As I had said before, I might be able to darken the bedroom, I would not be able to stop the dawn chorus early in the morning!
I personally would not want to mess with dyes even if it is just for the inner tent as it would be very messy, IMHO!
Each to their own.
I also tried wearing an eye mask and did not find it to be that effective for the reason explained - it is not just the light that woke me up early in the morning.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Looks like there’s been a thread about this already? I can’t find it, apologies to DK if I’m repeating comments.
Black dye won’t particularly help, and black material absorbs heat so you’d just wake up hot when the sun warms up or it would still be baking at bedtime.
So - have a look at blackout material in a good fabric shop: it has a thin silver foil backing that reflects heat & light back & you can get it in almost any colour; it’s for lining curtains. I lined my MH curtains at the habitation door, it stopped the light coming in so I got more sleep. I’m sure you could cobble together an internal canopy. Or drape the blackout material over the top of the internal area, if there is one, before putting up the outer tent.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 19/7/2022
Looks like there’s been a thread about this already? I can’t find it, apologies to DK if I’m repeating comments.
Black dye won’t particularly help, and black material absorbs heat so you’d just wake up hot when the sun warms up or it would still be baking at bedtime.
So - have a look at blackout material in a good fabric shop: it has a thin silver foil backing that reflects heat & light back & you can get it in almost any colour; it’s for lining curtains. I lined my MH curtains at the habitation door, it stopped the light coming in so I got more sleep. I’m sure you could cobble together an internal canopy. Or drape the blackout material over the top of the internal area, if there is one, before putting up the outer tent.
The living/sleeping area in my van is quite dark with the black out and reflective blinds are up (no curtains) and the black out curtains between the cab and the living/sleeping area drawn.
When Bean was younger, he slept in his bed in the passenger footwell. The cab curtain which is also black out ones does not extend to the floor like the one dividing the cab and the living/sleeping area.
He would waked me up when there was daylight at about 05:00! So I bought an external window cover and it helped him to wake up at a later time. It was a faff to put up and pack away if I were to take the van out to go somewhere during our stay.
He destroyed his nice soft bed and does not like the replacement plastic bed. So he sleeps on his blanket in the living area under my bed nowadays, and wakes up at reasonable time around 07:30 when he needs to go outside or is hungry!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I dyed my bed pods as my sleeping routing is way past 9am (i work till gone midnight every night).
works a treat..
not hot, the outer canvas reflects heat..
dawn chorus is taken care of with my fantastic moulded silicone ear plugs....
not messy as its done in a washing machine...
blackout material is almost impossible to fit due to the shape and curvature of the pods..
i used one dylon ball per pod and they are jet black.
my camper is 20 years old and in fantastic condition, however as i wont be selling, im not bothered about the resale. i`d rather be comfy and rested rather than 4 hours sleep and the bed pod lighting up like a flare every morning.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Anyone used black dye to reduce light?
via mobile 19/7/2022 at 7:29pm
