Warm weather has arrived once again in the UK, and although it's not as bad as last week's heatwave, it's still making it hard to sleep. When the sun shines into homes all day, they can retain heat, leading to restless nights. A cheap and simple solution involves one common item you probably already have: a flannel or face cloth.
The Frozen Flannel Trick
The tip was shared by Laura from running group Muddy Soles Club on TikTok during the May heatwave. The video has racked up more than 200,000 views, with many commenters eager to try it. Laura explained: "No fan, no aircon. Try this heatwave sleep hack."
Because your body needs to drop its core temperature to fall asleep, warm weather can trick your brain into staying awake. To cool down "super fast," Laura suggests soaking a couple of flannels in water, wringing them out, and putting them in the freezer about an hour before bedtime.
How to Use the Frozen Flannels
When you're ready to sleep, take the frozen flannels out and keep them next to your bed. Laura advised: "If you wake up roasting, lay them on the back of your neck or your stomach." She added: "Trust me, it cools you down super fast and makes it so much easier to get back to sleep."
Commenters agreed the hack works well. One wrote: "Oh this is a good one." Another said: "I'll be trying this tonight.. I can't sleep with the noise of the fan." A third commented: "Must try this!"
Alternative Cooling Suggestions
Other users shared their own tips. One person wrote: "I've been putting the hot water bottle in the freezer then taking it to bed." The frozen flannel method remains a popular, low-cost alternative to fans or air conditioning units during hot weather.
