How to Stay Cool When Sleeping

Air conditioner can’t cool the house down fast enough?  Keep your chill with this easy-to-make project.

Years ago I made some ice packs for my lunch bag for work with my Nesco vacuum sealer. I used the wide rolls of bagging material. I sealed up both long sides. Yes, that completely seals the entire thing, but then I cut off one of the short sides to make a narrow opening to put the water in. I had some dish cloths with a mesh scrubber side that I absolutely hated for washing dishes so I use them to make an ice pack sleeve by folding it in half and the using my serger to sew up and across the edge to make like a mini pillowcase. When the ice pack is frozen I just slip it right into the sleeve.

Get Food Vacuum Sealers here.

With the weather being over 100 degrees lately, the air conditioner in my house just can’t keep the interior cool, no matter how many fans I have trying to blow the a/c air around. That’s when I grab an ice pack and just sit with it while I watch TV and even when I sleep. I’ll place it against me where ever I need cooling. It is pretty cold so sometimes just having it in the proximity of my body gives me a good chill.

It’s been years since I’ve made one and after seeing all the suspended tiny air bubbles it in, I can tell you that I didn’t use 100% water. There is something else in there because the contents are somewhat gel-like. I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. I’m wondering if I saved those “do not eat” silica desiccant gel packs and used the crystals to thicken it up.

Oh WAIT!!! I just remembered. You see, talking to yourself works. It is the silica gel from diapers. A few years ago I bought some cheap self-absorbing diapers to harvest the gel material in them for some houseplants so the soil retains water better. Just pour a couple of cups of water into a diaper and wait for it to be absorbed. Then cut it open and shake out the swollen gel particles. Do it over a cookie sheet because it’s hella messy.

What you’ll need:

• Water
• Food vacuum sealer
• Wide vacuum bag or roll
• Clean diaper that holds the wetness inside
• Microfiber cloth for ice pack sleeve
• Sewing machine or thread and needle for hand sewing