A little-known hack using a hot water bottle could help Britons sleep during the heatwave, as temperatures are set to reach 32°C in some areas this weekend.
Nick Small, an expert at AO.com, suggests filling a hot water bottle three-quarters full with cold water and placing it in the fridge or freezer for a couple of hours. The chilled bottle can then be placed under the covers to cool the bed before sleeping.
Phoebe Jobling, a reporter who tried the method, said she left the bottle in the freezer for two hours before placing it in her bed. She found it made the sheets feel cooler and helped her sleep, though she woke up warm after a few hours and moved the bottle closer to her body.
Experts warn that the bottle should not be overfilled or placed directly on the skin to avoid discomfort. Bed linen expert Jasmine Silk advised filling it no more than halfway to prevent bursting, and noted that freezing may damage the rubber over time, so a separate bottle for cooling is recommended.
