As temperatures start soaring, getting a comfortable night’s sleep during a sweltering heatwave can often be a nightmare. Even if you run your fan on full blast, the constant whirring sound can be just as disturbing — while quietly driving up your electricity bills overnight.
Fortunately, I've just discovered a smart way to help you stay cool at night without costing you. Not only is it a simple and practically ‘free’, but it involves a common bathroom staple that everyone has.
So if you want a quick way to chill out, check out this simple yet genius trick to help you survive a heatwave.
Hang a damp towel in front of your window
According to home experts, cracking open a window and draping a sheet or towel thoroughly soaked in cold water right in front of the breeze serves as a brilliant hack to cool your room's temperature.
This strange method works by instantly chilling the incoming outdoor heat as it flows through the wet material, blowing a refreshing breeze straight into your space. Essentially, the moisture from the towel absorbs the warmth from the outdoor air right at the window before it can flow inside your room.
So how can you do this? Simply fill a bowl or sink with water, and slightly dampen your towel (don’t soak it, or else it won’t work). Next, hang the towel in front of an open window to maximize the breeze, or if you prefer, you can also hang a towel across a doorway.
You’ll start to notice that your bedroom should feel considerably cooler and more comfortable throughout the evening (without any noise). Once the towel has dried out, simply re-dampen it, and replace What’s more, this uses zero electricity and will further save you on your energy bills — a win-win.
Alternatively, a sleep expert has suggested another strange hack to keep cool — sleep in damp socks! “This is an extremely strange one, but definitely hear me out,” adds Dr Deborah Lee, sleep expert from Doctor Fox working with Comfybedss.
“Wearing a pair of slightly damp cotton socks to bed can help us bring our core body temperature down through a process called evaporative cooling.
Our feet play a huge part in helping our body’s temperature regulate, so keeping them cool is vital and has a knock-on effect on the whole body. Rinse the socks out under the tap, wring them up so they’re not dripping and pop them on before bedtime.”
So if you ever want a quick way to instantly cool down your bedroom in a heatwave — or you're stuck without a fan, put your bathroom towels to good use instead.
