A mother from Sheffield has shared a free and simple trick that helps her family sleep comfortably during heatwaves. Laura Stenton-Slater, 37, swears by the budget-friendly hack, claiming it cools her body down faster than fans and has transformed bedtime for her and her three children.
How the Hack Works
Laura soaks flannels in cold water and puts them in the freezer an hour before bedtime. Once frozen, she places them next to her and her children's beds so they can reach for them if they wake up hot. Placing the frozen flannels on their necks or stomachs instantly cools them down.
"I tend to prepare them in advance whenever hot weather is forecast," Laura said. "The frozen flannels stay really cold initially and then gradually thaw. Even after they've melted, they remain pleasantly cool for quite a while."
Preparing the Flannels
Laura keeps the flannels on a tray next to the bed to contain any water as they thaw. She emphasizes the importance of wringing them out before freezing to avoid mess. "As long as you remember to wring them out before freezing them, they work brilliantly and don't make a mess," she added.
Impact on Sleep
The difference has been significant for Laura and her children. "When I'm overheated or recovering from long runs, I can spend hours tossing and turning trying to get comfortable. The cold flannels help lower my body temperature and ease muscle soreness at the same time, which means I can relax and fall asleep much more quickly. During heatwaves they've genuinely transformed bedtime for both me and my children," she said.
Laura, who works as head of bid management, struggled with sleep during hot weather before discovering the hack. "Hot weather affects my sleep quite a lot. Once I feel overheated, I find it difficult to switch off and get comfortable. The combination of feeling too warm and not being able to cool down quickly can lead to a very restless night," she explained.
Family and Friends Adopt the Hack
Laura's family and friends have also tried the frozen flannel method. "Friends and relatives who've heard about the idea have also tried it themselves, particularly during hotter spells," she said. Unlike fans or opening windows, which can be noisy or ineffective, the flannels provide direct cooling without trying to cool the entire room.
Origin of the Hack
The trick originated during Laura's training for the London Marathon in 2026, which she completed wearing wellies to raise money for the charity Unique, raising over £4,200. "It actually started as a recovery method rather than a cooling hack. During marathon training, I was struggling with sore legs after long runs, and I found that placing cold, wet flannels on the affected muscles helped reduce the discomfort and allowed me to get to sleep more easily," she said.
After the marathon, during a heatwave, Laura remembered the effectiveness of cold flannels. "One particularly hot night I was struggling to sleep and my children were too. I decided to wet a batch of flannels and put them in the freezer because I thought they'd stay colder for longer than if I simply used them straight from the tap. It worked so well that it's become our go-to heatwave sleep hack ever since," she added.
Social Media Response
Since sharing the idea on TikTok under the handle @lauramuddysolesclub, Laura has received an outpouring of positive feedback. "Most people are surprised by how simple it is. I've had lots of positive reactions from people saying they can't believe they hadn't thought of it before. Many people have said they're going to try it themselves, especially parents looking for ways to help children sleep during hot weather. I think people appreciate that it's such an easy, low-cost solution that doesn't require buying any special equipment," she concluded.
