A couple of days ago I posted a question about where the warmest place to be in a house without heat/power (in winter, in Northern climate) would be. I appreciate all the answers. One person nicknamed Quietly asked about ideas for staying cool during summer without power. I posted this info at the end of the original thread, but wasn't sure if anyone (especially Quietly) would see it at the end of an "old" thread. So I hope it is okay to re-post it here.

re-post in part:

As far as Quietly's question for cooling/staying cooler in the Tx heat. The mention of the neck wraps and cooling crystals reminded me that you can also make cooling mats / cooling beds. We had some for our dogs, but they don't care for them. Last year we were traveling in the summer. It was hot and a storm came through and we lost power where we were staying. I used the cool mat, and I think that they really do help. I am including info (at the end) that was posted elsewhere that gives some tips about how to make them. Main cautions upfront-- don't overfill with crystals-- seams split. Dry it out periodically or face mildew problems... Some fabrics are better than others for this. Read on for more details.

Thanks again everyone-- have more ideas to look into from all of your help. Take care,

Winter Wondering

Disclaimer: this is not my info-- it was posted on a different list and contains responses from a few different people:

****Cool Mats

Hi, We used the Soil Moist Product to make Cool mats and also bandanas. they are into their 3rd season of use with no problems. they seem to be pretty much equal to the Store-bought ones that we also have. We used about 1 1/2-2 tsp of crystals for each 18" of 1 1/2 " "channel" on the cool mats and this has proved to work well once the mats are soaked for 30 min and the crystals expand. A friend has taken to making hers with pillowcases. Just sew in channels lengthwise, fill and sew across the top. If, after soaking, you find it's not full enough to your liking, just open up the channels and add a bit more of the crystals. make sure to dry your mats thoroughly in a well- ventilated area and flip them daily....they take up to 2 weeks to totally dry. I did have a ready made one go "bad" like mildew!! - It is also marketed as California Crystals. - I have also kept mine wet for several weeks time by rinsing out daily and hanging or spreading out over a mesh crate at night. After a few weeks use I wash mine in the sink (or tub) with a regular liquid laundry detergent. I have also heard a rinse in a mild Bleach solution every once in awhile helps keep them odorfree and lessens the chance of mildew. Someone I know made hers with a grommet on one end so she can hang it outside in her carport between uses...... - And Crosslinked Polyacrylamide is the right product, you should be able to buy it in smaller quantities... all it takes is less than a T per 1 to 1.5 inch square. put a T in a galss, add 2 inches of water and wait to see what happens.. -- I have made quite a few of the beds. Yes, Soil Moist is the correct product, and the granules last for quite a while. Be carefull of the fabric you use, my first one was made out of an upolstery quality cotton fabric, and it dry rotted. I have also made bandanas for both people and dogs and that fabric seems to hold up the best, so I have gotten a cotton/poly blend sheet to cut up to use for beds this year. A little of the Soil moist goes a long way (learned that the hard way- put way too much in a bandana and when moistened the seams split!) Anyway, try a small sample bed first so that you get an idea of how much stuff to use. BTW, it does come in a one pound container, if you are only making one or two beds - get the smaller size. If you can, keep the mats in the fridge or a cooler when not in use, and they can be hand washed with detergent when needed. How long do the crystals last? I've had beds with that type of crystals in for 4 years. They've held up well so far, but after this year, I'll probably break down and make new ones. You might want to check on that price again... and maybe the quantity. I've been getting either Soil Moist or Agrosoke (same stuff, different supplier) at Lowe's in one pound containers - and I don't think I've paid more than about $4 per pound for it. (Can't find the receipt and the container's not marked.

How many beds (or how large a bed) are you making? It doesn't take much at all to get the cooling effect - and if the pockets are have too much in them, the stitching bursts when the crystals expand. One tip someone gave me about these beds - put grommets in at least 2 corners - that way you'll be able to hang the bed up to dry out if you're not using it. They can mildew if left to dry on a flat surface. - Last year I made a cool mat for my dogs crate, out of polyacrilamide from the gardening store. Right off the top of my head, I don't remember how many ounces I used, but I remember it seemed fairly expensive per pound.

Until you have worked with these granules, soaked them, and then dried them, it's hard to explain how they behave. The first thing I did was make myself a neckband - it was small, easy, and I learned a little about the granules. Then I made a pillow shaped envelope of denim to fit my dogs crate. Then sewed lengthwise channels, with each channel about 1" wide. I poured granules into each channel and sewed the end closed. The first time I soaked it, I had to work hard to distribute the gel evenly along each channel. So then, after it dried, I decided to sew crosswise baffles, to keep the granules distributed evenly along the length of the mat.

My mat is only 1 year old, so I don't know how long it will last. I expect that if you were to bury these granules in the garden, enzymes in the soil would break down the polyacrilamide structure. But, so far, my biggest problem has been how to dry the mat quickly enough to prevent mildew from forming. And, remember, the gel equilibrates to the temperature of its environment. When I left my *cool* mat in the hot car for several hours, it quickly became a *warm* mat. - I have used it in bands and beds for about a year now and no problem. Three pounds will make hundreds of beds. You only use 1 tsp full for a channel 11/2 " by 12". Any more and the seams will burst. One tsp full will fill a glass of of the gel. These are the same granuales uses in the beds. I make 18x18" pads. Sew channels about 11/2 " wide and put just over 1 tsp full in each channel. I also put a large grommet in one cornerso I can hang them up to dry. Use a tough cotton cloth. I make these smaller pads so I can use one or two or whatever is needed and my dog has a choice of cooling or not. While you're at it, make yourself a cool neck band. I use a bandana, folded in half, sew in the channel, fill it etc. I then have a cooling band with a protective flap down the back. If you have some leftover, put it in your flower bed or planters so they don't need watering while away. Good Luck I ove the stuff and have not even used up a pound in two years.

--end of cool mat info from other sources. Hope it is of help to some.

-- winter wondering (don'te-mailme@posthere.com), July 05, 1999

Answers

Thank you Winter Wondering. Yes, I did see the post at the end of the other post. I was at work and couldn't respond. I appreciate the information very much. I'd been lurking since last year and started posting last month as "quietly lurking". I've dropped the lurking... Thank again!

Quietly

-- quietly (quietly@preparing.com), July 05, 1999.

I didn't read the Keeping Warm thread, as we'll have no problem with that, but I dread heat worse than anything. Thanks so much for reposting the Keeping Cool thread.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), July 05, 1999.

Oops and sorry for the "double" of the re-post. I hit re-load of my browser and it must have re-posted it again. Sigh.

I've only recently found this forum and the 'warmest place in house question' was the first I posted. Took interest in the 'how soon to drain pipes (to keep from freezing)' post, too.

I'm fairly confident we will be prepared enough to make it through the winter-- very well if there are no disruptions, fairly well with 'winter storm' disruptions, and uncomfortably if the whole grid goes away and never comes back. The main discouraging thoughts I'm having at present, though, are that if there are major disruptions, breakdowns in power, supplies, and so forth, then 'through the winter' may be as far as we get. Not prepared to the point of being able to plant and grow, much less can/preserve the other. Highly unskilled in those kinds of basics.

I don't know what will happen when the calendar flips to 2000. None of us can really know. I have to hope that it won't be 'teotwawki'. But I also have to take into account that it may. What I think or hope really makes no difference on what is or what will be. Got into the prep. game late. But how early would have been early enough? Even for someone sometimes called 'queen of the worst case scenario' by family, I have my limits. (Like the creek just ain't a gonna go dry.! -- Sure it could but I don't have a contingency and ... ).

Sorry, rambling now. Take care,

winter wondering

-- winter wondering (don'te-mailme@posthere.com), July 05, 1999.