The heatwave is here and so are picnics in the park, beach days or a few cheeky Aperol spritzes in the pub garden. But the price we must pay for such glorious weather can appear in the form of restless nights – yes, the dreaded tossing and turning when it’s just too hot.
But don’t panic! We’ve found a genius solution and it only costs £45. Meet Silentnight’s Cooling Blanket.
Though natural instincts may convince you to remove as many layers as possible, the temperature-regulating properties of this blanket make it genuinely cool to the touch. Here’s what happened when our panellists tried it at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Silentnight Lightweight Cooling Blanket at a glance
Pros:
- Can be used as a throw on sofas or as a replacement for a double duvet
- Designed by women for women going through menopause
- Doesn’t lose softness after washing
- Lightweight and breathable
Cons:
- Only available in one colourway
How does a cooling blanket work?
Using a blanket when you’re overheating may feel like throwing away all logic, but there’s science behind this throw that means it genuinely keeps you cool. It’s made from lightweight, breathable cotton, which helps you regulate your temperature as you sleep. The fabric also keeps you cool by wicking moisture and sweat away from the skin, hence why it’s more effective than simply baring all. The reverse side is made from a cool-to-touch fabric, too.
Silentnight’s cooling blanket is part of the brand’s Restore collection, which is a range of bedding designed by women, for women. They found that women can lose around 2.5 hours of sleep a night during the menopause because of night sweats and hot flushes, so this collection was designed to combat the issue and get us all sleeping better in the heat. The brand’s independent Qmax testing (which measures how cool a fabric is to touch) also showed that this one was 115% cooler than a standard blanket.
With such claims, we had to put it to test with our panel. Tough gig! As well as evaluating how snuggly it was (very important), we also asked testers about the weight and, crucially, whether it kept them cool.
We also assessed the cooling blanket at the lab, washing it five times to examine any shrinkage or colour fading, and staining it with common household spills (such as red wine, ketchup and coffee), before using our specialist machinery, the Digieye, to see whether the stains came out after washing.
Keep reading for the all-important verdict.
The Good Housekeeping Institute verdict
Score: 83/100
This cooling blanket proved to be the perfect layer of breathable comfort for our hot-sleeping panel members. They loved how lightweight it felt, as well as how noticeably cool to the touch it was, without feeling too cold.
‘It’s the only thing that helped my night sweats and gave me nights of unbroken sleep,’ said one panel member. Another said how they sleep with a fan and window open year-round but, with this, they didn’t feel they needed to do either. The only real drawback noted was its size, as some wished it was larger. But it is available in both medium and extra large, so it may be worth opting for the bigger blanket.
As well as its incredible cooling abilities, many also praised how easy it was to wash and store. In our wash tests, it scored nearly full marks, as it didn’t show any signs of shrinkage or fading after multiple rounds in the washing machine.
The final verdict: Is it worth buying the Silentnight cooling blanket?
So, whether your sleep is being interrupted by the heatwave or by hot flushes caused by menopause, this cooling blanket is the perfect alternative to your standard duvet. It keeps you cool but adds a layer of comfort on top. Plus, it looks great draped over bedding in the day or over the sofa in the evening while you’re winding down.
Shop the Silentnight Cooling Blanket at Boots, Argos and Amazon.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
