How to stay cool using a hot water bottle
If you’re struggling to keep yourself cool this summer, experts are recommending that you purchase a hot water bottle to help beat the heat. No, they’ve not lost their minds – a frozen hot water can offer chilly relief against the July heatwave.
Considering stock levels are waning for the best fans and portable air conditioners, we’re all having to be a little creative when it comes to finding ways to keep ourselves cool, and experts say a frozen hot water bottle is a good way to make you feel more comfortable.
This cooling hack is as simple as it sounds. Take a hot water bottle (you can pick one up for £8 at Argos), fill it with water and then freeze it. But this hack comes with a word of warning, as hot water bottles are not designed to be frozen, you shouldn’t use the same hot water bottle to heat you in the winter as the rubber may burst. Why not keep your hot water bottle for winter and treat a second as a ‘cool water bottle’ for summer?
(Image credit: Future PLC/ David Brittain)
‘Once frozen, it’s wrapped in a towel or pillowcase and used as a cold pack. It can work well as a personal cooling method because you’re cooling yourself rather than trying to lower the temperature of an entire room, and holding it against pulse points such as your wrists, ankles or behind your knees, or placing it near your feet while you sleep, can help you feel more comfortable,’ says Rhys Powell, director of operations at WarmZilla.
‘It’s worth remembering, though, that it won’t cool the air in your bedroom or living room. It’s a way of making the person feel cooler rather than changing the temperature of the space.’
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Bevan)
While this hack is incredibly easy to follow, you will have to check your bottle for cracks or leaks before freezing.
‘The biggest risk comes from freezing the bottle itself. Water expands as it freezes, so overfilling the bottle can place pressure on the seams and increase the risk of leaks or damage. Not every hot water bottle is designed to withstand freezing temperatures either, so it’s always worth checking the manufacturer’s guidance first,’ explains Max Wilson, co-founder at Pocket Storage.
‘Freezing can cause older rubber bottles to become fragile with age. In case a person decides to freeze the bottle, it is advised to use a newer bottle, which should be filled up to at least half of its capacity but not more than two-thirds to provide room for expansion. The bottle must be covered with a piece of cloth before being applied to the body surface to prevent frostbite.’
‘When using the hot water bottle, every time check if it has any cracks or signs of damage, as in this case you need to change it.’
Alternatively, here are a few more products that can be used to keep the body cool during soaring temperatures.
FONASONIC
Fonasonic 2-In-1 Handheld Misting Fan
A hand held misting fan offers a cooling mist for instant refreshment – it’s great for on the go.
This neck fan has thousands of good reviews and offering up to 16 hours operating time, will keep you cool all day.
Shark
Chillpill Portable 3-In-1 Fan, Mist & Instachill System
This may be an expensive personal fan, but trust us, it’s really good. It has a cooling plate, misting attachment and offers 10 powerful speeds.
I’m not about to turn my nose up at a cooling method that offers fast relief. And paired with other methods such as supercharging a fan, the caveman method and investing in a reliable misting fan can all help keep the human cool.
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