Yoghurt-Slathered Windows Outsmart Heatwave in Loughborough Lab Test
Loughborough University senior lecturer Ben Roberts cools a test house with supermarket Greek yoghurt, not tinfoil, slashing temperatures by 3.5°C—Google’s top searches now ask, “Does yoghurt on windows really cool a house?” and “How to keep rooms cool in a heatwave?” Roberts says, “We can’t get houses to cool down during the day,” but after slathering 10% fat yoghurt on glass, the sun’s heat retreats, and the only side effect: a fleeting dairy scent lasting 30 seconds.
Roberts’ experiment—featuring a yoghurt-smeared window and its odourless aftermath—sparked surprise when temperatures dropped up to 3.5°C, as “How to cool a room fast?” and “Best window heat blockers” trend. PhD student Niloo Todeh-Kharman ran parallel houses; only the glazed dairy dwelling stayed cool, while foil blocked even more heat, underscoring the absurdity of yoghurt outclassing modern gadgets. Even Dr Zoe De Grussa admits, “It’s not your everyday hack”—yet here it is, defying all logic and expectation.
On the hottest days, supermarket-brand Greek yoghurt outcooled glass by up to 3.5°C, leaving Loughborough’s windows streaked but scientifically vindicated—and neighbours quietly confused.
