Brits urged to put rice in pillow on Wednesday

Britons struggling to sleep during this week’s heatwave are being urged to try an unusual bedtime trick involving a common kitchen cupboard staple.

The advice comes as high temperatures continue across parts of the UK, with the Met Office warning that many areas will experience unusually warm conditions this week, bringing the prospect of uncomfortable nights and disrupted sleep for millions.

As households search for ways to stay cool without air conditioning, experts have highlighted a simple hack that involves filling a clean sock with rice and placing it in the freezer before bed.

According to lifestyle publication Southern Living, the frozen rice pack can then be placed on bedding to help cool sheets before getting into bed.

The publication said: “Cool Your Bed Before You Hop In. If it’s an especially hot night or you prefer extra chill, put your pillowcase in the freezer for 15 minutes before bedtime.”

It added: “While you can warm your bedding with a heated blanket or hot pad in winter, you can also do the reverse in summer. Put an ice pack or a sock filled with rice in the freezer and place it on your sheets to cool them before you hop into bed.”

The trick has attracted attention because rice retains cold temperatures for longer than many fabrics and can be frozen without creating the moisture problems associated with ice packs or frozen towels.

Sleep experts regularly warn that overheated bedrooms can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, with cooler sleeping environments generally linked to better sleep quality.

The Met Office has forecast warm and humid conditions across many parts of the country this week, with temperatures climbing well above average for the time of year. While sunny days are expected to be welcomed by many, overnight temperatures are also forecast to remain elevated, increasing the risk of restless nights.

Alongside the rice trick, experts recommend keeping curtains closed during the day, avoiding heavy bedding and opening windows when temperatures begin to drop in the evening.

For those finding it difficult to get comfortable, however, a frozen sock filled with rice could prove to be one of the simplest and cheapest heatwave hacks to try before bedtime on Wednesday night.