On scorching hot summer days, a nice inflatable pool can feel like a godsend. (Not just for your kiddos, but also for you.) The only problem is, they can also be a pain in the butt to set up — starting with all the time and effort it takes just to fill them with air. Another downside is how cold they can get when you fill them up with the garden hose. But according to one clever mom on Instagram, she has a super-simple hack for warming up pool water that you likely haven't seen yet.
The hack was shared by Instagram mom Autumn Grace (aka @honestlyautumnnb)
The first-time mom, who regularly shares tips, tricks, and other time-saving hacks with fellow mamas, has amassed a loyal following. But while most of her hacks get plenty of likes, comments, and shares, this one went mega-viral for just how easy and practical it really is.
The clip was actually just one part of a "summertime hacks" series
In it, Grace quickly sets up an inflatable pool in her backyard and proceeds to describe an all-too-common issue she often has: getting her kids to actually go in when the water feels colder than a snow cone in Alaska.
But no worries, she says — there's a way around that.
"If your pool is too cold for your children, a quick and easy way to warm it up is by placing black trash bags over the top," Grace advises.
(Yep, you heard that right — the "secret" is black trash bags.)
Grace's tutorial is short and to the point
Because of that, it's unclear how long she really leaves the trash bags in place to warm the water up. Additionally, we don't actually see her kiddos getting into the water once the process is complete, so it's hard to say for sure if they actually find the water warm enough.
That said, the theory behind it makes sense
After all, science has long told us that the color black attracts heat. In fact, according to UCSB Science Line, "a black object absorbs all wavelengths of light and converts them into heat," which is why the object gets warm over time.
(On the flipside, a white object reflects all wavelengths of light, so the light is not actually converted into heat in that case and the temperature of the object doesn't notably increase.)
But you don't really need to look at the science to know that this is true. Walk outside in a black jacket or shirt on a sunny day and you're likely to feel much warmer much quicker than if you'd been wearing something else.
Since sharing the hack, Autumn Grace has been earning praise all over Instagram
"Good to know!" one mom commented on her post.
"Thanks for this girl!" added someone else.
"This page is EVERYTHING!!" wrote yet another person, who said they feel "really prepared" for their next kid, thanks to this clever mama.
Of course, some people had different ideas for how to go about this
At least one person suggested using water that was already warm instead of filling it up with cold water from the garden hose. Others said their own parents and/or grandparents used to boil water to use in the kiddie pool when they were growing up. (That said, boiling water is probably way more risky and time-consuming, since you'd have to leave the water out to cool down for a while before it was safe to swim.)
Still, the general consensus on this one was that @honestlyautumnnb was really on to something with the whole trash bag thing. And we have to say … we tend to agree.
Intrigued? Follow her Instagram page to learn more!
