These under-$20 products pro organizers swear by are even cheaper for Amazon Prime Day
It's that time of year — you know, when Amazon Prime Day (in this case, week!) rolls around, presenting the perfect opportunity for you to get the mountains of stuff in your home under control and in their proper place. As a longtime editor who tests housewares for a living, I'm very familiar with the myriad storage solutions on the market. But I'm also someone who struggles with organization, so I reached out to the experts for pointers.The big takeaway? Professional organizers say you don't have to toss everything you own — or spend a ton of money — to organize as well as they do. All of these bins, baskets and other finds will cost you less than pizza delivery, and now they're even cheaper thanks to Prime Day. Order in the house!
"Plastic shoe boxes are my go-to for every room in the home. Not only do I use them for shoes in a closet, because they stack evenly and can hold more than sandals or flip-flops, but they're also great for small toys like Legos, figurines and cars, as well as craft supplies, office supplies, cookie cutters, tools in the garage, makeup and much, much more." — Robyn Reynolds, owner, Organize2Harmonize
(Reynolds's go-to boxes are no longer available, but we found this clear, stackable pack of 12 at Amazon on sale for under 30 bucks!)
"I always recommend a lazy Susan to my clients for the kitchen. It's great for maximizing space in cabinets, refrigerators and shelves and making items more accessible. Its versatility makes it a must-have for any kitchen, and it's also affordable. This one comes in convenient sizes, and it has a nice lip edge to prevent items from falling off." — Ritsuko Nakajima, owner, After Declutter
"One of my must-have organizing products is purse hanger hooks. They are perfect for floppy bags that don't sit upright on a shelf. They can also be used in a coat closet for totes and sports bags. We even use them for organizing belts and scarves. Twelve hooks are $10, making these a major must-have!" — Katrina Teeple, founder, Operation Organization
"This $10 adhesive paper towel holder is a genius way to declutter your counters! You can even use them inside a cabinet door." — Jennifer Johnson, owner, The Orderly Space
"My favorite organizing item under $20 is an acrylic stackable drawer. You can find this product at Amazon, The Container Store and various other department stores. I love this product because of its multiuse function. I've used it in several spaces, such as under the kitchen or bathroom sink. I have also used it in linen closets to categorize the small items we own such as eye care, dental care and feminine products.
I just love how you can stack them side by side and the space looks great. I also love the upgraded look of labeling each drawer so my clients can find their things easier and also put things away much quicker." — Tamar Bazin, owner, Tidee Living
"Everyone has baseball caps, but could they be better organized? They're usually found on a shelf, stacked so high they look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A game-changer storage solution for ball caps are these hat stands that will hold up to seven hats each. Better yet, they come in a pack of two, so you can fit 14 hats for only a $16 investment! They are acrylic, hold hats by the bill and make your baseball hat collection look chic, all while saving space!" — Katrina Teeple
"Paper organizing is one of my specialties, so I'm going to have to go with a desktop file box. Any kind of file box or plastic crate with rails can hold hanging folders and serve to organize your papers in lieu of investing in a filing cabinet or a desk with file drawers. But a desktop file box helps you organize a smaller subset of papers and takes up less real estate when you need to collate some essential items.
For example: In the kitchen, keep folders of clipped recipes, takeout menus, coupons, and those little manuals for kitchen appliances. On your desk, organize your action-item papers (like the paper forms you need to fill out and bring to the doctor's office or accountant), monthly bills, insurance policy papers and vital documents.
Opt for something pretty to make you more inclined to file away loose pieces of paper." — Julie Bestry, owner, Best Results Organizing
"Shelf risers are my go-to products for organizing kitchen cabinets! No matter what type of kitchen you have, they are simple and guaranteed to add more storage space and make it easier to access your mugs, plates and more." —Hannah Goetz, owner, Hannah Goetz Organizing
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Buzz Feed
11 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Take It From Someone Who Lives Multiple Cats, You Don't Want To Miss These Prime Day Deals
Amazon Prime Day is here! There are more deals than you could ever begin to look through on your that's where we come in. 49% off a self-cleaning automatic litter box that'll clean up after your kitty so you don't have to (because scooping gets real old, REAL fast). It'll help keep your home smelling fresh *and* keep your cat happy, because (like us humans) they prefer to use a clean "toilet." Reviewers vouch for this as a nice alternative to the much pricier Litter Robot, AND it comes with a lifetime warranty. The best deal is for this bundle with the gray litter box, which comes with a three-pack of litter bags to get you started — nice!Promising review: "I'm absolutely loving this litter box. I've had THE Litter Robot for 4 years and I purchased this item a month ago. This one is so quiet and it takes up about half the space. My cats love it. I love that it's so much easier to remove the bag. Since the entry is so much lower to the ground the cats don't 'grab' when they jump out like with the other box so there's less mess around the opening of the box. Also this has a lifetime warranty and my other box only had a year. I've purchased a new globe for the old box which was almost the cost of the new box. Oh yeah, and the cost is a lot less than the Litter Robot! I've already recommended this item to my other cat parent friends." —Christine $197.58 (typically $389.99; best deal is on the bundle) — and shop all Pet Cove deals here Or 37% off another well-rated automatic litter box sporting a spacious, open-top design that won't make them feel trapped while doing their business — now your anxious kitty who jumps at the slightest noise can keep a 360-degree of their surroundings, and you can still reap the benefit of being waaay lazier about scooping (just empty the waste drawer every 1–2 weeks as needed)! Promising review: "I can't stress enough how much this litter box has changed my life. It's incredible. I'll literally never scoop litter again. My cats love it too. I chose this over the Litter Robot 4 because it's easier to clean and I just love the open design. The setup takes less than five minutes as it comes assembled (just put the legs on) in the box. And you can literally derp clean this thing and have it back to normal in 5 minutes too. If you're on the fence, look no further." —Thelu's KnobPrice: $379.99 (originally $599.99) Up to 56% off a Furbo Cat Camera, which rotates 360 degrees with HD video quality (and even night vision) so you can check in on your kitty and give them treats while you're away! You can even speak to them using the two-way audio feature, and you can receive activity alerts for things like meowing, vomiting (!!), and humans being around (so you'll know when your cat sitter finally drops by). Note that certain features are added with the optional $6.99/month Furbo Cat Nanny subscription (slightly cheaper if you choose to be billed annually), including the real-time alerts and video history. Without the subscription, you can still check the live view, interact via two-way audio, play with them using the attached feather toy, and toss treats. Promising review: "I got the Furbo Cat Camera to help me watch my cat, Morse, when I'm out of the house, because he's a rescue cat and has some behavioral issues. It's been a godsend to just open the app and see what he's doing, no matter where I am — if he's up to mischief, I distract him with a treat or speak to him through the camera. Morse also enjoys batting the attached feather toy, and the ability to rotate the camera back and forth definitely makes it a more intriguing game for him. I love being able to entertain him from afar; it's saved more than one houseplant already! Plus, the Meowing Alerts keep me clued in on his activity. He's not a very vocal cat, so meowing indicates there's something I should check in on. Highly recommend for cat parents looking for peace of mind and new ways to look after their pets." —ElissaPrice: $44 for the model that requires a 3-month-minimum subscription (originally $99), and $129 for the model that *doesn't* require a subscription (originally $210) 20% off a Feliway calming diffuser starter kit *with* an extra six months of refills, saving you $23 on the bundle. This stuff can be a game changer if you have cats who don't get along, whether one of them is new to the household or a life change has caused them to become aggressive. This plugs right into your wall and releases pheromones that mimic a nursing mother's, helping to not only calm cats down but also encourage social acceptance of each other. The starter kit gets you the diffuser head and one vial of Feliway, which lasts 30 days — and the Prime Day bundle gets you an extra six months of refills, so you'll be stocked for a while. Keep in mind that if you're introducing a new cat, you should *still* take proper precautions like keeping them separate for a while, doing smell introductions first, etc. Promising review (for the starter kit): "I can't express enough how much this has changed mine and my cats' lives. Merging two households wasn't easy on the cats. One male cat had a hard time moving into a new house with new pets. He had terrible behavior problems and would cause us and the other cats a lot of stress. His bullying led to the other two cats having health problems. He would get into moods where he would chase and attack the others and would not let up. We tried everything the vet suggested to reduce theses incidences, but getting Feliway was the only thing that worked. He is a completely different cat now. He is calm and his outbursts rarely happen. He has become a couch cat and has turned into the sweetest boy. The other cats aren't stressed anymore and neither are we. We have three diffusers in the three rooms we have had incidences in. It definitely has more of an affect on the male cats than the female. If you aren't noticing a difference with one diffuser I would suggest getting a second. We couldn't believe that this one product could fix everything, but it did. If he starts to act out again we check the diffusers, and sure enough, one of them will be out. If your cats are having any behavior problems or stress please try this!" —Kristine SpencerPrice: $91.97 (originally $114.98) — and shop all Feliway deals here 21% off (plus an extra 10% off coupon) an air purifier to help you manage indoor allergies from pet dander and those awful smells that waft around from the litter box — and if you've ever seen one of your cat's eyes watering, it's possible the poor thing could have allergies itself. This works quietly in the background to clean your air — all you have to do is replace the HEPA filter as needed! I picked this air purifier up a couple years ago to help manage the ~smell~ that sometimes wafts from my cats' litter box when it starts to get full, and to help keep my NYC apartment air cleaner in general. I'm also (lol) extremely allergic to cats, and though I get allergy shots for this, it's also nice to help cut down on the pet dander for myself and any visitors with allergies. This thing makes a DIFFERENCE. It cuts down on any noticeable smell from the cats, my air feels cleaner, and my allergies are usually non-existent in the apartment. Oh, and it's fairly quiet — it basically functions as white noise, which can be handy if you run this at night in the bedroom on your usage and environment, it's recommended to replace the filter every 3–6 months — replacements are available on Amazon. (You can see the difference between my old filter and a new replacement one above!) Note: Be sure to take the plastic off the filter before placing it in the unit!Price: $44.09 (typically $61.99; available in two colors — click "redeem" on the 10% off coupon for the full discount)Alternate deal! It's slightly more expensive, but if a Levoit air purifier has been on your wishlist, you can snag one for 22% off for Prime Day ($69.97, the lowest price it goes for). 30% off a chic, modern Mau cat tower (only a few bucks more than it was during Black Friday) — direct discounts on Mau products are rare, so jump on it if you're looking for a small but high-quality tree that's built to last. Mau trees are made with real wood (they're handcrafted from literal tree branches, so every piece is one of a kind), and they sell replacement parts for everything, unlike so many cheap cat products you eventually have to just toss. Plus, it won't clash with your home's aesthetic. I have a different Mau cat tree (one not sold on Amazon) and absolutely love it, as do my cats! It's one of those upgrades that once you make, there's no looking back — I hope to pick up a second one of their trees in the future!Promising review: "Really aesthetically pleasing kitty tower. This would go well with any modern or boho decor. The platforms are plush and cushioned well and a true white. Perfect height by my bedroom window where I wanted something nicer looking than the usual cat tower. This really fit the bill! Plus, it feels very sturdy — the wooden tree sections are pretty heavy, and both my cats were able to stand on it without any wobbling at all." —GigiPrice: $132.30 (originally $189; deal available for two colors) 25% off (plus an extra 7% off coupon) the *iconic* ChomChom pet hair roller — for the uninitiated, this cleaning product traps pet hair inside without the use of any sticky tape, and it works wonders on fur-covered couches and chairs. Full disclosure, this definitely isn't the best deal we've ever seen on the ChomChom during Prime Day, but it is cheaper than its everyday Amazon price — so if you're *struggling* with pet hair covering everything you own, you may as well snag this while the tens of thousands of 5-star Amazon reviews are reason enough to add the ChomChom to your cart immediately, let me add my own personal review to the stack. I've been using the ChomChom for quite a while now and took the photos above to show just how quick, easy, and effective this roller is. It took 10 seconds to rid my velvet couch ottoman (yes, velvet...a terrible cat owner choice, I know) of the hair my two gray kitties are constantly leaving everywhere. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of using this roller — at first, I thought you only brushed down in one direction, and was confused why it wasn't picking up hair. It's important to do a push-and-pull brushing in *both* directions so it actually pulls the hair inside, which does require you to apply a bit of pressure. Afterward, you'll just dump out the hair that's been trapped inside. The ChomChom is best for large flat surfaces like couches and $17.43 (typically $24.99; available in two colors — click "redeem" on the 7% off coupon for the full discount) — and shop all ChomChom deals here Up to 30% off a bottle of Zesty Paws Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, which adds essential fatty acids to wet or dry food so they can have the most luscious, shiny coat. Reviewers say it also helps with shedding! Promising review: "My kitty loves this stuff!! I squirt a little on top of her food, and she makes sure to lick it all off before even thinking about taking a bite out of her pâté! My main purpose for purchasing this was to relieve my kitty's constant shedding!! She's a short to medium haired cat, but no matter how much I brush her, the shedding is relentless! I've only been using this oil for a week, but I've already noticed a HUGE improvement after adding this oil to her diet and switching her to wet food!! There's still some minor shedding, but nowhere near as much as before, so I'm grateful!! I haven't experienced the texture issues with the oil that others have mentioned. My oil came with a pump, and the texture has remained loose, smooth, and oily." —TytiannaPrice: $20.97 for a 16-ounce bottle (originally $29.97; also available in a smaller size) — and shop all Zesty Paws deals here 53% off a cat DNA test (it's from Shark Tank!) that'll unlock a whole new world of info about your cat, like whether that gray baby is actually a Russian Blue or some kind of mix. It'll also give info on health markers and traits your cat is likely to have based on their breed — so now you'll know *why* your kitty is so uniquely lovable! Promising review: "I purchased this kit because I have an 18-pound green-eyed, long-haired cat, whom everyone asks me about. 'Is she a Maine Coon?' 'Is she part Maine Coon?' I had no idea as to her lineage, as I found her struggling for her survival on the street and had no idea who her parents were. She turned out not to be a Maine Coon, but showed similar ancestry to rag dolls. Believable, as she's very people-friendly and almost acts like a dog. However, the most important part of this test is the health reports. I've sent a copy to her veterinarian, so that we can be on the lookout for anything she may be predisposed to and to have the vet give suggestions as to how to avoid certain outcomes. I'm very happy with the test and recommend it to anyone with concerns about their cat's health or curiosity about their lineage." —MadoucPrice: $74.99 (originally $159) 34% off a Bissell Little Green carpet and upholstery cleaner if cat stains and accidents are part of your daily life, and you've almost given up on that one rug they seem to have designated "the puke spot." This TikTok-beloved cleaner is a holy grail product for many pet parents, capable of sucking out stubborn stains as well as dust, dirt, and fur. It's *your* house, not the cats' — time to reclaim your furniture and floors. Yes, that's cat diarrhea on the reviewer's nice white rug above. The Bissell truly works review: "I found the Little Green machine because of a TikTok video; someone was cleaning their car seats and the water was absolutely disgusting, so obviously I was like I HAVE TO TRY THIS. So I ordered one and it was everything I ever hoped and more! We have three cats in the house whose favorite pastimes are puking, peeing, and occasionally stepping in their own poop and running across the only carpeted room in the entire house, you know how cats are. Anyway, this thing works SO well it tackles all of that and every other mess I've made to date! It's small enough it doesn't feel like a huge hassle to store it or pull it out, but also holds enough water I don't have to constantly run to refill it. I think it might be magic and I have a slightly unhealthy attachment to it at this point. I'm not sure if its always the case, but the box came with a coupon for two containers of the cleaner through Bissell too, which was a huge bonus!" —StephaniPrice: $81.99 (originally $123.59) $10 off a Wi-Fi-enabled automatic food dispenser to eliminate any lingering worries over if you've fed your fur baby or not. The 5-liter model can store about *5 pounds* of pet food, which can last cats up to 20 days (aka you won't have to refill it constantly). And you can program their meals from anywhere using a smartphone app! Promising review: "We are vacationing for a month in Arizona and wanted an automatic feeder for our cat in case our cat sitter couldn't get to our house. We can add an extra feeding remotely. We are very pleased with our purchase. We can easily adjust the amounts and times of feeding, even from a thousand miles away. When the cat hears the voice say 'mealtime,' she comes running. We are able to control her diet because we aren't arbitrarily feeding her." —Jan DPrice: $59.49 for the black feeder (typically $69.34; also available in another color and other models on sale at different discounts) 45% off a top-entry litter box discreet enough to place in multiple rooms if you have more than a few cats and really need to make sure they have ~options~. The grooved lid at the top helps remove leftover litter particles from your cat's paws as they climb out, and if you have a dog in the house who likes to go digging in litter boxes, this design can also keep them out of your cats' poop spots. Reviewers say it works for both small and bigger cats alike! One reviewer's tip: Make sure the side without the grooved lid is facing a wall so that cats can't jump out that way (the grooved side is what prevents litter tracking).Note that if you have a senior cat with limited mobility, you'd want to provide a litter box with low, easy access for that review: "We have three cats and have to manage a silly amount of cat politics. We've learned that having a higher number of litter boxes, and spread to multiple locations, cuts way down on bullying and helps cats to feel safe, [as they are] instinctively territorial about where they put their scent and feel vulnerable when they're 'in the act'. This cat box helps to be able to have boxes in rooms of the house where a cat box would feel garish, not to mention the litter mess. It took a little while for my cats to try it out, but they're using it now and don't get to kick the gravel out everywhere (I swear they do it on purpose)." —DismPrice: $24.96 for the white and beige style (originally $44.99) 20% off a double-layered litter mat because of the sheer volume of litter being tracked out of the litter box on a daily basis. It has a honeycomb design that catches and traps litter so it doesn't scatter across your floor. You can then press in on the sides to open up the mat and dump the trapped litter back into your litter box, or slide it into the trash can, whichever you prefer! I've been using this trapper mat for ages now, and while it's pretty much impossible to eliminate all litter from your home if you own even one cat, let alone multiple, this mat has made keeping the floor of my litter box room MUCH more manageable. Unlike other mats, where the litter just kind of sits on top and eventually gets kicked elsewhere, this mat is designed so that the litter falls through the holes and stays inside the mat until you're ready to dump it. It's made out of an EVA material that's supposed to be gentle enough for cat paws, and my two kitties don't seem to have a problem walking on it. I *highly* recommend getting the larger 30-by-24-inch mat to extend the coverage area (and thankfully, it's a little cheaper right now for Prime Day) — I initially got the smaller one but went back for the larger size, and it's perfect. Note that the mat will probably have a fold down the middle when it first arrives, but just give it some time and weigh it down with something if needed; it'll lay $19.99 for the larger size (originally $24.99; available in three colors) 20% off an Uproot carpet rake, aka the extra-long version of their popular pet hair removal tool — this version lets you tackle your carpets and rugs without having to kneel or bend over and covers a larger surface area faster (the dual-sided edge and telescopic handle make it so easy). It's infinitely reusable, so it's worth the upfront cost (especially while it's on sale) if your home is covered in pet hair. It's a good idea to use this before you vacuum! This gets out embedded hair that even a vacuum can't reach. Just avoid using on delicate knits and fabric — it's meant for sturdier things like carpets, rugs, stairs, couches, cat towers, and review: "I love this brush. I have two dogs that shed a LOT. I am always vacuuming but felt like I wasn't getting it all out of the carpet. I used this brush and essentially got a small dog's worth of hair out of the carpet that otherwise looked clean. It works so easy to pull up hair that you otherwise wouldn't see. It's easy to clean because you just pull off any hair that sticks to it. The quality is great, and even with some aggressive scraping, I haven't had it bend on me. It's easy to store; I just hang it in my laundry room with my other brooms and pull it out a couple of times a week before I vacuum. This is the BEST pet hair tool out there." —TonyPrice: $39.98 (originally $49.99) — and shop all Uproot Clean deals here 25% off some Churu chicken-flavored bisque (matching its lowest-ever price from Black Friday) — if your cat goes wild for their popular squeeze tube treats (and I've yet to meet a cat who doesn't), they'll love this delectable side dish that's packed with moisture and gourmet flavors. The Churu deals on the whole are not great this Prime Day, featuring only slight markdowns on their everyday Amazon price — *but* this one saves you a few bucks per 12-pack, which is pretty decent! Like their squeeze tube treats, this bisque is intended to be used as a side dish, topper, or treat, not as a meal review: "My two cats are total Churu fans, and this bisque has been an absolute favorite! They go wild for the tuna flavor, and I love that it has a mild scent that doesn't overpower the room. The smooth, creamy texture makes it easy to sneak in any medication, which has been a game changer for us. Plus, since we started using it, I've noticed their coats are softer and healthier-looking than ever. One of our kitties even has a softness we didn't see when we first adopted her. They both devour it and usually end up in a happy food coma afterward! Five stars from my cats." —ReadingbythepoolPrice: $8.82 (typically $11.76; same deal available for the tuna recipe) — and shop all Inaba deals here 24% off a hide-and-seek interactive cat toy if you have at least one super active kitty who wants to play right when you sit down to work every day (🙋♀️), or they're constantly egging on their older sibling who just isn't interested. Press a button to cycle through its settings, activating a fluttering butterfly at the top or a spinning feather toy underneath its removable cover — or have both of them running at once for max stimulation. Both of my cats like this toy, but Chicho (my super active younger cat) goes wild for it every single time. He really likes batting at the butterfly (as shown above), whose erratic movements keep him totally engaged, but he also loves laying on his side trying to catch the feather that zooms left, right, and all around. The fact that most of the feather toy is hidden underneath the patterned cover (so they can't see what's controlling it) is a genius design, and I'll also mention that my cats haven't been able to destroy this toy yet either — though the brand does sell replacement parts thankfully. The battery lasts a long time, and it charges conveniently via USB-C, which I appreciate!Price: $23.73 (originally $31.23) — and shop all Potaroma deals here
New York Times
13 hours ago
- New York Times
‘They Kept Coming': Hundreds of Packages Pile Up Outside Woman's Home
About a year ago, a single package appeared on Karen Holton's porch in San Jose, Calif. She was bewildered; she had not ordered anything, and neither had her neighbors. So she dropped the package at U.P.S., and thought that was the end of it. She was wrong. 'They kept coming,' Ms. Holton, 55, said in an interview on Friday. It was just the beginning of a yearlong ordeal as the unintended recipient of misdirected Amazon returns. Over months, an onslaught of cartons and boxes grew at the doorstep of Ms. Holton's home, a single-family house on a corner lot, in stacks so high that she was unable to easily use her door or get to her mail. 'They were always put on my porch, or if the porch was too full, they would pile up outside,' she said. 'It was hit and miss. A couple of weeks there were none. And then 10 in a week. No rhyme or reason to it.' 'I had to move them if I wanted to be able to use my porch or get into my house,' she said. Eventually, she started to move them to the carport, and covered the boxes with a tarp, worried about rain, fire and rodents. The chaotic stacks of mismatched packages grew into musty walls so tall that she was unable to park there. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Tom's Guide
14 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I was going to try the viral frozen hot water bottle sleep hack — but this method is safer (and better)
My hot water bottle is a must in winter, taking the chill out of my sheets so climbing into bed isn't like crawling into an ice box. But during summer, it sits gathering dust. I'd never dream of using a hot water bottle in a heatwave. Until I was informed people were putting their hot water bottles in the freezer and taking the resulting ice pack to bed with them. I was excited to give this cooling sleep hack a go before being politely warned that it might be a bad idea — freezing your hot water bottle can damage it. So I tried a cooling water compromise and now my hot water bottle might become a year-round bed partner. Instead of the cooling and convenient ice pack you've been dreaming of, freezing a hot water bottle can have potentially dangerous consequences. Hot water bottles aren't designed for the freezer and the extreme cool weakens the rubber casing, making it more liable to breaks and tears. I've had a hot water bottle explode on me before and it's an uncomfortable and very confusing experience (no one wants to wake up wondering why their feet are wet.) Luckily for me, by the time the leaking started the water had already cooled to lukewarm. However, you can risk scalding yourself if the hot water bottle breaks shortly after being filled. So avoid the freezer. But that doesn't mean your hot water bottle can't help you out in a heatwave. It seems obvious now but rather than filling your hot water bottle with, well, hot water, try using cold water instead. First, I removed the cover. My hot water bottle has a fluffy, penguin-patterned cover that while looking cool (in every sense of the word) is unlikely to aid my quest for cooler sleep. Next, I waited for the water from the faucet to run to icy cold and filled the bottle up. Then when I went to bed I placed the cold-hot water bottle at the foot of the mattress, lightly tucked under a top sheet. The bottle felt pleasantly chill, not freezing, against my legs, helping lower the temperature of my entire body. Cool rubber is a slightly odd feeling (I kept thinking of jellyfish) but after a couple of minutes I stopped overthinking it and just started enjoying the chill sensation. I'd expected the water to warm up quickly but that didn't happen in the time it took me to fall asleep (I expect a different experience if I held it closer to my core.) And because I felt a more comfortable temperature, even in a stuffy room, I drifted off in no time. As this hack is so easy — the hardest part was finding my hot water bottle — I'll be trying it throughout the summer. samply Hot Water Bottle with knitted cover: was $9.99 now $7.99 at AmazonThis isn't the exact hot water bottle I use (you'd have to trawl the chemists of South Wales to find that) but the simple design is all you need for this cooling sleep hack. In the Prime Day sleep deals it's only $7.99 for Prime members and comes in six different colors. Looking for more ways to sleep cool this summer? Try these hacks (with or without a hot water bottler.) Showering before bed warms your core temperature, which might seem like the worst thing in a heatwave. However, when you step out of the bathroom your body temperature drops, cooling you down right before you get into bed and leaving you at the perfect temperature for sleep. A member of my team swears by a warm, lavender scented bath before bed even in summer, finding it helps her feel calm and cool. And if you're an allergy-sufferer, a quick wash means you won't take pollen to bed with you. If you're trying to sleep in the heat in a building without AC you can create your own air con using a fan and a bowl of ice. Place the fan so that it faces towards your bed. Fill a bowl with ice and put it in front of the fan. When the fan is turned on it will blow air over the ice, sending a chill blast in your direction. You can also keep your room cooler overall by practicing the caveman method; close your blinds and windows during the day to keep warm air out. No one wants to layer up in the summer but don't sleep naked if you're trying to beat the heat. During a heatwave you're going to sweat in your sleep, as your body tries to cool down. If you're naked, those sweat droplets have nowhere to go but stick to your skin, evaporating slowly. This can make you feel warmer. A pair of (light, breathable) pajamas, however, will soak up the sweat. The sweat wicking effect will make you feel cooler. And speaking of light and breathable, consider switching your bedding for natural materials or cooling fabrics. For very hot sleepers (who experience night sweats frequently), we recommend investing in one of the best cooling mattresses, to help you stay at the right temperature weather it's a heatwave or a cold snap.
