Sleep expert reviews viral TikTok heatwave hacks – including tin foil trick

As Brits look for cheaper ways to keep cool during the ongoing heatwave, sleep expert Dave Gibson has debunked the viral TikTok hacks – with a warning to fans who use the frozen water bottle trick

As Brits experience more scorching temperatures across the UK this week, people have flocked to TikTok to share their favourite tips on how to stay cool and sleep better in the heat.

From opening the loft hatch to putting tin foil on your windows, many have been looking for ways to keep cool on a budget.

Energy and pricing specialist Uswich recently revealed that keeping a typical 120w pedestal fan on all night could eat up around 33p per night – a huge expense amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Sleep expert Dave Gibson, from eve Sleep, has debunked these TikTok hacks to help you have a restful snooze this week.

So what does the expert have to say about the viral TikTok trends?

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Tin foil your bedroom windows

The tin foil window hack first made the rounds on TikTok in summer 2021, but it has recently gained attention after Brits discovered it can cost as little as 68p to cool down your whole house.

The technique is simple – spray your bedroom windows with soapy water to create a tactile surface, then stick tin foil to the windows, shiny side facing towards the outside.

Dave said: “This is a simple but clever hack. Somewhere between 20 to 30 percent of heat in a bedroom comes in through the windows so keeping the light from coming in is a great step.

“Also, by sticking tin foil to a window, reflecting the heat, you’re redirecting the sun and all its heat away from your bedroom. Due to its substance, the tin foil also won’t damage your windowsill or melt, even in this heatwave.”

He added: “The hack is also a great budget-friendly alternative to blackout curtains or blinds, and can encourage longer sleep for those who are easily disturbed by the morning light. It’s also a tenth of the price. The only downside, if any, is that your house may look a bit odd.”

Open the loft hatch

Another trick for a cool night’s sleep suggested on the video sharing platform is to leave the loft hatch open at night.

Although this may scare horror-movie fanatics, it’s a handy solution to reducing the temperature in your home.

Dave explained: “It doesn’t get more straightforward than this. As long as your loft is insulated between the rafters, then opening the hatch at night will allow the hot air accumulated throughout the day to rise and escape, efficiently lowering the temperature in the house.

“If you don’t have a loft, or live in a flat, then you can also try waiting till the temperature cools in the evening, then opening up all of the windows to create a draft – this works especially well if you have two windows on opposite ends of the flat.”

Frozen hot water bottles

Another popular TikTok hack involves filling up a hot water bottle two thirds of the way with cold water before placing it inside the freezer.

Once the water has frozen, wrap up the bottle in a tea towel and place it inside your bed covers just like you would a hot water bottle.

“This is a technique that has stood the test of time. It’s not new but definitely one I recommend you’d try at least once during a heatwave,” said Dave.

“However, I can’t stress enough that if you opt for this hack that you do not go on to use the same bottle in the winter.”

He explained: “By freezing water in a rubber bottle like this, in time, it can cause damage to the material and even the vacuum seal. This is because the water in the bottle expands as it freezes.

“What can then go on to happen if you fill it up with boiling water over the winter months, is that it can leak, or even burst, potentially causing burns if you’re holding it close.

“Make sure to keep your summer water bottle labelled, and even separate if you can,” Dave warned.

Freezing your bed sheets

This frosty hack saw TikTok users freeze their bed sheets as a way to cool down.

It involved placing the bottom sheet inside of a zip-lock bag and popping it into a freezer for 10-minutes before bedtime.

Then remake the bed with the cold sheets.

It was also recommended to dampen the sheets before putting them in the freezer for the ultimate effect.

Dave said: “The advantage to using this technique is that it helps your body temperature cool down which is one of the triggers to help us get to sleep.

“However, the downside is that as your body starts to warm up the sheets, they can then make things worse as the moisture evaporates to make the room muggy. So, I would only use this technique if you were also using a fan in the room to circulate the air too.

He added: “Also putting your pillowcases in the fridge or freezer is a better choice if you don’t want to try the full bed-sheet idea.”