With heatwaves plaguing the UK more often, people are desperately looking for ways to stay cool – without adding to their energy bills – and this life hack is worth a try
If you are finding you can’t sleep in sweltering temperatures, this life hack is well worth a try.
The UK is experiencing heatwaves with increasing regularity, but most of our homes are not designed for hot weather – and few people have air conditioning units in their homes. Given that most of the year Brits are enduring cold, rainy, and grey days, it makes a lot of sense that people often don’t want to spend too much money on keeping their houses cool.
This does mean, however, that when we experience scorching temperatures, it can be pretty unbearable, particularly when trying to nod off and get some much-needed rest.
There are some do-it-yourself options that you can consider when trying to keep your bedroom cool – that will assure you a better night’s sleep, and won’t break the bank.
This life hack was posted by Iceland supermarket on its official TikTok account, and all you will need for it is a fan and a cheap and cheerful bag of ice cubes to create your own version of an air con, keeping you cool as you head off to sleep.
First up, you need to grab a bowl – ideally not a small one. Then fill it with ice and place it directly in front of where your fan is positioned.
Fans don’t actually cool down the temperature of your rooms, but they can make you feel cooler, and this nifty trick will mean that the air blown through the fan is being lowered in temperature by the ice in front of it, making your bedroom a much more pleasant place to sleep.
A 2kg bag of ice will only set you back £1 from Iceland, £1.30 from Tesco and Sainsburys, or 85p from Lidl.
Whilst you will need to top up your bowl of ice as it melts, this cost combined with the amount it will set you back to run a fan throughout the night – or at least the couple of hours as you’re settling down to sleep, is a fraction of what an air conditioning unit would be.
There are some other simple adaptations you can make to try and get a proper amount of rest when the temperatures rise.
Firstly, if your bedroom windows get a lot of sunshine, make sure that in the hours light would be pouring in, you keep them firmly closed, as well as the blind or curtain – this will help keep the room cooler overall, and you can always crack the windows open once the temperatures have dropped in the evening.
Opt for a lukewarm shower an hour before you go to bed, this will help you feel refreshed, but also relaxed – cold and hot showers should be avoided during high temperatures.
Finally, consider what material your bedding is made from, and perhaps ditch the duvet altogether. Linen sheets are best in a heatwave, because the fabric is breathable and can absorb a decent amount of moisture before feeling wet or damp – which is perfect for a sweaty night. If you don’t have linen bedding, then go for cotton, but try and avoid polyester when the mercury starts to rise.