A simple tea towel trick used by chefs provides instant relief from heatwave conditions without the need for fans or special equipment, as discovered by a writer during a recent hot spell.
Discovery in the Kitchen
One of the worst aspects of a heatwave is that daily activities, including cooking, must continue. This reality led to an invaluable discovery about keeping cool indoors. A cold, wet towel is often cited as a remedy for cooling down, particularly for those struggling to sleep in the heat. However, in practice, the writer found it both messy and largely ineffective. The towel was either sodden, unpleasantly soaking clothes and bedding, or too dry to make any real difference.
A few days later, a eureka moment struck while standing at the stove, sweating profusely with fans running at full speed. The gaze landed on a tea towel hanging casually from the oven door handle. A standard hand towel seemed far too thick, heavy and cumbersome, but a tea towel might work.
The Tea Towel Method
Possibly too flimsy to achieve anything, the writer decided to give it a go regardless. Reaching for a clean tea towel—a go-to workhorse, a £1 Ikea classic featuring a single red stripe—the writer held it beneath the tap, squeezed out just enough water to prevent dripping, and draped it across the shoulders like a cape.
Despite only making contact with the neck and shoulders, the relief was instant, spread throughout the entire body, and persisted for hours while labouring away in the kitchen. Line cooks across the globe will likely be thinking 'Duh' because the writer had inadvertently discovered a time-honoured chef's cooling technique through simple trial and error.
Expert Endorsement
Keith Chiu, chef and founder of Love Sac, previously explained the technique: 'I think one of the best things you can get yourself is a cooling towel. Most of the time, chefs just sling one over your shoulder anyways. Instead, replace that with a cooling towel. You just rip it through cold water, wring it out, and it keeps your neck nice and cool. Would highly, highly recommend that.'
On Reddit, one cook recommended taking it a step further: 'When you take out that cool towel, make sure to dab your "cooling points" before wrapping around your neck. Wrists, elbow pits, knee pits, back of ankles. If you have time/a break and can use a different towel, hit the soles of your feet too.'
Practical Advice
Martin Lewis says: 'Heat the human, not the home.' The same principle applies when trying to cool down. Treat yourself to a chilled tea towel this summer and experience genuine relief.
