Can Mattress Covers Make You Sweat?

Mattress covers are great for protecting mattresses against stains, sweat, spills, and dust. Once protected, your mattress can last you a lifetime as nothing harmful gets to it. However, these covers are not made of soft materials like mattresses, making you wonder if they’ll make you sweat.

Mattress covers make you sweat due to the waterproof barrier they are made of. Though there’re cooling pads that help reduce sweat, they may not be effective for extra sweaty people.

If you want to invest in mattress covers, there’s a lot you should know. You must find the right one that’ll not only provide protection for your mattress but make you comfortable while sleeping. Thankfully, I have gathered my experience with mattress covers to help you find a suitable one.

Why Do Mattress Covers Make You Sweat?

The primary goal of a mattress protector is to keep spills, dirt, and stains off the mattress surface. Covers make your mattress remain new like you just bought them. Therefore, they’re necessary if you want your bed to stay in good condition.

One of its features is to keep liquid off the bedding. To achieve this, it must have a waterproof barrier mostly made of plastic material.

These materials trap heat between your body and bed, preventing sufficient air circulation. Inadequate air makes the bedding seem hot and causes you to sweat.

Aside from the covers, your type of person can make you extra hot. In this case, even cooler cover materials don’t help.

Types of People That Sweat More at Night

Below are some types of people with higher tendencies to sweat at night.

Hot Sleepers

Your body temperature is automatically set to drop before you fall asleep. However, there are people whose bodies defy this rule, and their temperature remains the same or higher while they sleep.

These kinds of sleepers consider even cool areas hot. Adding waterproof covers the equation makes you even hotter. In this case, you’ll need more than a cooling pad to keep you comfortable.

Diabetes

It’s a common habit for a diabetic patient to wake in the middle of the night soaked in sweat. This condition can occur even when the room is cold. Night sweat in diabetic patients results from a drop in their sugar level.

Women Who Have Reached Menopause

Though not common, night sweats are one of the complaints of menopausal women. Most of them only begin to suffer such conditions once they cross into menopause. This is because there is a change in hormonal level, upsetting the body’s normal balance.

Medication

Some medications cause you to sweat unnecessarily. This, in addition to the discomforting nature of mattress covers, can disturb you while you sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that occurs when a person’s airway becomes blocked during sleep. The state is associated with a significant increase in night sweats and other forms of discomfort. Waterproof mattress covers are not recommended once you have obstructive sleep apnea; therefore, it’s best to avoid using them.

Ways to Stop Sweating at Night

If you want to stick to using mattress covers and avoid sweaty nights, a few tips can help. These tips will reduce the temperature in the room, causing a reduction in body temperature. Below are a few things you can try to make your night more comfortable.

Wear Natural Fibers to Sleep

If you love to wear pajamas to sleep, you should pay more attention to its fabric. The fabric of your cloth makes either makes you sweat more or less.

The best materials for nightwear are silk, merino wool, and cotton. These materials are superb and regulate body temperatures. On the other hand, synthetic materials increase body heat, making you sweat more.

Develop Good Sleeping Habits

Apart from hereditary streaks and other health issues, bad habits can make you sweat at night. These habits are usually a result of your daily lifestyle and choice of food.

Take note of the things causing an increase in temperature and try to avoid them. A diary can help streamline these activities to make you sleep comfortably.

Use Wool Blankets

Wool is a natural material that absorbs moisture and keeps you comfortable regardless of the weather. Thus, they are the best options for individuals suffering from night sweats. Even when the weather is overbearing, woolen blankets make you sleep better.

Reduce Your room’s Temperature

Sweating from mattress covers is one thing; sleeping in a hot room is another. Hot rooms are one of the surest ways to get sweaty with or without a mattress cover.

The most suitable way to keep your bedroom cool is by using a fan or an air conditioner. Fans are suitable for milder temperatures, while air conditioners are the best option for a heatwave. In the absence of a fan or AC, open your windows to let enough air in.

Can Sweats Ruin a Mattress?

Body fluids don’t stay on the surface of a mattress but penetrate the foam. Constant sweating on the foam can cause bacterial growth, which is harmful to health. It also develops a musty smell if you leave the mattress without exposing it to air once in a while.

In other words, sweats ruin a mattress by making it a perfect environment for microorganisms to breed. The effects of such will not be physical, but it could cause respiratory problems in the long run. This remains one of the major reasons why mattress covers are essential.

Can Mattress Covers Keep You Cool?

While most mattress covers make you sweat, others can keep you cool. These covers consist more of natural elements than synthetic ones. Some cooling covers use cotton, Tencel, and bamboo fabrics.

The manufacturers utilize waterproof materials with these cool fabrics to maintain their function. Polyurethane and vinyl are two of these materials known for their water-absorbing qualities. However, polyurethane is more comfortable than vinyl.

The size of your mattress protector should also be a perfect fit if you want to sleep better. If these cooling covers don’t improve your sleep, try readjusting them.

Alternatives for Mattress Covers

If you still feel uncomfortable after taking all the proper steps, consider using an alternative. One of them is “draw sheets.”

These are sheets used in the medical line to position or transfer an injured, ill, or disabled person. Don’t be bothered by its definition, as it serves as a substitute for mattress covers.

Unlike covers, they contain no waterproof materials; therefore, they don’t generate heat. Nonetheless, their design allows them to absorb perspiration and other stains, making them perfect for your purposes.

Furthermore, draw sheets are typically cotton or polyester, which means less friction, a more comfortable feel, and a better night’s sleep.

Another great alternative to prevent you from tossing and turning all night is Bed pads. These pads are soft to the touch and so comfy that you’ll forget they’re just pads.

The comfort they provide doesn’t prevent them from being less effective. The layers of fabric beneath it are efficient absorbers for stains and body fluids.

Bed pads are also durable and can be washed and reused after a long time. They are perfect if you have an old mattress that needs an extra bed covering.