'Genius' £1.20 tin foil hack that cools down your house in a heatwave

The UK is set to sizzle this week as weather maps turn a fiery red, signalling the arrival of a scorching heatwave. The Met Office has issued a yellow 'heat health alert' in anticipation of the blistering temperatures expected across the country.

Temperatures are predicted to soar between 26C and 30C in some regions, setting us up for a sweltering week ahead. With the mercury rising, everyone is on the hunt for cost-effective ways to keep their homes cool.

While fans and air conditioning units can provide relief, they come with a hefty price tag due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and potential health risks, reports the Express.

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UK homes, designed to retain heat due to our typically moderate climate, don't make things any easier. However, a simple trick involving a £1.20 roll of tin foil or kitchen foil - available at supermarkets like Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Aldi - could be the solution. It's worth noting that the price has risen from 68p to £1.20 over the past two years.

Those battling the heat have suggested using kitchen tin foil in windows, particularly those exposed to direct sunlight. Under normal circumstances, direct sunlight intensifies the sun's heat when it shines through a window, warming your home even further - a principle used by greenhouses to maintain warmth for plants.

However, foil operates by reflecting the sun's rays off the window, redirecting them back outside. Other alternatives include leaving your window open but your curtains closed, preventing direct sunlight from entering. However, this will still slightly heat your room through the curtains, whereas foil reflects the sun more effectively.

You might recall that foil's heat-reflecting properties are also beneficial in winter, as people were advised to hang strips of tin foil behind radiators to enhance their heat reflection into the room.

Is it safe to hang tin foil in windows during a heatwave?

Additional benefits of tin foil or 'aluminium foil' include its non-toxicity and its high melting point of 660C, meaning it can withstand even this heatwave with hundreds of degrees to spare without melting in the sun.

How to keep your house cool during a heatwave

Opening windows and doors, and keeping doors open to allow air to flow through the house. Placing bowls of water throughout the house in various rooms can also help keep the air temperature cool as the water evaporates. House plants also contribute to a cooler home.

They act as natural air conditioners, regulating the room's temperature by releasing moisture into the air through a process known as transpiration. You can also switch off appliances that aren't in use. Every device, including ovens, toasters, laptops or PlayStations, can generate small amounts of heat even on standby, contributing to the overall temperature of a home.

The same principle applies when charging items like your mobile phone; the minimal heat produced can slightly warm a room, so it's advisable to charge at night.

Switching to energy-saving LED lightbulbs can also help keep your house cool. Traditional lightbulbs such as Halogens generate a significant amount of heat while illuminating a room, and several Halogen lights or spotlights can quickly increase a room's temperature at night.

Consider changing to energy-efficient LEDs and try to keep lights off as much as possible - this will not only help maintain a cooler environment but also save you money.