Suppose you’re curious about the question of what is a gel pillow. In that case, it’s merely a pillow that uses a cooling gel or other forms like pods, layers, beads, and infusions—never mistaken it with water pillows that literally use water. But what makes gel pillows unique?
Because of the material, gel pillows have better control over heat retention compared to other pillows. This means you’ll less likely feel hot with a gel pillow since it absorbs and transfer the heat away. Learn more about this product below.
What’s A Gel Pillow?
A gel pillow is so-called because it uses gel to help maintain the temperature and prevent heat build-up. It’s sometimes interchangeable with cooling gel, and the pillow can use other forms of the material. They include gel layers, gel pads, or simply infusing gel in the pillow itself.
More so, don’t be confused if you see memory foam pillows labeled as gel pillows. If you think about it, it makes sense since this material retains heat. Manufacturers add gel to improve its temperature and improve the sleeper’s experience.
Types of gel pillows
Shredded memory foam pillows, solid memory foam pillows, and microfiber pillows are typical gel pillows. Manufacturers combine the material of the pillow with various forms of gel to improve its comfort. It could mean having a layer of gel on its side or infuse the pillow fill with gel.
How does a gel pillow work?
The main reason sleepers should consider a gel pillow is to reduce the material’s heat retention. For example, memory foam is well-loved for how well it conforms to the user. Adding a gel form on a memory foam pillow will make it feel cooler, hence a better sleeping experience.
Various gel forms such as layers, pods, beads, or infusions will absorb the heat and transfer it away from the sleeper. This allows the pillow to have a neutral temperature instead of retaining heat. Some brands also have flippable pillows with a dedicated cooling gel side if you want a cooler experience.
However, the emphasis is necessary that gel pillows will only rely on your room’s temperature. If the area is sweltering, you can only expect a neutral temperature on the pillow. This is why it’s recommended to improve the pillow’s coolness by using a breathable cover or removable gel layers that you can chill before putting them inside the pillow.
How Long Does A Gel Pillow Last?
A gel pillow’s lifespan will depend on the materials, their quality, usage, and how you care for them. However, you can expect that the gel pillow will last up to three years, as long as the form is intact. You’ll also notice that the pillow needs replacement when the gel itself fails to be effective in maintaining a cool temperature.
How To Clean A Gel Pillow
Memory foam pillows are known for off-gassing when they’re brand new, and this also applies to gel pillows with such material. You have to place the pillow somewhere ventilated until the odor is gone after a few days. Over time, you can clean the gel pillow by targeting spots and wiping them.
The emphasis is necessary on checking the pillow label if you can wash the pillow. Gel down alternative pillows is typically machine washable as this also helps them stay fluffy. However, you can always use washable pillow covers to protect the pillow from getting dirty.
Who Should Use Gel Pillows
As one can assume, those who live in warm regions, and those who sleep hot will benefit the most from gel pillows. You can achieve a more comfortable sleeping experience even if you get night sweats and feel hot at night. However, always check if the gel pillow specifies that it can provide a cold surface to avoid feeling underwhelmed.
Besides hot sleepers, you might consider gel pillows if you’re someone who needs to sleep in memory foam. You might be pregnant, suffering from neck pain, have to sleep on your side, or you just want to maintain a proper sleeping posture. Remember that memory foam is supportive of these conditions, but you can make the experience more comfortable by using a gel pillow since it cools the surface for you.
Who Shouldn’t Use Gel Pillows
While all sleeping positions can benefit from gel pillows, you have to skip them if you sleep on your stomach. Remember that gel pillows will have a high loft due to the materials, and stomach sleepers need to use flat pillows to maintain a neutral spine. Furthermore, gel pillows won’t give you a deep sinking feeling as down pillows because the materials won’t compress, but instead, offer a firm feel.
Conclusion
If you’re seeking to improve the temperature of your pillow at night, you can consider a gel pillow. What is a gel pillow? It is a pillow that uses different forms of gels to improve the temperature regulation of the material.
It’s familiar to microfiber and memory foam pillows that we all know retain heat well. Manufacturers infuse the material or add beads, pods, and gel layers to absorb the heat and draw it away from the body. However, not all gel pillows will be cooling as some are only meant to maintain a neutral temperature on the pillow.