As a relentless heatwave sends temperatures soaring across the UK, millions face sleepless nights in sweat-soaked sheets. A red weather warning is set to come into force on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of serious health impacts. However, property and sleep experts have revealed a cheap hack: freezing bottles of tap water.
The method involves freezing several large bottles of water during the day. Before bed, wrap a frozen bottle in a pillowcase or towel and place it in bed. Acting like a "reverse hot water bottle," the ice-cold cylinder rapidly cools sheets, lowers core body temperature, and helps induce peaceful sleep.
How to Use the Frozen Bottle Hack
Experts recommend placing the towel-wrapped frozen bottle at the foot of the bed to cool feet, or hugging it close to the chest to lower core temperature. For added effect, place a bowl of ice cubes or a frozen water bottle in front of an electric fan to circulate a chilled breeze.
Additional Cooling Tips
Open windows on opposite sides of the home to create a natural wind tunnel, but only when outside air is cooler than inside. Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest daylight hours to prevent the bedroom from becoming a greenhouse.
With temperatures not expected to drop before midnight on Tuesday (23 June), households are advised to prepare bottles in advance.
DIY Window Covering
Kevin Pennington, owner of Lancashire Air Conditioning, suggests using bed sheets to cover the outside of windows to block direct sunlight. "If you have south-facing windows, you might want to consider putting sheets or newspaper on the outside of the windows to stop the sun from touching the window and getting into your house," he said. "It looks absolutely horrendous, but is massively effective. It can reduce the heat gain by up to 80 to 90 per cent with the right sheet."
