The best cooling bedding and sleep essentials to survive the UK’s current heatwave

The best cooling bedding and sleep essentials to survive the UK’s current heatwave Temperatures are rising again — these cooling buys could make sleeping through the heatwave much easier. (Picture: Metro/Getty) Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more After a brief cooling interlude, the UK is set to see scorching temperatures over the weekend, and into next week – with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s in central London. By this point in the summer, most of us know the drill. Open windows in the morning to allow fresh air to circulate, never leave the house withoutsome kind of fan, and keep ice cube trays filled so you can have a refreshing drink on tap. While we’re adept at coping in the waking hours, it’s after dark that the shine starts to come off the sunny weather. Trying – and ‘trying’ very much being the operative here – to sleep in such weather can be a nightmare in homes filled with furnishings ill-equipped to deal with such balmy temperatures, even after dusk. Experts agree that deep rest is crucial for our cognitive and physical wellbeing. Going without for prolonged periods can leave us short-tempered, frazzled and more prone to chronic diseases – hardly the ray of sunshine many of us strive to be. But luckily, there are clever products and smart swaps that you can make to bring the temperature down indoors after dusk. From super-quiet fans to mid-weight blankets that skip the need for a proper duvet, we’ve rounded up the hero products to help keep you cool as a cucumber until your morning alarm. Best cooling products to help you sleep: TEMPUR Pro Luxe Smartcool Mattress If you’ve spent more nights than you can count staring up at the ceiling, willing your body to stop sweating from sheer will alone, it may be time to crack out the big guns. Memory foam mattresses are notorious for trapping heat, but leading brand TEMPUR offers a SmartCool range made using NASA technologies. The open-cell construction facilitates air-flow and the sweat-wicking top layer is removable, so you can sling it into the wash (40C) to keep things feeling and smelling fresh. Available in three heights and four tensions (soft, medium, medium firm and firm), added benefits include superior support and movement isolation, helpful if your partner is a fidgeter or works awkward shifts. The best news? Right now, you can save up to £350 off the RRP, and TEMPUR will throw in a protector for free. Buy Now from £1,449 for a double M&S Stay Cool Mattress Protector Not everyone can or wants to fork out for a new mattress, but there are ways to make your bed cooler if you’re working with a budget. Trusty Marks and Sparks has this mattress protector that’s specifically designed to regulate bed temperatures. Available in standard UK bed sizes, it’s made with a 100 per cent cotton outer shell to keep things breathable and aid airflow. It’s also lightly quilted, so will provide cushioning without the bulk. Elasticated edges ensure it stays put, no matter how much you toss and turn. Buy Now from £30 Simba Hybrid Pillow Who wants to start the day with a sweaty neck? Your choice of pillow can help bring down the mercury as you snooze, and if it’s a cooling pillow you’re after, allow us to point you to Simba’s Hybrid model. Made with cooling Stratos technology , the sweat-wicking design promises a comfortable night’s rest. It’s adjustable too – just remove the open-cell nanocube filling to your Goldilocks-level of height and tension. Combined with a linen pillowcase, laying your head on this on a heatwave evening is what dreams are made of. Buy Now for £87.20 (was £109) Dunelm Cotton Linen Duvet Cover & Pillowcase Set The trick to surviving summertime is natural fibres: think cotton, silk, bamboo, and when it comes to bedding, linen. The fabric is renowned for temperature regulation, wicking sweat, and maximising airflow, which makes it as good a pick for the bedroom as it is for your wardrobe. While it can be costly, Dunelm has a fabulously affordable range of linen-cotton blend bedding in neutral tones like chocolate brown, shell white, and this sky blue. The duvet cover comes with a set of pillowcases included, allowing you to enjoy a bed overhaul from as little as £39. Buy Now from £39 The Oodie Berry Button Up Nightshirt Think pyjamas are boring? The Oodie’s Berry Button Up Nightshirt is here to prove otherwise. Crafted from silky-soft, cooling modal fabric, this berry-hued sleep staple pairs classic button-up styling with contrast white piping for a look that feels just as polished as it does comfortable. The relaxed fit and gentle stretch make it ideal for warm nights, lazy mornings and everything in between – all while delivering that signature Oodie level of comfort. Buy Now for £40 (was £65) Portable Foldable Standing Fan It’s a good time to be a fan seller here in the UK. Sales have shot up over the past few months as households look to cool their spaces on the back of successive heatwaves. If you’re after a fan for the bedroom, you’ll need one that operates at whisper-quiet levels and, ideally, comes with a timer so you don’t have to worry about the size of your bills from running it all night long. Shark and Dyson are amongst the best in the business with price tags to match. However, you’ll strike gold at Amazon with this pedestal design which comes with a telescopic stand that can fold down to convert it from a floor fan to one that will happily sit on bedside tables or the floor. The rechargeable design means no tripping over wires in the middle of the night, and with 70 degree oscillation and a 180 degree tilt, you’ll enjoy sweet breezes from practically any angle. It offers four speeds and comes with not only a four-hour timer, but a remote too. Best of all, this fan is ultra-quiet, with a top decibel level of 19db, comparable to the rustle of leaves. Now, doesn’t that sound dreamy? Buy Now for £55.99 Revolution Beauty Pink Glitter Ice Globes Forget leaky water bottles running your bed sheets; frozen ice globes are the smarter way to bring welcome chills to the bedroom. Simply keep these water and glitter-filled orbs in your freezer drawer and run them over your face and body before bed to bring your internal temperature to a snooze-worthy level. A great trick for fast cooling is to hold them over your pulse points – think inner wrists or the neck – for quick relief. Bonus: they work a treat for obliterating puffy eyes and curing hangovers too. Buy Now for £12 Garnier Salicylic Fresh & Mature Hydrating Sorbet Cream Bathing before bed in a heatwave is essential, not just for rinsing off the sweat but to bring your internal body temperature down to optimal levels for sleep. When you’re out, reach for Garnier’s new moisturiser. The sorbet-like formula sinks straight in, leaving nothing but hydrated, non-sticky skin and a refreshing feel thanks to the ingredients list. The headline salicylic acid helps with light exfoliation and to clean out sweat-clogged pores, while niacinamide is famously hydrating. Throw in skin-soothing centella asiatica, and it’s a formula for bedtime beauty success. I keep mine in the fridge to heighten the cooling effects. Buy Now for £5 (was £7.50) Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below Arrow MORE: boohooMAN’s new summer collection has everything men need for holidays, festivals and heatwaves Arrow MORE: The best summer shoes for men to keep your feet cool during the heatwave Arrow MORE: Struggling to sleep during the heatwave? The Oodie has just dropped a cooling nightwear collection Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Puzzles Newsletter Get your favourite puzzles when they are ready to play on the website sent directly to you every day and track your daily streak!