Woman shares £2 heatwave hack which 'cooled her house by 4C'

Watch: Woman shares £2 trick to reduce temperature of your house by up to four degrees

A woman has come up with a clever heat hack which she says has reduced her home’s temperature by four degrees - and only cost her £2.

Like many across the UK, Jay Virdee has been roasting in her home in Buckinghamshire as the UK swelters in heat of up to 40C.

Having spotted a car with a large sunshade in the windscreen, Jay was inspired to find a similar solution which could also be applied to her home.

She tried tinfoil but it was too expensive, tore easily and created a ‘total blackout’ that she did not want.

Read more: UK temperature hits 40C for first time on record

But an emergency foil blanket fit the bill, and Jay found it ticked every box in creating a cooler home as temperatures soar.

They are large, reusable, can be bought in multipacks and are transparent enough to be able to see out whilst reducing between 50-60% of the sun coming in.

She says it's meant her home is a whole four degrees cooler inside, meaning she can avoid the worst of the heat.

Jay’s brilliant hack does come with a couple of safety warnings to ensure that no one is negatively impacted by the use of this emergency item.

Read more: UK has hottest night on record, Met Office figures show

Jay said: “One blanket goes a very long way - it is very big.

“They are only necessary for the windows receiving the most sun so there’s no need to sell out any stores or raid emergency supplies!

“It’s best to apply in the morning or evening and do a 360 check outside the house to ensure it’s not reflecting any sun into vehicles or other houses.

“It should also be applied securely to ensure that children or vulnerable people can’t pull it down and hurt themselves.

“My dog loves anything crispy-sounding so I’ve made sure it’s out of his reach!”

Read more: Thunderstorm warning issued by Met Office after record-breaking heatwave

Jay suffers from lung disease and a rare autoimmune condition, so it is vital for her to stay healthy and safe during extreme weather.

She said: “Extreme heat can cause flare-ups of health conditions that can lead to you feeling very fatigued and unwell.

“Besides feeling cooler, I feel happier as my lungs are nowhere near as affected as they would be in such a heatwave.

“It also stops you from needing to keep the fan on all day - which is great whilst we’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis.”