Freeze Your Bedsheets
If you feel overly warm when you try to fall asleep, you may struggle to doze off. An excessively hot environment interferes with your body’s natural cooling cycle, which is essential for signaling to your brain that it’s time for bed. When your brain releases melatonin, it causes blood vessels in your hands and feet to dilate, helping you shed heat and lower your core temperature for sleep. Cooler temperatures accomplish this faster, making a chilly bedroom more ideal for rest.
If you don’t have an air conditioner that works well — or at all — staying cool as you lie in bed can be a struggle. This is where the freeze method comes into play. The trick involves putting your bedsheets in the freezer until they’re ice cold to the touch. Right before bedtime, grab the freezer-fresh sheets and remake your bed. The initial chill helps lower your body temperature quickly, mimicking the natural cooling process that ushers you into a deep sleep.
Tips and Tricks
There are a few rules to follow when freezing your bedsheets. Always chill your linens at least two hours before bedtime to ensure the fabric gets thoroughly cold. When you’re ready to hop into bed, pull them out of the freezer and make the bed immediately.
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To protect the sheets from picking up any unwanted odors or stains inside the freezer, place them inside an oversized resealable plastic bag. (If you don’t have one big enough, an unscented trash bag tied with a knot will do the trick.) Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. This prevents trapped humidity from turning into frost, which could leave you with a damp, clammy bed.
The Fine Print on Freezing
Keep in mind that the freeze method is a short-term solution. If your bedsheets are made of flannel or polyester microfiber, the cooling effect will last only about five minutes. Even so, that brief window is usually enough to lower your core temperature so you can drift off. For a longer-lasting chill, opt for natural, breathable fabrics, such as cotton percale or linen, which stay cold for up t0 20 minutes.
