Latest news with #coolinghacks
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Climate
- The Sun
I tried the WORST summer fan ever – three reasons why everyone should avoid tempting bargain
EVERYONE is digging out the fans and their best cooling hacks as the weather heats up again. There are so many fan options and air conditioning units to choose from, but they don't come cheap. 2 So when I spotted a bargain fan with a twist I thought I might be onto a winner. I'd also seen a load of these types of devices all over TikTok, with people saying how good they are. The product in question is a handheld water mist spray fan. What a great idea! A cool water mist blowing straight to my face on a hot summer's day, I believed. And at £8, I really thought I couldn't go wrong. Alas, I was very mistaken. This device is not the cooling solution I had hoped for one bit. Firstly, the mist was not very misty at all. It was more like the spray bottle I use for watering my plants, leaving my face pretty drenched - just the thing I was trying to avoid. Secondly, the fan is really quite weak - I've had far better handheld fans over the years. Met Eireann confirm 22C heat to blast this weekend as spots with 'best chance of sunshine' pinpointed And finally, at this size it's not very portable either. So, it's back to the traditional fans I go. Maybe this particular model I bought was no good but I'm not convinced by the concept at all now and would urge others to avoid and try something else. DANGEROUS VIRAL FAN HACKS TO AVOID There are a number of cooling hacks going around on social media that experts say aren't safe at all. One of the most popular heatwave hacks online is the "DIY air conditioning unit". The hack sees users attach frozen bottles of water to the back of their fan in a bid to circulate cooler air around their room. "This mindless 'hack' is not only dangerous but ineffective too," explained Luke Osborne, technical director at Electrical Safety First. "The frozen bottles of water will inevitably melt, creating condensation on the outside of the bottle. "This will create water droplets that risk coming into contact with the motor of the fan, increasing your risk of electric shock. "You're also adding weight to your fan that it's not designed to handle, which may put unnecessary stress on your fans motor and risk damaging your device. "Whilst you may find you get a few seconds of relief, this hack is pointless in that it won't supply enough cold air to reduce the temperature across a room." Similarly, other content creators have put freezing towels over the top of their electric fan which is also dangerous. Image credit: Getty
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Can't sleep in the heat? 3 tried-and-tested hacks to help you nod off comfortably as temperatures soar
Staying cool and comfortable during a heatwave is no mean feat, particularly in the UK, where we're so much less equipped than other regions. Given we rarely experience such scorching heat, the majority of us don't have air-con units, and since a decent fan can cost upwards of £100 (and, let's be real, won't be needed for 50 weeks of the year), lots of people are stuck with one that feels like it's simply churning out stale warm air. While we can function through the day – albeit a bit slower and sweatier than usual – it's at nighttime that the real heatwave discomfort kicks in. There are few worse feelings than tossing and turning, desperately flipping your pillow and counting down the hours, knowing you're going to feel dreadful the coming morning. But that needn't be your hot-weather fate. We've compiled a list of three handy hacks for staying cool during balmy nights that'll have you thinking: 'How haven't I thought of that before?' Prepare to wake up feeling rested, refreshed and just a little bit smug. Hang a wet sheet in front of your window There's a lot of debate about whether windows and curtains should be open or closed to keep your place cool in the summer. But according to Dreams Sleep Expert, Sammy Margo, there's a simple answer. 'Dampen a sheet with cold water, and then hang it in front of an open window,' Margo advises. 'The breeze blows the sheet and the cold water slowly evaporates, cooling down your room.' Invest in a pet cooling mat Anyone with a furry friend will know just how important it is to keep them cool when hot weather strikes. That's why supermarket shelves are filled with gel cooling pads, usually around £5, that you pop in the freezer and then place on your pet's bed for them to lie on. However, one savvy BBC Radio 2 listener texted into the show and pointed out the pet coolers work just as well when used in human beds. And a quick scour of the internet shows it's true: plenty of people cool the gel pads during the day, then place them underneath their fitted sheet before getting into bed. It's important you opt for a specially designed gel pad (like the pet versions available in supermarkets) rather than trying to replicate it with a wet towel or the like. That's because the latter will start to melt and create a wet, uncomfortable bed, while the former is designed to stay cool for longer and gradually warm without leaking moisture. Power up your fan with a bowl of ice It's a common complaint that desk fans just blow out warm air. But there's a quick (and easy) way to make dusty old units instantly more effective. Either buy a bag of ice or freeze a tray of cubes, then tip them into a bowl and place it in front of your fan. According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, 'as the air passes over the ice, it will be chilled and will circulate refreshingly cold air around the room'.
