In wintertime, I'm rarely without a hot water bottle to warm up with during cosy winter evenings, but by June I naturally assumed I wouldn't have any use for it for a while.
Turns out, hot water bottles may have an entirely different use in the summertime and can help you get some much-needed sleep when your bedroom feels practically aflame.
If you're anything like me, then you'll end up tossing and turning when the temperature rises, kicking the covers off and on again, and making multiple pyjama changes. Things can get particularly tricky when you've got a partner beside you, struggling just as much as you are.
Now, I've tried spritzing lavender spray around, opening the windows, and keeping a cold glass of water by my bedside, and each time I was left unable to get comfortable. Everything changed however when I whipped out my trusty hot water bottle.
Sleep experts from French Bedroom recommend pouring icy cold water into your bottle during the summer months, which they say can help lower body temperature and cool down your sheets.
According to the Sleep Foundation, high temperatures can make it more difficult both to drift off and to stay asleep. This is because your body temperature will naturally decrease at bedtime, helping you relax, and cool temperatures make this easier.
Very hot temperatures may mean your body finds it harder to cool down. This in turn can affect rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the crucial sleep stage associated with high brain activity and restorative physiological processes such as cell repair and immune system recovery.
Essentially, if your REM sleep is affected by the heat, you're unlikely to be at your best when you get up the following morning. I know I'm certainly not.
With this in mind, I decided to try the icy hot water bottle trick for myself. I placed a jug of cold water in the fridge for a couple of hours before bedtime, then, just as I was getting drowsy, I tipped the chilled water into the neck of the bottle, making sure not to fill it too much.
I slipped the bottle underneath my covers while I began tidying up and following my usual nighttime routine, after making sure that it was tightly fastened.
When I got into bed, my sheets were already lovely and cool and I positioned myself in the cold patch where the bottle had been placed. Sheer bliss.
I tried this hack for a couple of balmy June nights and found it worked pleasingly well, relaxing me and soothing my stresses like a hot water bottle in reverse.
The only thing I would advise would be to wrap up your bottle in a towel or fluffy covering before hopping into bed - the icy plastic can give you a bit of a shock if you nudge against it accidentally.
All in all, I slept well both nights, waking up feeling fairly awake, refreshed, and ready to start the day. In fact, it worked so well that I was tempted to take things up a notch and pop it in the freezer.
After a little research, however, I learned full freezing could be dangerous - damaging the material and potentially resulting in leaks. It's best to stick to the icy water and believe me, it works well enough if done correctly.
I didn't realise the true power of this hack however until one particularly stifling evening, when the whole flat felt sticky with heat and the absolute last thing I wanted to do was get into bed.
I even considered lying on the laminate floor instead, but as anyone with hairy, shedding pets will know, this usually isn't the best of ideas.
A summer thunderstorm was brewing, and I too felt as though my skin might break out in forks of lightning. I was so distracted that I ended up forgetting about the hot water bottle on the side, or the jug of icy water waiting in the fridge.
It wasn't until I found myself staring at the ceiling bleary-eyed at 1 am that I remembered. After a quick dash to the kitchen, I sorted out a fresh icy hot bottle and placed it between my sheets.
The sheets cooled down surprisingly quickly and, filled with sudden relief, I let go of all my tension and slipped off into a deep, calming sleep.
I've been so impressed by the icy water bottle hack that I've been using my bottle for other purposes too. It works a real treat when you're struggling to type away in the heat, for example, and I've even brought it to a little picnic in the park.
My icy hot - or should that be cold? - hot water bottle has proven to be a useful tool this summer, and I'd liken it to a refreshing ice pop for your whole body. A heatwave must-have.
Sleep expert Penny Albright, who runs the Easy Sleep Guide, told the Mirror: "Many people find it difficult to sleep during hot weather as they become uncomfortable if they are hot and sticky.
"Our body temperatures need to cool down to drift off to sleep. When our bodies are unable to dissipate heat as easily, we cannot initiate the process of sleep as easily.
"As hot water bottles are designed to retain heat and keep liquids hot, they have an insulation layer that prevents rapid temperature changes from occurring. Therefore, it may not be as effective for cooling your surroundings as you'd hope.
She cautioned: "Certain hot water bottles may be used with cold water as well as hot, but this is something you'd have to check with the manufacturer.
"Also, it's important to check the bottles for any damage or leakage points to avoid water dripping into your bed during the night. further contributing to your discomfort.
"Hot water bottles or similar products tend to localise their cooling effects to a specific area rather than cooling down your bed and surroundings. Creating a breeze, using light breathable bedding, and turning on a fan/air conditioner will be much more effective to keep you cool at night."
Do you have a heatwave hack to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
