"Fabric Data Falsely Marketed as Finished Product Performance"... Exaggerated Ads Rampant for Summer 'Survival' Cooling Pads

Seoul YWCA Compares 11 Brands

Some Products Exaggerate Performance by Using 20°C Temperature Difference in Testing

Demand for cooling pads, often called "summer survival items," is surging as much as for air conditioners, which are considered essential home appliances during the summer. However, it has been found that some cooling pad products are exaggerating their performance in advertisements. On March 11, the Seoul YWCA announced that, after testing and evaluating cooling pads from 11 brands available on the market, it discovered numerous cases where the contact cooling value (Qmax) varied significantly depending on the testing conditions, yet these details were not clearly disclosed.

Contact Cooling: 'Pure Sleep' and 'Luna & Sleep' Relatively Superior... Top Five in Absorbency

According to the contact cooling (Qmax) test, which measures how cool the pad feels against the skin, two products—Pure Sleep and Luna & Sleep—demonstrated relatively superior performance compared to others. A higher Qmax value indicates a greater effect in instantly transferring body heat.

In the absorbency evaluation, which measures how quickly sweat is absorbed, five products—Internest, Pure Sleep, Sleep Research Lab, Foret, and Luna & Sleep—performed well. In particular, Pure Sleep also received high scores for its heat release capability and air permeability, making it stand out overall in terms of functionality. On the other hand, some products were advised to improve durability as the seam strength at the junction between the rubber band and the pad did not meet the recommended standards.

Fabric-Based Figures Misrepresented as Finished Product Performance... Exaggerated Advertising Rampant

The investigation also revealed inappropriate advertising practices by some companies. Although finished products are required to be tested based on a 10°C temperature difference, some companies applied a 20°C temperature difference at the yarn or fabric stage and presented the resulting higher figures as if they reflected the performance of the finished product.

Additionally, some companies were found to use definitive expressions such as "core body temperature reduction" and "minus 20°C temperature difference," which could lead consumers to overinterpret the cooling function. The Seoul YWCA recommended that these companies improve their labeling, and the companies either revised or removed the relevant claims. Regarding quality labeling, only Park Hong Geun Home Fashion met all criteria, while other products showed deficiencies such as missing manufacturing dates or incorrect washing instructions.

The Seoul YWCA advised consumers that when purchasing cooling pads, they should carefully check whether the advertised figures are based on finished product measurements and whether the testing temperature conditions are consistent, rather than simply comparing the numbers presented in advertisements. It also recommended using cooling pads in combination with an air conditioner or fan to maximize the cooling effect and save energy.

Jinsun Park, department head at Seoul YWCA, stated, "Due to the characteristics of functional fabrics, you should avoid boiling or using a dryer, and wash gently with neutral detergent in cold water below 30°C to maintain cooling functionality for a longer time." She added, "We plan to strengthen guidelines and monitoring to continue protecting consumer safety and choice."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.