Carlos Solis
The Red Cross shared a simple tip for cooling off on very hot nights: put a pair of socks in the refrigerator or freezer during the day and pull them on before bed. Media coverage notes that studies show dunking your feet in cold water lowers core body temperature, so cooling your feet can help lower your overall temperature.
If you want to try the sock trick, put a slightly damp pair of socks in the refrigerator or freezer about 10 minutes before you plan to wear them to bed. Make sure the socks get only moderately cool, not frozen solid.
Other Red Cross tips for sleeping through the heat
- Sleep on the lowest floor of your home, since heat rises.
- Wear as little as possible in bed.
- Turn off electrical appliances, because they generate heat.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the evening; they hurt sleep quality.
- Drink water to prevent dehydration.
- Take a warm or cool shower before bed to lower your body temperature.
Practical (and a little cheeky) notes
If you haven’t cleaned your freezer in a decade, putting socks in it might give you pause. Use a clean bag or other hygienic barrier, and the risk remains minimal. Research supports the idea that cooling the feet can lower overall temperature, but people feel heat and cold differently, so the trick won’t work for everyone.
If you decide to try this, follow a simple safety rule: keep the socks only slightly damp and not icy, and make sure the freezer is clean. This isn’t a cure-all, but it is one easy option among several low-effort ways to cool down in the evening.
Based on reporting in The Guardian
