Sleeping through a heatwave is never easy. There’s a lot of tossing, turning and pillow punching, leaving us feeling drained by the time the alarm goes off. But before you surrender to a sweaty night, know there’s a knack to get you through the upcoming heatwave.
Washing your duvet might not sound like a typical solution to sleeping through the heat, but there is method behind the madness. Here’s why Friday is the best day to do it and why it can help you get some much-needed slumber.
Why should I wash my duvet on Friday?
Friday is set to be a scorcher, with the Met Office predicting temperatures as high as 30ºC by the afternoon. For that reason alone, you’re going to want to adjust your sleeping conditions to make them as comfortable as possible.
We’re all aware of the usual recommendations, such as leaving windows (and curtains) open at night to let in the breeze and using fans to help create circulation. But why wash the duvet? The reason is simple: in these conditions, your duvet is simply not needed, especially those with thicker togs (10.5 tog and above). While they’re often breathable, in such temperatures your duvet is more likely to overheat you and leave you dehydrated by the morning.
You may end up kicking it off at night anyway, so what’s the point? Instead, you can opt to sleep in empty bed sheets to stay cool but still covered. Of course, there are other options you can try if you’re not a fan of duvet-less sleeping.
According to Kim Hawley, senior tester for sleep and wellness at the GHI: ‘When temperatures climb, it can be tempting to sleep in your birthday suit, but lightweight pyjamas made from natural or cooling fabrics can actually help you stay more comfortable. Breathable materials, such as cotton, bamboo and moisture-wicking fabrics, draw sweat away from the skin, helping you feel cooler throughout the night.
‘If you really can’t sleep without a cover, the Oodie Cooling Blanket proved a huge hit with our testers, offering lightweight comfort without trapping heat.’
There’s always the option of switching to a summer duvet, too, if you’re keen to keep this layer. While your duvet is removed and likely a bit sweaty (that’s what the yellow stains are), now’s your chance to give it the wash it so desperately needs. And you don’t need to worry about how long it needs to dry for a change, given the heatwave.
How to wash a duvet
First and foremost, you should always follow the care label instructions on your duvet. Even if it is machine-washable, check your washing machine has the capacity to handle it. As a general rule, we recommend that a 13.5 tog or higher duvet, or anything bigger than king size, should be taken to a laundrette instead. But try to steer clear of the dry cleaner’s – you don’t want to be breathing in chemicals every night if they’re not fully removed.
If you’re going ahead with your own washing machine, you might have a dedicated duvet setting you can use (these often have lower spin speeds to stop it from losing balance and vibrating), otherwise use the hottest temperature as allowed by the care label and manually select a low to medium spin. Liquid detergent is best, as it will penetrate better than powder, but reduce the amount to a third of what you’d usually use to make sure it rinses away. It’s a good idea to add an additional rinse at the end of the cycle, too, for good measure.
For drying, use a low-heat tumble-dry setting if the care label allows. Alternatively, take advantage of the sun and hang it to dry outside (over a few lines if possible) to save some energy. Shaking it regularly as it dries breaks up the filling.
Bonus tip: hang a damp bed sheet in front of the window
If you happen to be washing your duvet cover on the same day, we recommend holding fire on that one until the evening. Hanging a damp bed sheet in front of an open window at night can have cooling properties on the room, according to Marcus Strong, operations manager at the GHI:
‘A wet sheet acts like a simple evaporative cooler. As the water evaporates, it draws heat from the surrounding air, helping create a cooler airflow through an open window. It’s not air conditioning, but on a warm night it can make a room feel noticeably more comfortable, particularly when humidity levels are relatively low.’
So there you have it – one strategic laundry day can improve your sleep through the heatwave, cooling both yourself and your room!
