As the United Kingdom experiences some of its hottest June nights on record, people are seeking out unconventional methods to combat the stifling temperatures. While traditional advice like keeping blackout curtains closed remains popular, many are turning to more creative and DIY solutions to find relief.

These innovative techniques come as the UK grapples with a significant heatwave, prompting a public search for effective coping mechanisms beyond standard recommendations. The unusual methods highlight the lengths individuals are going to in order to manage extreme heat in their homes.

One such method involves using survival blankets, typically employed by athletes to regulate body temperature. Bethan Earley from Rugby places these reflective blankets on the outside of her windows. While her home still warms up, she notes it takes considerably longer. John Turbefield, 38, from Chichester, has adopted a similar approach, covering some windows with white bed sheets and others with survival blankets, which he finds effective for reflecting light and heat away.

Turbefield has also implemented a cooling system using fans and frozen water bottles. He stocks his freezer with two-litre plastic bottles of water, then positions them in front of and behind the five fans strategically placed around his house. He advises that this method requires patience, as the large bottles can take a couple of days to freeze solid.

For sleeping, Stephanie Reed, 39, from Chorley, who finds extreme heat triggers her epilepsy, uses a damp hand towel placed at the end of her bed, sleeping with her feet on it to regulate her temperature. She also partially freezes her daughter's bed sheet before bedtime, creating a cool surface for sleep without it becoming uncomfortably icy.

Gordon Cooper, 73, from High Wycombe, hangs a wet bath towel in his bedroom and uses a fan to circulate the cooler air. Others, like Anabelle Holschuh, 30, from London, have resorted to changing their sleeping locations entirely. During a previous heatwave, she slept on her floor to escape the heat of her attic bedroom. This time, she is opting for her north-facing living room sofa, which features high ceilings and an electric fan.

The UK Health Security Agency advises opening windows only when the outside air is cooler than inside and suggests turning off heat-generating electronics like TVs, laptops, and chargers to help mitigate indoor temperatures. These official guidelines contrast with some of the more unorthodox, yet seemingly effective, personal strategies being shared.

The widespread adoption of these DIY hacks underscores the challenges many face in keeping cool during extreme weather events and highlights a growing trend of community-driven solutions in the absence of readily available or sufficient cooling infrastructure for all.