Born in Sydney, Australia, a woman who has suffered from insomnia for years revealed one of the most unusual tricks she’s ever tried to sleep better on hot nights without air conditioning: freezing her bed sheets before going to bed.
Now living in Los Angeles in a top-floor studio with no elevator and no central AC, she endures extreme heat for much of the year. With west-facing windows, her apartment receives direct sunlight all afternoon and stays hot well into the night, even after sunset.
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She owns a fan, but doesn’t like the feeling of direct air blowing on her body, making it hard to use at night. For a while, she tried using frozen water bottles and gel packs in bed. While they offered temporary relief, they left the sheets damp and the mattress wet, requiring constant linen changes and making her nights even more difficult. That’s when she decided to try something different: freezing the sheets before going to sleep.
The method of freezing sheets to sleep better without air conditioning
The idea, she says, is simple and effective: place the sheets in the freezer for at least two hours before bed. She folds the fabric to fit inside a 4-liter plastic bag, removes all the air, and places it between trays or ice packs to maximize cold exposure.
The result, she says, is an incredibly cool bed that feels like a sanctuary from the heat. The suggestion first came from her grandmother — jokingly — but it piqued her curiosity enough to research it further. To her surprise, she found that many people actually use this technique to beat the heat and sleep better. She’s now in her second season using the method and has shared valuable lessons she’s learned along the way.
Always use unscented freezer bags for freezing sheets
On her first attempt, she used a clean but scented trash bag, which left her sheets with a strong artificial smell all night. Since then, she’s used unscented freezer-safe bags to avoid unwanted odors and maintain proper hygiene. She also recommends keeping the sheets away from food smells in the freezer.
The fabric choice directly affects how cool the sheets stay
Another key takeaway was the importance of fabric. At first, she used brushed polyester microfiber sheets — soft, but they lost their coolness quickly. After speaking with her grandmother, who worked with fabrics for years, she discovered that natural fibers like percale cotton, linen, and bamboo viscose retain coolness longer and allow the skin to breathe better.
Once she switched to those materials, the difference was immediate: the coolness lasted 15 to 20 minutes — long enough to help her fall asleep comfortably even on the hottest nights.
Duvets trap heat — opt for lighter bedding
Though she loves sleeping with a duvet year-round, she realized it reduced the effectiveness of the frozen sheets. As an alternative, she began freezing the top sheet, pillowcases, and even her pajamas. This extended the refreshing sensation and made sleeping more comfortable.
Extra sets make the routine easier
Initially, she froze and used the same set of sheets each night. She soon realized that rotating between multiple sets made the process more practical. That way, one set could freeze while the other was being washed, without needing to swap everything daily. For her, making the bed is worth it when the goal is a good night’s sleep.
Does it really work?
Although the cooling effect doesn’t last all night, the method greatly helps with nighttime heat. It’s especially effective for those who fall asleep quickly when they’re comfortable. For her, who deals with occasional insomnia, frozen sheets create a sense of freshness and relaxation that helps her body wind down and get into a sleep rhythm — even if the cold fades over time.
Extra tips to keep your bedroom cool without air conditioning
She also shares other strategies for cooling the bedroom on hot nights: use blackout blinds during the day to block solar heat, invest in a pedestal fan for better air circulation, and swap out heavy pajamas for lightweight cotton or bamboo ones.
With small changes and consistent habits, it’s possible to transform your space and enjoy more comfortable summer nights — without relying on air conditioning.
Source: Apartment Therapy
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
