Anyone who lives in a warm climate will agree that when it comes to hitting the hay, balmy summer nights are not all they are cracked up to be. The sheer heat makes for overheated pillows, clingy blankets and dripping sweat, all of which make it very tough to get a good night’s sleep.
But how to keep cool as you sleep without driving up a huge increase in your electricity prices? Here are our air-conditioning-free tips to cooling down on a hot summer’s night.
Disconnect
Unplug all your electronics. Did you know that even when your appliances, electronics and gadgets of every description are turned off, they still use some energy – and give off heat? Pull every plug out of its socket when the appliance is not in use. This will reduce the total heat in your house, contributing to a cooler interior atmosphere, as well as reducing your energy bill by minimising dormant energy costs.
The secret’s in the materials
Sure, cotton may not have the same chic look and feel as satin, but on hot nights, there is nothing like lightweight cotton bed linens – particularly lighter coloured ones – to keep you cool. Because cotton, and especially Egyptian cotton, is such a breathable material, it assists the airflow in the bedroom. This means that your body heat won’t be trapped as easily. Save the fancy satin for cold winter nights instead!
Another important consideration is what material to use for your pillow. Nothing is quite so annoying and distracting, as a pillow that needs constant flipping to get to the colder side – and then heats up in what seems like minutes, until you flip it over again. The solution? Invest in a buckwheat pillow. As buckwheat doesn’t retain heat, it will feel cool all night long.
Cold water bottle
Ever wonder how your grandparents kept cool before the advent of air conditioning, and kept warm in bed before interior heating? The answer is in the hot water bottle. Though this handy, all-in-one temperature control device may not be the most high-tech gadget out there, it is a time-proven way to help maintain heat – or cold, if needs be. On those hot summer nights, fill it with cold water and keep it in the freezer for a few hours before bed. When you retire to sleep, stick it in between your sheets for your very own ice pack. Of course, this super-affordable thermostat of sorts works just as well for keeping you hot by the time those freezing winter nights come around. A wise investment.
Embrace the cool breeze
If it’s safe for you to do so, leave a window open to tempt in any cool breezes that may pass your way. Opening multiple windows maximises your chances for a cool draft. Better yet, hang a wet sheet in front of an open window. This will transform even warm gusts of air flowing through into cool breezes, bringing down the room’s temperature.
For a window-less alternative, create a cool breeze of your own by hanging a wet towel with ice cubes on top between two chairs placed a metre or two away from, but directly in front of, your bed. Place a container under the towel to catch the melting ice water, and string a thread between the towel and container to prevent the dripping noise that could keep you awake. Then, simply point a fan behind the towel to blow the cold air on you in bed. Genius.
Cool down like an Egyptian
Legends have it that the ancient Egyptians stayed cool during the steamy north African summer by using a sheet or blanket that had been soaked in cold water and wrung dry. By using a cool, damp – not dripping wet – blanket, this method enables you to cool down as the water evaporates, without getting wet. So there you have it: an ancient method for keeping cool. You may wish to lay the damp sheets on top of a dry towel to make sure your mattress doesn’t get soaked.
A modification of this method is to soak a pair of cotton socks in cold water rather than a blanket, wringing them until they are damp and then wearing them to bed, with your feet staying out from under your blankets. Keeping your feet is a great idea because they are like in-built thermostats, and keeping them cool lowers the overall temperature of your body and your skin.
About Author:
Sarah Trevor is a freelance writer who notoriously dislikes the heat from Sydney who gets a good night’s sleep every night thanks to Sleepmaker.
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