Overview
- The Met Office‑reported heat dome on Friday, June 26 has pushed daytime highs close to 40°C and left nights around 25°C, leaving many people restless and struggling to sleep.
- Health and industry sources recommend easy, low‑cost measures such as hanging a damp towel or sheet at an open window, the 'Egyptian method' in doorways, wearing lightly damp cotton socks chilled in the freezer, and using a chilled water bottle to pre‑cool bedding.
- Evaporative cooling works because water needs energy to turn into vapour and pulls heat from the air or skin as it evaporates, and cooling the feet can help lower overall body temperature to aid sleep.
- Practical limits matter: airflow is essential for the towel or sheet method, fabrics should be damp not soaking to avoid a muggy room, and high humidity reduces evaporation and makes these tricks less effective.
- These DIY approaches are presented as energy‑saving alternatives to fans or air conditioning and may lower bills and improve comfort during the heatwave, but their benefit will vary by humidity, ventilation and local conditions.