Yoghurt window hack prompts debate in heatwave

Which? suggests yoghurt on windows as a heatwave hack, prompting questions about practicality and safety.

Yoghurt window hack prompts debate in heatwave

UK households are facing a heatwave with temperatures above 30C in parts of the country and many homes lack air conditioning. Which? published a video showing yoghurt being painted on the outside of a window, claiming a thin white film could reflect sunlight and cool the interior. The piece also lists familiar tips such as closing blinds and taking cool showers.

Reaction online was mixed, with some users joking about the idea and others questioning its practicality and safety. Experts say there is little evidence this method would cool a home and warn that painting yoghurt on glass could stain surfaces or attract mould if left long enough. Readers are urged to rely on proven methods like shade, ventilation, and staying hydrated.

The episode reflects a larger pattern: during extreme weather, simple DIY ideas travel quickly, especially when they arrive from sources with perceived authority. The yoghurt trick taps into a desire for low cost, immediate fixes in homes that lack air conditioning. Yet it also highlights a risk in how media amplifies novelty over substantiation. Editors and readers alike should demand evidence and safety considerations when bizarre tips go viral.

Beyond the hack itself, the moment exposes a gap in how to communicate heat risk. Practical guidance needs to be clear and accessible, rooted in science, and free of hype. Trust in reliable methods like shading, ventilation, cool showers, and hydration remains essential as climate conditions grow more frequent.

Highlights

Reliability matters more than novelty when temperatures rise.