With the UK facing its fifth heatwave of the summer, millions are struggling to sleep at night. Overheating and lying uncomfortably in bed can be frustrating, leaving you hot and clammy. While many turn to electric fans to cool the air, these can be noisy, costly to run, and circulate dust and pollen, making bedrooms even more stuffy.
Simple towel trick
Thankfully, there is another way to cool down bedrooms without using a fan. A bathroom towel is all you need. The Clever Hacks YouTube channel recommended placing a wet towel by bedroom windows at night, saying it has "helped them a lot" during hot weather.
They suggested hanging your wet towel on a window in the evening. "The moisture will make the room noticeably cooler right away," they said.
How it works
The sun can heat up windows all day, especially when temperatures are high. Air around the window also heats up and can get trapped in a room. When you draw your curtains at night, the warm air becomes sealed inside. Using the wet towel will draw in the hot air so the water can evaporate.
This cools the air before it enters your home, helping to cool your bedroom down so you can have a much better night's sleep.
Step-by-step guide
Fill a sink or bowl with cold water and lightly dampen your towel. Ring the towel out so it isn't soaking wet, as air will struggle to pass through if it is too wet. Take your damp towel to an open window and either hang it in front of the window like a curtain or place it on your windowsill.
Even without a breeze, the towel will still cool the air. You could also place a damp towel across a doorway. Once it has dried out, simply dampen it again. Your bedroom should feel more comfortable to sleep in.
