quite the same make-up as a gel topper, as it is softer and thinner. If you are looking for a topper that has a different make-up than your bed, then a wool topper is the way to go.
The reason wool is so effective is that it regulates temperature by absorbing moisture. This means you won’t be swimming in a puddle of sweat or encased in damp sheets anymore.
Mattress Climate Control Systems
The BedJet 3 Climate Control is the most expensive, as well as the most effective cooling product you can use on your mattress.
BedJet 3 Climate Control for Beds, Cooling Fan + Heating Air (Dual Temperature Zone – King Size)This machine works like a ventilation system for your bed by forcing cool air through your mattress. Since a lack of air circulation is what warms up memory foam, this product will obviously work wonders in cooling it down.
You can choose the temperature you want for your bed down to the nearest degree to ensure you are completely comfortable, and if you’re worried about noise, stop worrying—these fans only make a slight whisper!
Memory foam might be very comfortable in terms of cushioning, but it does tend to get uncomfortably warm. This problem can be solved quickly and with little effort in many ways.
If you are bothered by a hot mattress, here are some things you should do to ensure you receive the comfortable sleep you deserve:
- Replace your mattress with one made of more breathable material.
- Buy a bed frame that doesn’t cover too much of the surface of your bed.
- Keep your bedroom cool.
- Buy a mattress cooler (cooling sheets, cooling pads, mattress toppers, mattress climate control systems)
Jake is a freelance writer from Pennsylvania who enjoys writing about science and sports. When he’s not writing for Temperature Master, he can be found watching the NFL or playing basketball with his friends.