Doze

You've done nearly everything right. You’ve made your bed, set your air conditioner to the perfect temperature, picked out relaxing white noise tracks to loop, and switched to warm, dim lighting. Still, half the night, you're either tugging at your pajamas because they're trapping body heat or hunting for socks to protect your freezing feet. If that's you, your sleepwear may be the problem.

Figuring out what to wear to bed can often seem like a no-brainer. But when making your choice, you'll need to consider your comfort, whether you're a hot or cold sleeper, your bedroom temperature, and the fabrics you prefer.

Here’s how to put those pieces together.

Does What You Wear to Bed Affect Sleep Quality?

Yes.

In a randomized study of 17 healthy adults, published in Nature and Science of Sleep, participants who wore wool sleep attire fell asleep faster than those who wore cotton clothing. The room temperature was 62.6°F (17°C), which helped the wool-wearing adults fall asleep quicker, but the result shows that what you wear to bed, combined with other factors, can influence how fast you drift off.

Another 2020 study in Chronobiology in Medicine looked at whether sleepwear could affect your comfort in bed. People who wore the special sleepwear said they tossed and turned less in bed than those who wore regular sleepwear. While researchers didn't mention the fabric either sleepwear was made from, their findings suggest that the right sleepwear can help you get a better night's sleep.

What to Consider When Choosing the Right Sleep Attire

Are You a Hot or Cold Sleeper?

If you often wake up soaked in night sweats, you don't need anything that traps body heat. Someone who always has cold feet may need thicker sleepwear. The best sleeping clothes for you will regulate your body temperature well enough that you aren't waking up several times from excess heat or cold.

Your Bedroom Temperature

The ideal sleeping temperature is generally between 65° and 68°F (18° and 20°C). This range isn't fixed. Just as the best bedroom temperature varies depending on the season, so should your sleepwear.

The light, breezy pajamas that keep you comfortable in a 65 degree room in summer may have you shivering in a 70 degree room in winter. That’s because in winter, the temperature shown on your thermostat isn't the only thing determining how warm the room feels. The walls and floors may be colder, and even sealed drafts may let cold outdoor air into the room. So you may still want warmer sleepwear even when the room itself is set to a higher temperature.

Your Bedding

A thick duvet retains more body heat than a lightweight blanket, so the same pajamas won't necessarily work with both. Think of sleepwear and bedding as layers in one system. The warmer the bed itself, the less insulation you may need from your clothes.

How the Clothes Fit

You should be able to roll over without your clothes riding up or twisting around your body. Choose comfortable sleepwear with flat seams that lets you move around in bed without getting stuck mid-roll, and that has enough room for air to flow between the fabric and your skin. Your pajamas shouldn't be so snug that they pinch at your waist, wrists, ankles, underarms, or other body parts.

For example, you may love lounging in tight-fitting yoga pants, but wearing them to bed isn't necessarily healthy, as they can press against your skin for hours and limit how freely you move around in bed.

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The Best Fabrics to Wear for a Great Night's Sleep

Some fabrics can be better than others for sleepwear, but the fabric a pajama set is made from isn't the only thing that determines how suitable it is for you. Loosely woven and loose-fitting clothing allows more airflow and traps less heat. Thicker fabrics offer more insulation. Finishings also tell part of the story. Brushed materials feel smoother against your skin, and wrinkle-resistant treatments can help a fabric hold its shape for longer and reduce how easily it creases.

If you're looking to wake up refreshed, start with these materials:

• Cotton: Soft and absorbent, cotton works for different types of sleeping clothes, from light T-shirts to thick pajamas. It helps regulate body temperature.
• Linen: Linen is another highly breathable natural fabric that releases heat relatively fast. It's a great choice for warm nights and anyone who sleeps hot.
• Silk: Silk pajamas usually get points for their smooth surface. They wick away moisture well, but not as fast as light cotton and linen, so they may not be the best option for people who sweat a lot at night.
• Fabrics Derived From Bamboo: Bamboo itself isn't often processed into fabrics. What clothing makers usually do is extract cellulose (a natural material found in bamboo), dissolve the cellulose into liquid, and use that liquid to create fibers such as viscose, rayon, modal, and lyocell. These fabrics are usually silky, lightweight, breathable, and good at wicking moisture.
• Flannel and Brushed Cotton: Both materials feel super soft and cozy. They can be suitable for colder weather and people who struggle to stay warm at night.
• Performance and Synthetic Fabrics: Ordinary polyester can make you feel clammy, but some synthetic fabrics are specifically designed to wick away moisture and keep you cool. Check the product description to understand how the clothes will handle temperature regulation.

Should You Wear Your Birthday Suit to Bed?

A 2020 Casper survey of 1,000 adults in the US found that nearly 30% (28.5%, to be exact) preferred sleeping naked. While it can improve blood circulation and metabolism, the case for going to bed in your birthday suit comes down to comfort and personal preferences.

On warm nights, wearing nothing can be more comfortable than layering on insulating sleepwear. Colder nights may call for thicker sleeping clothes. If you prefer your birthday suit, wash your bedding often, since it'll be in direct contact with your skin. On the same note, don’t feel pressured to sleep naked because of any advertised health benefits. Choose sleepwear you're comfortable in, preferably layers made from natural fabrics.

[Photo by Karola G from Pexels on Canva.]

Should You Wear Socks to Bed?

Falling asleep isn't as easy when you have cold feet. As a 2018 study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found, wearing socks can help your feet stay warmer and speed up how fast you fall asleep. The experiment involved six healthy young men who slept in a 75 degree room for seven hours, first with socks and then without. Researchers found that the men slept 32 minutes longer and fell asleep 7.5 minutes faster when they wore socks. Thirty-two percent of adults in the U.S. have caught on to the feet-warming potential of socks, and now sleep in socks at least a few times weekly.

If your feet usually become cold at night, wear loose-fitting, lightweight socks to bed. Socks so tight that they dig into your ankles and leave deep marks can reduce blood circulation in your lower legs. Don't wear compression socks overnight either unless a healthcare professional recommends it. Compression socks apply pressure to the wearer's legs to improve blood flow through their veins and help with other circulation issues.

You don't need to sleep with socks on if your feet don't get cold at night.

What Not to Wear to Bed

• Very Tight Clothing: These restrict your movement and press into your skin. If that sounds uncomfortable, imagine how it feels.
• What You've Worn All Day: Clothes you wear throughout the day soak up sweat and oils from your skin and absorb dirt particles from wherever you go. Wearing them to bed transfers some of that buildup to your sheets and keeps it close to your skin for several more hours.

[Photo by pixelshot on Canva.]

Your Sleepwear Is Only Half the Equation

Changing into the right sleepwear isn't sufficient to prevent bad sleep. Bedding that's far too thick or light for you may get in the way of what'd otherwise be a lovely night's rest. Here's how to layer bedding in a way that complements your sleepwear options.

• When You're Trying to Stay Cool: Doze’s cotton percale sheet set and duvet cover set are a natural fit. The one-over-one-under percale weave makes the cotton fibers crisp and lightweight, allowing air to pass through the sheets and pillowcases more easily. Pair these with a lightweight down alternative duvet insert.
• When Keeping Warm Is the Goal: Still within the natural fabric range, Doze sateen sheet set and duvet cover set have a silky finish. They're denser than percale and offer more insulation for sleepers who prefer to stay cozy. Pair them with our all-season down alternative duvet insert. It’s thicker than the lightweight option but just as breathable.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should You Wear Underwear to Bed?

Wearing underwear is largely a personal preference. If you do, choose something clean and comfy. People prone to recurrent irritation or other health issues should follow their healthcare provider’s guidance on bedtime-appropriate clothing.

Is It Healthier to Sleep With a Shirt On or Off?

Neither option is inherently healthier for most people. A shirt can provide warmth and prevent sweat from transferring directly to your sheets. Sleeping without one may feel better if you tend to overheat. Choose whichever option keeps you comfortable during the night.

Conclusion

Without the right pajamas, having a restful night's sleep seems farther out of reach than it actually is. But even when the perfect sleepwear sits in your wardrobe, you still need to complement it with the right bedding layers for your bedroom temperature and the kind of sleeper you are.

When your sleeping clothes and bedding work together, you're more likely to stay comfortable through the night and wake up feeling refreshed.

References

• Casper Editorial Team. (2020). 8 benefits of sleeping naked: Do you sleep with clothes? Casper.
• Ko, Y., & Lee, J.-Y. (2018). Effects of feet warming using bed socks on sleep quality and thermoregulatory responses in a cool environment. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 37, 13.
• Lee, H. Y., Lee, M. H., Jeon, J. E., Lee, K. H., & Lee, Y. J. (2020). Preliminary study on the effect of sleepwear on objective and subjective sleep quality. Chronobiology in Medicine, 2(2), 72–77.
• Shin, M., Halaki, M., Swan, P., Ireland, A. H., & Chow, C. M. (2016). The effects of fabric for sleepwear and bedding on sleep at ambient temperatures of 17°C and 22°C. Nature and Science of Sleep, 8, 121–131.

The dryer cycles off, and you reach inside the drum, expecting to pull out fluffy, dry clothes. Instead, you're finding your bedsheets entwined with your pillowcases, while the duvet has more damp spots than dry ones. Dryer balls work to create the opposite effect: separating fabrics, preventing static cling, softening clothes, and shortening drying times.

But what are dryer balls, and how do they work? In this article, you'll find answers to both questions and learn how to care for these laundry balls.

What Are Dryer Balls?

Dryer balls are laundry balls made to tumble through wet laundry while the dryer runs. Most dryer balls are 2.5 to just over 3 inches in diameter, though some smaller ones can be under 2.5.

How Do Dryer Balls Work?

The mechanism is simple. Without dryer balls tumbling through laundry, wet clothes can wrap around one another. Moisture that should be dried by the warm air from the dryer’s blower gets trapped between clothes, extending drying time. Dryer balls bounce and roll between these fabric layers. Their constant movement helps stop the items in the dryer from bunching together, giving the air inside the dryer more room to circulate throughout the load.

Types of Dryer Balls

[Photo by FotoHelin from FotoHelin Images on Canva.]

Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are densely felted laundry balls made from wool fibers. They're softer, springier, quieter, and generally more helpful when you're drying laundry than rubber or plastic dryer balls.

What are wool dryer balls popular for? They usually last a long time, so you can use them for multiple cycles over 2–3 years before needing to replace them. Because wool balls leave clothes fluffier than non-wool options, they're the ideal choice when you're trying to soften percale bedding or other types of naturally crisp clothing that you'd like to make softer over time. They also reduce static cling and, to a noticeable extent, prevent laundry from wrinkling.

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Many of the best dryer balls online, including Doze Wool Dryer Balls, are made from 100% pure New Zealand wool, which is preferred for its soft yet durable fibers. Doze's dryer balls are also hypoallergenic. They contain no plastic shells, dyes, fragrances, or synthetic fillers, and are suitable for people with sensitive skin.

[Photo by Africa images on Canva.]

Rubber and Plastic Dryer Balls

Like wool balls, rubber and plastic balls separate clothes as the drum turns. They usually have spikes all over their surface area that help keep the laundry load from clumping.

They're durable too, but their spikes may stain with repeated use. They also tend to make more noise when knocking around in the dryer and may not prevent static cling as effectively as wool balls.

Not all plastic and rubber dryer balls can be used on high heat. Some may degrade under high heat and could cause a bit of damage to the dryer drum or ruin your clothes. Check the manufacturer's instructions before using them on high heat.

How to Use Dryer Balls

1. Before starting the cycle, place the dryer balls on top of or among the wet laundry. Three balls are enough for a medium load. Use 4–6 for large loads. You can spray the balls lightly with water to reduce static.
2. Don't overload the dryer so that the air has enough room to circulate through the clothes.
3. After the cycle ends, check if the items are fully dry. If they're still damp, run another short cycle with the dryer balls still inside.
4. Once you're done, remove the balls and let them dry completely before storing them in a breathable bag or container.

Benefits of Using Dryer Balls

Dryer balls have several upsides:

• Laundry Separation: They constantly move between layers of laundry, helping to prevent items from twisting into one damp bundle.
• Shortening Drying Times: Their movement creates extra “air pockets,” which can improve airflow through the drum and may reduce drying time, particularly when the balls stop larger items from wrapping around smaller ones.
• Softening Clothes: Dryer balls can also make clothes feel softer. As the drum rotates, they repeatedly collide with and push against the fabrics, which can reduce the stiffness of the dried clothes.
• Reducing Static: They may also help reduce static. Wool dryer balls contribute to static reduction by retaining moisture as the load dries and gradually releasing it over the course of the cycle. Plastic and rubber dryer balls don’t absorb moisture, but their movement helps keep fabrics separated, which may reduce some of the contact that contributes to static build-up.
• Long-Lasting: You can keep the same dryer balls in rotation for up to 1,000 loads.
• Potential Energy Savings: Dryer balls are unlikely to lower your energy bills significantly. They can help loads dry faster, which means you use less energy in those specific instances.

How to Care for Dryer Balls

Washing and Maintenance

If lint from towels and bedding sticks to the ball's surface over time, roll a lint roller over its surface to remove the lint. You can pick off large lint clumps by hand as well.

Typically, the best way to wash wool dryer balls is to:

• Put them in a mesh bag or sock. If you're using a sock, tie its mouth closed.
• Wash them with warm or hot water on the gentle cycle.
• After washing, reshape them by hand if they've become slightly misshapen, then tumble-dry them. You can also air-dry them. Just make sure they're fully dry before storing them. Wool balls can retain moisture and smell musty if stored damp.

The exact timeline may vary from household to household, but it's generally recommended to wash dryer balls every 100 loads.

Don't use fabric softener or detergent unless the manufacturer says it's okay. Fabric softener leaves a lubricating, water-repellent coating on the wool fibers. That can make the dryer balls less absorbent, so they hold and release less moisture during the drying cycle. In turn, they may become less effective at helping with static. Meanwhile, detergent residue can interfere with how the wool fibers absorb and release moisture, and could weaken the fibers over time.

Rubber and plastic dryer balls may have different washing and temperature requirements, so check the instructions on the packaging before washing them.

Storage

A cotton bag, like the one Doze provides, helps wool balls breathe. If you don't have a mesh bag, a plastic vented container or a storage basket can work well.

Store plastic and rubber balls in a clean, dry jar or basket. You can technically keep them anywhere they won't get lost, but don't cram them into a tight container or place heavy items on top of them, as doing so can bend their flexible spikes.

When to Replace Dryer Balls

Doze’s dryer balls can last up to 1,000 loads. Since you'll most likely not keep track of how many loads you've used a ball for, a more dependable way to know when you need to replace it is to check for signs that it's wearing out. Inspect wool dryer balls every three to six months. If you notice any losing its shape or pilling significantly, it may be time to retire it.

Plastic and rubber ones tend to wear out more quickly. Signs of wear include cracks, splits, warping, and damaged spikes.

Are Dryer Balls an Alternative to Dryer Sheets?

Dryer sheets work by transferring some of their chemical coating onto fabrics. That coating makes clothes feel smoother and reduces friction between garments. If you use dryer sheets, you may have noticed that some of your clothing items that are meant to wick away moisture, like towels and duvets, appear to be less absorbent than they should be. That's due to the chemical coating.

Dryer balls are a reusable alternative to dryer sheets. They perform the same function, but without coating your fabrics with counterproductive chemicals. So you generally don't need to use dryer balls with dryer sheets. If you're after the fragrance from dryer sheets, get unscented wool dryer balls and add two to three drops of essential oil to each ball you want to use. Let all balls dry fully before putting them in the dryer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Downsides of Using Dryer Balls?

Dryer balls don't have any downsides when they work as expected, and you maintain and store them properly. It's advisable to get wool dryer balls. They're quieter than rubber and plastic ones and particularly helpful for students drying dorm bedding in shared laundry rooms and apartment residents doing laundry in communal facilities.

Do Wool Dryer Balls Ruin the Dryer?

No, wool dryer balls won't ruin your dryer when you use them as intended. They're softer than plastic and rubber balls, so their tumbling shouldn't damage the dryer drum. Don't overload the drum so tightly that the load cannot tumble properly.

Can I Use Tennis Balls as Dryer Balls?

Tennis balls were the go-to before dryer balls became a part of laundry routines. Unlike dryer balls, tennis balls aren't made specifically for laundry, and their dyes may transfer if they aren't colorfast. They may also be noisier than wool dryer balls.

Conclusion

Dryer balls do what their name hints: drying laundry. Each tumble between clothing items helps keep the fabrics separated. Their good work can reduce static and speed up drying times. Don't have any yet? Add a set (or two) of Doze Wool Dryer Balls to your cart.

In this blog, we'll show you how to create a bedroom that feels cozy and refreshing with simple decor ideas. Read on to find more!