A clever trick dubbed “the best life hack ever” could help heat your room using everyday household items, a timely tip for Britons feeling the chill this winter amidst the cost-of-living crisis. The only things required are a tea light and a terracotta plant pot.
The ingenious method was put to the test by TikTok user @rightguysreview, who boasts 1.2 million followers. He was astounded by the effectiveness of the hack, noting that it raised his room temperature by half a degree within just two minutes. The TikToker detailed how he trialled this nifty trick, stating: “All right guys, cost of living crisis. Can one tea light and a plant pot heat up your room? Let’s give it a try.”
So how does this work?
He elaborated: “First things first light your candle. Place it on the middle of a plate and then pop the pot over, so the flame is directly below the hole. I’ll give that about three minutes and it’s meant to heat up quite warm.”
With energy bills soaring, UK households are exploring every possible avenue to reduce expenses. Experts have offered advice on how to keep homes cosy this winter without resorting to electricity.
The TikToker recorded the room temperature at 15 degrees when he lit the candle, then checked the thermostat again after allowing the makeshift heater to operate for two to three minutes.
He explained: “Close the door. Close the window, shut the curtains. Right, that’s been lit for around about three minutes. How does it feel? Oh wow. Oh, my days. What the flip. How? How? How is that so hot? It’s one little tea light.
“I reckon you get four plant pots, four tea lights, and four plates and do for them on your table. Wow, your room would be like a sauna. You won’t believe this. Look at that. That’s gone up half a degree. Look at the time. That’s two minutes, half a degree, wow.”
The clip amassed an impressive 123,100 likes alongside more than 2,500 responses on the platform. One viewer commented: “Going to do this in my house.”
Another revealed: “15 years ago when I was on the dole, I used tealights to heat up my room because I couldn’t afford gas. I didn’t use a plant pot though.”
A third recommended: “Ceramic pot would work better with a couple of tea lights. But watch out for the price going up. Also, they burn oxygen and vent the room.”
However, one doubter remarked: “It went up half a degree because you close the doors and shut your curtains, not because of a candle.” Another questioned: “I think closing the doors and pulling the curtains did a big part of that 0.5C.”
However, firefighters have warned against this hack, with fire station manager Barclay Masterson saying: “Although these hacks may look like a good way to save money on heating bills, they are very dangerous and we would urge people not to follow the videos posted online.
“Candles and tea lights increase the risk of fire in your home and should not be used for anything other than their intended purpose. They should be put in heat-resistant holders that hold the candle or tea light firmly and placed on a flat, stable and heat-resistant surface.”
