How To Make Neck Coolers

Today’s feature is from Salihan Crafts Blog with this tutorial for how to make DIY Neck Coolers:

DIY Neck Cooler Project By salihan.com

Yesterday I went to two pharmacies hunting for the neck coolers with no success. They only had overpriced large wheat bags and the medipacks. So with a quick google search, I found this crystal filled neck cooler tutorial.

The crystals in the neck cooler swell with liquid to hundreds of times their weight. As liquid from the crystals evaporate , it lowers the body temperature.

These are a similar idea to the microwave heating bags (that you can freeze for cold bags instead of hot), but they use water storing crystals instead that swell up and fill the cloth tube (that you tie around your neck). When the crystals get dry, just soak in water again to reactivate. Very cool idea!

For supplies you just need some fabric to sew into a tube then fill with water storing crystals that you use in the garden. Easy peasy to make.

Please visit the site listed above for complete details.

Update: This helpful tip was sent in by Lora:

Just wanted to give notice of a “warning” that should be included with the neck cooler instructions that were posted 8/26/09. These coolers are great, but they tend to loose their effectiveness rather quickly. The problem begins when they’ve lost their “cooling” aid and the wearer again soaks them in water. These crystals have to be almost ENTIRELY dry before you soak them again, otherwise they swell to the point of seeping thru the material and then sticking to your neck. The crystals are very sticky and they are difficult if not impossible to remove completely from your neck without a full shower. I’ve learned this the hard way, so I DO speak from experience.

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