‘Chill your socks in the fridge to sleep better’

THE fridge might seem an unusual place to keep socks, but people are being advised to chill them next to the butter to get a better night’s sleep.

It may sound odd, but such is the desperation experienced by thousands unable to sleep due to the heatwave that the National Sleep Council (NSC) has published a set of guidelines separating good methods from myths.

Avoid going to sleep wearing nothing, the council says, because an absence of clothing means sweat stays on the skin, rather than being absorbed. Light cotton nightwear is the best option, but to really cool down people should don socks that have spent some time in the fridge, as cooling the feet lowers the overall skin temperature.

A cold shower or bath before going to bed should also be considered because it lowers the core body temperature, the NSC says, and the effect can be sustained by using a hot water bottle filled with ice-cold water and chilled pillow cases.

However, would-be sleepers are advised not to go to bed with a hot water bottle that has been in the freezer because of the risk of cold burns. And anyone with an attic should open the hatch, allowing hot air to escape.

A NSC spokesman said: “Ideally bedrooms should be around 60-65F (16 to 18C) but if, at night-time, the outside temperatures remain higher, or your bedroom has retained the heat from the day, it can be difficult to keep cool. Avoid too much caffeine, alcohol or a big meal before bedtime.”

With little or no breeze in some places, sales of fans have rocketed. Amazon reported a 2,100 per cent monthon-month increase, while John Lewis said it’s year-on-year fan sales were up 19.2 per cent.