The weather is going to be glorious this week, with hot temperatures expected all week – but how do you stay cool when it’s really hot? An expert shares their top tips…
As Brits enjoy the summer heatwave, many will be digging out their fans, suncream and paddling pools – but there are also a number of free and easy ways to keep cool in the heat.
While it’s nice to be treated to some good weather, if you’re stuck inside and working all day, it can make you want to just sit in front of a fan 24/7 – but that could, of course, see your bills rocket. However, expert Lucy Askew from curtain and blinds company Hillary’s has shared her savvy, budget-friendly tips to make the weather more bearable.
Lucy told Mirror Online: “The weather is so up and down at the moment; it can sometimes be hard to keep track. By the time the heatwave is upon us, everyone’s ran out and purchased a fan leaving shelves empty and others without a source of cool air.
“If the queues are too long and you’re worried about them being sold out of the items you are looking for, then these simple tips will help you to keep temperatures down when the weather is scorching. It is important to keep the house cool, especially if you have children or pets around, so they don’’t overheat, and those who might be strapped for cash or counting their pennies can also use these tips without having to spend a penny.”
Learn more
This oscillating electric fan from Amazon is perfect for this week’s heatwave. Its bladeless design creates almost no noise allowing for peaceful, cool nights—order on Amazon Prime for next-day delivery.
Reduced by over £10, Amazon’s silent desk fan is a summer heatwave essential. Its compact size means you can bring it into the office or keep it on your desk when working from home without taking up too much space.
Keeping your baby cool in the heatwave is essential. This toddler-safe portable fan from Amazon wrap clips onto the handle of your stroller or car seat.
Use blinds/shutters/curtains to block out any sunlight
Keeping your house cool is essential during a heatwave and, if you find that your house lets in direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, you could find that conditions quickly become unbearable.
If your house does experience more sunlight throughout the day then it’s recommended you keep your curtains, shutters and blinds shut to stop the sunlight from beaming into your home. This will keep things marginally cooler and slightly more bearable during heatwaves.
Stay hydrated
It’s imperative that you drink plenty of water during any heatwave; keep your fridge stocked up with bottled water and consider putting some in the freezer that you can use as ice blocks for when the temperature reaches its peak in the afternoon. It is important to keep your body hydrated so you do not end up suffering from heat stroke or dehydration headaches and migraines.
Have warm showers
A lot of people think that cold showers will help to keep you cool but in fact, warm showers are actually far more effective in cooling you down when your body temperature is running hot. A warm (not hot) shower will initially feel worse than a cold shower but, because a freezing cold shower closes your pores shut, within a few minutes of taking the shower you will end up feeling warmer than you did beforehand as your initial core temperature releases.
Drink tea or coffee
Whilst you may crave a nice cold drink during a heatwave, it has been said that drinking hot drinks like tea or coffee will actually counteract the heat and cool your body quicker than cold drinks. This is because the hot drink will raise your core temperature which causes your blood to head towards your skin, causing you to sweat and ultimately cooling you off.
Put your wrists and ankles in cold water
There are pressure points on your wrists and ankles, so if you are feeling hot, why not try filling up a bowl with cold water and rest your wrists and ankles in it. The rest of your body will quickly cool and you won’t need to splash out any money on a paddling pool for the garden.
An earlier version of this story was published in June 2020.
Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]
