Sleep is usually the first thing a heatwave ruins. The UK has had a record-breaking run of heatwaves since May, with the Met Office confirming one of the longest stretches of 30°C+ days since 1976, and tropical nights — where the temperature never drops below 20°C — have been showing up more often than usual across southern England. France and the rest of Western Europe haven't had it any easier, sitting under a heat dome that's pushed daytime highs into the low-to-mid 40s°Cs. None of that makes for good sleep, and a standard duvet and cotton sheet set just isn't built for it.
Why regular bedding makes it worse
Most conventional sheets trap heat close to your body instead of pulling it away. Once you're sweating, that moisture sits against the fabric rather than evaporating, which is exactly the opposite of what you want on a hot night.
Ice silk: what it actually does
"Ice silk" fabric is woven to feel cool to the touch on contact and to stay breathable through the night, rather than warming up under you the way cotton or polyester blends do. Our Carbon Fiber Ice Silk Cooling Bed Pad Set uses a carbon-infused weave for that instant cool-touch feel and holds up well through a full night, not just the first ten minutes.
Topping your existing mattress
If you don't want to replace your whole bedding set, a topper is the simplest fix. The Foldable Cooling Mattress Topper with Pillowcases layers straight over your current mattress and comes with matching pillowcases, so the cool-touch feel isn't limited to just where your body lies.
Built specifically for night sweats
If heat and night sweats are a regular problem rather than just a summer issue, the Cooling Mattress Topper for Hot Sleepers is our lightest-weight option, with a smooth knit weave designed around exactly that.
What else helps
Cooling bedding does a lot of the work, but the room around it matters too. If your bedroom window gets direct evening sun, check our window insulation guide for ways to stop that heat building up before bedtime. And if a fan alone isn't cutting it, our guide to cooling a room without central AC covers evaporative options built for bedrooms specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cooling bedding actually lower your body temperature, or does it just feel cooler?
Cool-touch fabrics like ice silk conduct heat away from your skin faster than cotton, creating a genuine cooling sensation on contact, and they stay breathable so moisture doesn't build up against your skin overnight.
Can I use a cooling mattress topper with my existing sheets?
Yes. Toppers layer directly over your current mattress and work with your existing sheets — some, including ours, come with matching pillowcases for a fuller cool-touch effect.
How do I wash ice silk bedding?
Always follow the product's care label, but ice silk fabrics are generally machine washable on a cool, gentle cycle. Avoid high-heat drying, which can affect the fabric's cool-touch finish.
Will cooling bedding help with night sweats caused by heat, not just the weather?
It helps by keeping the immediate sleep surface cooler and pulling moisture away from your skin. It isn't a substitute for medical advice if night sweats are frequent outside of hot weather.