As the UK heatwave brings temperatures up to 31 degrees, here’s some summer hacks to help you keep cool and sleep when it’s hot.
As temperatures hit the mid-20s over the weekend, you may be asking yourself: are we having a heatwave? And the answer is yes, we most certainly are – with top temperatures yet to come.
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Currently, London and parts of Essex and Surrey are forecast to hit 31 degrees on the 22 June, with temperatures expected to stay above 25 for the duration of the month.
Across the country, highs of 28 to 29 degrees are expected in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, with Cardiff seeing 27 and Glasgow 24.
When will the UK heatwave end?
Towards the end of June and into July, experts predict temperatures to remain above average – but conditions will become more changeable with the hot weather interrupted with rain showers.
How to keep cool and sleep when it’s hot
It’s what we’ve all been waiting for, but we love to moan don’t we? So now we want to know how to keep cool.
Most of us don’t have air conditioning in our homes, so keeping cool will be no easy feat. Here, L360 shares eight hacks to help keep your home cool during the day and to help you sleep through the heat come night time.
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1. DIY portable air conditioning
If you’ve got a fan that just isn’t cutting it, then this hack will make it more akin to air conditioning. Place a big bowl of ice-cold water or some ice blocks just in front or below the fan and it’ll cool the air in front of it, so you get a blast of chilled air in your direction rather than the fan just moving hot air around.
2. Position your fan carefully
If the DIY options above doesn’t appeal, then think about where best to put your fan. As heat rises, the coolest air in the room will be close to the floor so it makes sense to position your fan as low as possible pointing upwards, to blow the cooler air up into the room or directly onto you. If you’re getting a breeze from an open window then you can position your fan to blow hot air out of the room through an open door, or vice versa if it works better to blow hot air out of the window.
3. Open windows but close curtains
It might sound counterintuitive to close your curtains when opening windows, but this is a sure way to keep your home ventilated and at the same time help block out some heat. You’ll still get some airflow from an open window, plus you’re less likely to have any flying insects coming to visit. As soon as the sun goes down, however, whip those curtains wide open and the increased airflow should cool the place down before you go to bed.
4. Dress for hot weather
With all the curtains closed, it may be tempting to strip off and spend the day naked in a bid to keep cool, but this doesn’t necessarily work as well as you might think. Most of our furniture isn’t designed to be breathable, so the fabrics may well make you sweat more if you’re trying to relax in your birthday suit. You’re better off opting for baggy, breathable clothing — opt for linen clothing if you have it.
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Placing a cold towel on your neck can help you keep cool during a heatwave. Photo by Andres Ayrton
5. Cool down your pulse points
Rinsing your wrists under cold water helps to cool the blood pumping through them and can bring down your body temperature. Similarly, a cold towel or ice block on the back of your neck can also quickly cool down the body as this is an area of the body key to temperature regulation.
6. Keep your feet cool and elevated
It’s unlikely you’ll be wearing socks or slippers in the heat, but you still may need to put in some extra effort to keep your feet cool. They’re particularly sensitive to heat, due to so many pulse points (plus feet and ankles are often the first body parts to swell and leave you feeling uncomfortable), so try to keep them elevated if you’re sitting down or stick them in cold water for some quick relief.
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7. Time your bath or shower mindfully
It can be tempting to jump in the shower every few hours for a blast of cold water, but this won’t be great for your water bill (or the planet), so think about when it’s best to do so. For example, a cold shower before bed to bring your body temperature down could make all the difference to getting a good night’s sleep. If you’re trying to be particularly careful with your water consumption, you could even run a cold bath and dip in and out of it over the day.
8. Keep hydrated
You’re most likely going to be sweating more than usual, so you’ll need to up your water intake, too. It’s best to avoid caffeinated drinks as well, because not only can they effect hydration by increasing the need to wee but they can also raise your body temperature slightly, which is the last thing you need. Sip on cool water over the day and don’t forget to hydrate your skin, too. If you’re feeling the heat in your face, say if you have quite sensitive skin or are prone to flushing red, keeping a hydrating mist in the fridge can also bring some quick cooling relief and keep skin hydrated.
