I've found the quickest way to cool down in bed – and it doesn't involve a fan

Like most of the UK right now, I have a fan in almost every room of the house in a desperate attempt to stay cool. While temperatures have dropped (slightly) during the day, the heat captured inside is still making the bedrooms and sleeping almost unbearable.

While the best cooling fans and cooling sheets offer some very welcome relief, I recently came across this Silentnight cooling gel pad, which is a game-changer in the heat. Or if, like me, you are in the throws of perimenopause/night sweats.

It took a moment on first use to understand how to use it, thinking I needed to do something or 'activate' it in some way. But you simply place the pad on your bed and lay down - it's that easy.

This genius product is immediately cool to the touch, so laying on it in a warm room is, well, fantastic. It's like lying on a cool wet towel, without the wetness or discomfort - it's my find of the summer.

How to use it

The best thing about this product is how simple it is to use. Just take it out of the case, lay it on the bed and lie down - that's it. You can pop it under the bed sheet if you don't want to lay directly on it. I have been using above my sheet and can vouch for how comfortable it is. It's padded so nice and soft, and the material is in no way sticky or scratchy.

If you move a lot in your sleep, you might want to place it under your sheet to avoid it wrinkling and rucking during the night. I have tried this, but felt a noticeable difference in how cooling it is (or isn't) with a layer (even a thin one) between my skin and the pad.

You can also lay it across you if your legs or feet are particularly warm. It can be placed in the fridge to cool down further - something I have found particularly enjoyable on very warm nights.

The pad is the length of roughly two thirds of your body (depending on your height, of course). It reaches to my upper thigh, and I'd be lying if I said being able to feel the cooling all down my legs and on my feet wouldn't make it all the better. The pad is not machine washable, but the material is easy to wipe down with a wet cloth every day and it dries really quickly.

More bed cooling

How long does the cooling effect last?

This cooling pad offers instant relief, which I have experienced lasts up to 20 minutes and has been a game-changer to help me fall asleep easily in the heat. As my body cools down, the less effective it becomes, and I have woken to no sense of cooling at all.

As the point of it is to absorb body heat, this was no surprise. And I think the length of cooling will be really dependent on the user. Just last week one reviewer online wrote: 'Got this during the heatwave, was perfect! Can genuinely feel it cooling, and even after being on it for hours it is still cool to the touch.'

Pauline, 54, also said: 'I have been using this mat for a week now and it does work extremely well as a cooling mat. I have used it underneath the sheet but also used it on top of my body. It does cool me down and feels really good it has some weight to it but is not uncomfortable.

'I did notice after a few hours it wasn't as cooling as at start of use so I will try cooling in fridge before use when the weather is hotter. It is a good size but could be a little longer I suffer from night flushes and this does help – I'm really pleased with the result and would recommend. It also comes with a storage bag so can be used away from home or stored away when not in use.'

My main use for this pad was to help alleviate the discomfort of feeling unbelievably hot when going to bed initially, and it does that brilliantly. If you want something that will keep you cool all night, you'll might need to look elsewhere. But if you want some immediate cooling relief, in a way that a fan can't offer, this really delivers (at a very affordable price).