As the heatwave continues across various parts of the UK, many will be thinking of ways to keep their home cool, and you needn’t spend a fortune to stay comfortable
As the UK braces for blistering temperatures this weekend, in what marks the third heatwave of the year already, many Brits will be looking forward to blissful hours spent in the garden with an ice lolly.
Others will be struggling to cope in the baking heat, even in the relative shelter of their own homes. Therefore, there’s no better time to put the nation’s favourite cooling tricks and tips to the test. Given that most UK buildings are designed to retain heat, finding ways to cool your home becomes crucial.
Luckily, there’s a budget-friendly tin foil trick everyone can try – after a quick trip to Tesco, Asda, Aldi or any other one of your favourite local supermarkets.
Needless to say, kitchen foil is inexpensive and readily available – you can pick it up for as little as £1.20 in Asda – and it could prove worth every penny if it helps keep the heat at bay. But does it actually work?
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This straightforward hack involves placing foil in your windows to block sunlight from entering your home. While it might not win any beauty contests, it’s fairly easy to put into action. However, if you have large windows, you might need to stock up on a few rolls.
According to the experts at H2ouse, this DIY trick is perfectly safe. A member of the savvy squad, known for dishing out thrifty household hacks, clarified: “The heat of the sun cannot melt the aluminium foil-it is tough enough to handle high oven temperatures, so it can certainly handle the power of summer sunlight.
“And being exposed to heat will not radiate harmful toxins into your house when it’s exposed to sun and heat, either.”
Offering some insight into the overall effectiveness of this hack, Allison from H2ouse weighed in with a mixed verdict: “As far as keeping the heat out of a home, there’s no proof that aluminium foil on its own is particularly effective at this task.”
She added, “Sure, it will reflect some light away, preventing it from entering the home. However, the foil itself does heat up over time, so the extra heat isn’t necessarily all bouncing away into the air. Some of it is still getting inside.”
Yet, it seems the method might have some merit. When Leeds Live’s Alex Evans put the tip to the test in his own abode, he was gobsmacked by the outcome.
Armed with a thermometer, he discovered that the temperature in his upstairs room with foil-covered windows was notably cooler than a downstairs room without the shiny treatment. The difference wasn’t just measurable—it was palpable.
Alex shared his findings, saying: “I walked into this room at about midday and honestly, it was an amazing difference. No lie, it’s definitely the coolest part of the house.”
Despite not being too keen on the appearance, Alex declared the foil cover experiment a ‘huge win’, pleasantly surprised to discover the test room was ‘much cooler’ than it otherwise might have been without any protective steps taken.
Wrapping up his thoughts on the heat-beating hack, he commented: “It looks like an unsightly crack den but it really does keep a house cooler in a heatwave, and all it costs is 68p and some dignity in your neighbours’ eyes.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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