Brits urged to cover paddling pool with 3p item that 'heats it up in minutes'

Paddling pools are an easy way to cool down in the height of summer, but taking a dip can be a chilly experience if you've just filled it up via hose.

The freezing cold water can be enough to deter children who, despite often nagging for it to be assembled, may snub the pool when they find out it's bitterly cold inside.

Some people opt to boil the kettle numerous times, fill up buckets, and ferry them back and forth from the house to take the edge off the coldness. Some may have a hose attachment which allows warm tap water to run directly from the sink into the pool.

But if you've got neither, one hack which costs just 3p (and no added water) is said to be a game-changer, but be warned - it's all in the prep. However, in under an hour, your paddling pool could be far less cold and a milder temperature for the children.

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A clever paddling pool hack

As reported by NET Mums, the hack was shared on the Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It Facebook group. The mum revealed that the secret was covering the pool with black bin liners.

That's because the rays of sunshine will warm the water in the paddling pool, eliminating the need for unnecessary back-and-forth trips to the kitchen. She wrote: “I did this because I only have a cold outside tap and I was using buckets and the kettle to warm up the pool.

“By putting black bin bags on top it attracts the sun and it warms it up very quickly. Within about 45 minutes the water is warming and stays warm all day in the sun,” she explained.

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The clever idea not only warms up the water while your children are playing around the garden, but it also stops the water from getting cold overnight. As the sun rises in the early morning, it will also preheat the paddling pool.

Even better, it will stop bugs and insects from getting to the water, which is a common occurrence if the paddling pool is left up overnight. This life-saver hack only costs 3p, and it’s accessible to get in any supermarket or local store - but you’re likely to have it in your kitchen, saving you from having to buy it.