This summer brought some uncomfortable nights when the temperatures soared amid the record-breaking heatwaves. On such evenings the last thing anyone wants is to be sweltering in bed under a thick duvet while they're trying to sleep, with a lighter covering much more appropriate - but the situation is about to be reversed.
The mercury will drop once autumn starts in earnest, meaning it will be time to swap light duvets for one with a higher tog rate which will be much cosier. And James Higgins, CEO of sustainable bedding company Ethical Bedding, has pinpointed the exact date when duvets such should be switched.
"It can be tricky to determine the best time to switch out our duvet tog as the temperature transition in September can be quite sporadic with unexpected heat waves coupled with night-time temperature drops," said James. "Changing too soon means you could be left hot and restless, but wait too long and you will feel the chill."
He continued: "When we looked into the data, there were a few factors which made it visibly clear when could be a good time to look at switching out your duvet tog from a summer thickness of 4.5-7 togs to a winter thickness of around 10.5-15 togs.
"Firstly, the months August to September only show a one degree average degree Celsius drop in average temperature. However, moving into October there is a dramatic 25% decrease in average daily temperatures, which can make a huge difference to the heat retention in your room.
"However, the Met Office’s monthly weather report recorded that the 27th September 2021 saw a significant temperature decrease across the country, with storms and flooding looming in. Based on these figures and usual weather routines, we would advise that people looking to swap their duvet tog a little earlier in preparation, which would be Sunday 25th September."
He said there were also other factors to consider, such as room size and ventilation. “If you have quite a small room or a room with only one window, it is easier for heat to become trapped overnight meaning you may not need as thick of a duvet tog as those with larger, more draughty rooms. In this case, I’d advise sleeping with a tog of 7 instead of 10.5 as it will better help your body control temperatures in a smaller space,'' said James.
The tog rating scale ranges from 1 to 15, with 1 being very cool and 15 being the warmest – but most duvets start at 4.5. “If you’re naturally a cold sleeper you will want to avoid linen as it contains a loose knit weave allowing large spaces for air to flow through the bedding," said James.
"Eucalyptus sheets and duvets on the other hand are very soft, naturally hypoallergenic whilst also being temperature regulating to allow you to stay snug without overheating when you have a larger duvet tog on."
