Senior Social News reporter Zahna Eklund put a viral kitchen foil trick to the test to cool her home during a heatwave. The method, costing just £1.50, did lower the temperature in her bedroom by two degrees Celsius, but experts caution that the foil must be placed on the outside of windows to prevent damage.
How the kitchen foil trick works
The trick involves covering windows with aluminium foil. In theory, the shiny surface reflects sunlight away, preventing heat from entering the home. Eklund applied foil to the inside of her bedroom window, which has a flat roof and a large rear window, making it the hottest room in her house.
Before applying the foil, her bedroom was 28°C. After covering half the window and taking a dinner break, the temperature dropped to 26°C. The following morning at 10am, it was 23°C. She found it easier to sleep that night and needed her fan for only a short period.
Safety concerns with the foil method
While the foil itself is safe—specialists at H2ouse confirmed that sunlight cannot melt it and it emits no toxins—Adam Pawson, Head of Digital at Safestyle, warned that placing foil on the inside can cause the glass to overheat. He told Ideal Home: "Blocking your windows with tin foil will help to keep your rooms cooler in the heat as it reflects the heat back outside. However, one mistake people make is placing the foil on the inside of the window. It is really important to be careful to place the tin foil on the outside of your windows rather than the inside to prevent the glass from getting too hot."
This could lead to the window seal failing, requiring replacement. Eklund noted that applying foil to upper-floor windows from the outside may be impractical and could draw curious looks from neighbours.
Conclusion: Does the trick work?
Eklund concluded that the trick does work, but the drawback of potential window damage and the hassle of external application may make a desk fan a simpler alternative. She reported that the foil reduced her bedroom temperature by 2°C within hours, and the effect lasted into the next morning.
