Summer is almost here in the UK, with beautiful sunshine currently brightening our days, yet managing high overnight temperatures can be difficult. There's little more annoying than tossing and turning in bed, perspiring heavily and struggling to fall asleep due to extreme warmth.
While many may recommend switching on a fan, the resulting noise can be disturbing when trying to sleep, and it also involves using extra electricity, leading to higher energy bills. Additionally, numerous people steer clear of bedroom fans as they typically spread dust and pollen around, producing a stale environment.
Thankfully, John Lawless from Best Heating has shared a simple method to maintain a cool home through the night that needs nothing beyond a towel. John said: "If you open a window and hang a damp towel or sheet in front of it that has been soaked in cold water it can cool the room down. This is because the warm air will have to pass through the sheet and turn it into cold air before it enters the room."
During daytime hours, sunlight warms up the air around windows, which then gets trapped inside, and when curtains are closed in the evening, all that heat becomes sealed within. While it might sound rather unusual, the towel method works well because water requires energy to evaporate, extracting it from the heat in the surrounding air. Moisture from a damp towel will draw heat from the air close to a window before it enters your home, significantly cooling a bedroom and helping you enjoy a more peaceful night's sleep.
How to keep your bedroom cool at night
To begin, fill a sink or bowl with cold water and lightly wet a towel. Make sure the towel is damp but not wringing wet. Take care, as an excessively saturated towel will hinder air from passing through it correctly, potentially leaving a room feeling muggy rather than refreshed.
Next, hang a towel next to a window. A certain amount of air circulation is vital, so ensure you place it in front of an open window to get the most out of this improvised cooling method. Don't worry if conditions are calm; even the slightest air movement will yield results. If you wish, you can also hang a towel in front of a doorway.
Once the towel dries out, simply re-dampen it, and your bedroom should feel noticeably more comfortable during the evening, regardless of the temperature outdoors.
