Evaluating your fabric swatch's performance
Receiving a fabric swatch is the first step in discovering if it’s the right material to help you manage hot flashes and night sweats. Here’s a simple guide on how to test your fabric sample to see if it meets your needs.
Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with the Fabric
Before diving into testing, take a moment to feel the fabric. Stretch it, let it run through your fingers, and notice its weight and texture. Is it soft, does it seem breathable, and how does it react when stretched? Our fabric is a blend of hemp and cotton. It is also a medium weight. Too thin and it wouldn't actively manage heat well, too thick and it would trap all that heat next to you.
Step 2: Evaluate the fabric's behviour during a hot flash
If you’re able to keep it with you to test during a hot flash, place the fabric swatch on your chest to feel the change in the fabric while your hot flash is in full force.
If your hot flashes always occur during the night or aren't predictable, you can try the following simulation tests.
Step 3: Apply Warmth
Heat a water bottle or a damp towel and place it on the fabric swatch for a few minutes. This simulates the sudden warmth of a hot flash.
Note that the fabric will retain some heat and feel warm to the touch. This is an important feature and helps you feel more comfortable as you cool down after a flash (the chill phase). Most of the heat dissipates immediately.
Step 4: Observe Moisture-Wicking Properties
Using a spray bottle filled with water, lightly spray the fabric. Does it start to dry quickly? A fabric that dries quickly is beneficial for those experiencing hot flashes, as it helps to remove moisture from the skin.
For best results, spray water in a warm environment as your body heat will assist with quick drying. A cold room will delay the drying process and does not accurately demonstrate how fast the drying takes place.
Step 5: Check for Breathability
Hold the fabric against your skin once again after it has warmed up. Can you feel air passing through it? A breathable fabric will help in reducing the discomfort associated with hot flashes by allowing air flow especially while the skin is cooling.
Step 6: Feel the Coolness
Our fabric feels cool to the touch as soon as you place it next to your skin. This is a natural effect due to the porous nature of the hemp. The hemp fibres’ tiny pores allow it to draw the heat you produce away from your skin quickly. The fabric will start out cool, become warm as it draws away your heat and then cool down again after your flash as it returns the heat to you body.
Step 7: Wash and Dry Test
Since managing hot flashes may require frequent washing of your bedding or nightwear, wash and dry your fabric swatch this guide. Observe how it maintains its texture, cooling properties, and moisture-wicking abilities after washing and drying. This will give you an insight into the durability and ongoing effectiveness of the fabric.
Step 8: Evaluate Your Comfort and Reaction
Notice how the fabric feels against your skin. Is it soft and comfortable or does it irritate?
Final Thoughts
Testing your fabric sample thoroughly will give you a clearer understanding of how it may help manage hot flashes. If the fabric meets your criteria across these steps, it might just be the solution you need for a cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Questions, thoughts, comments?
Visit our FAQ page or contact us at service @ coolyoursweats.com