Keep cool in the heat

There’s something about the British summer that’s lovely but also sometimes unbearable. Unlike houses in hotter countries, most British properties were built to retain heat rather than let it out, which means when temperatures rise, things can get stuffy fast.

The good news is that you don’t need air conditioning to stay comfortable. With the right habits and a few clever tricks, you can keep your home cool and protect your health, even when the temperature soars.

Use cross-ventilation

One of the most effective things you can do costs nothing: open windows and doors on opposite sides of your home at the same time. This creates cross-ventilation, drawing cooler air in on one side and pushing warm air out the other.

The key is to open on more than one side of the house. A single open window barely shifts the air inside; two or more on different walls or floors creates a through-draught that can drop the perceived temperature significantly. If you live in a two-storey home, opening a window downstairs and one upstairs works especially well. As the warm air rises and escapes through the higher opening, it draws the cooler air in below.

Try this in the early morning and evening when outside temperatures are lower, and try and ensure one of the open windows is in the shade.

Keep the sun out

Windows that face south can let in a tremendous amount of heat when the sun is shining directly through them. Close curtains, blinds, or shutters on these windows during the hottest hours to block the radiant heat before it enters the room.

Blackout curtains or thermal blinds work best, but even light-coloured curtains will help reflect sunlight away. It might feel counterintuitive to close things up on a sunny day, but keeping direct sunlight out is one of the best ways to keep indoor temperatures manageable.

Cool Yourself, Not Just the Room

When it’s very hot, cooling your body directly is often more efficient than trying to cool the entire house.

• Cold water on pulse points: your wrists, neck, and ankles are areas where blood vessels sit close to the skin. Running cold water over them or applying a damp cloth can bring your body temperature down quickly.
• Stay hydrated: drink water regularly throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine, which can dehydrate you faster than you realise.
• Cool showers or baths: a lukewarm (not icy cold) shower is one of the most effective ways to lower your body temperature. Ice-cold water can cause the body to react by conserving heat.
• Light, loose clothing: natural fabrics like cotton and linen breathe much better than synthetic materials. Light colours also absorb less heat from sunlight.

Invest in a decent fan

A fan doesn’t actually cool the air, it moves it. This helps sweat evaporate from your skin more quickly, making you feel cooler. Position a fan so it blows air across you rather than just circulating the same hot air around the room.

For an extra boost, place a bowl of ice or a frozen water bottle in front of the fan. As it blows over the ice, it picks up cooler air and delivers a refreshing breeze. This works particularly well in a bedroom at night.

If you have a ceiling fan, check which direction it’s spinning. In summer it should rotate anticlockwise (when viewed from below) to push cool air down into the room.

How to stay cool at night

Many people find that nights during a heatwave are the hardest to deal with, and poor sleep in hot weather takes a real toll on wellbeing.

• Cool your bedroom before bedtime by opening windows fully in the evening when outside air starts to cool.
• Use lightweight bedding: swap duvets for a single cotton sheet, or look for specialist cooling covers.
• Put your pillowcase in the freezer for half an hour before bed for an instant cool-down when your head hits the pillow.
• Sleep low: heat rises, so if you can sleep downstairs or closer to the ground, you may find it marginally cooler.

Do your research on fans, as there are some that are quiet and economic enough to have on in the bedroom all night.

Reduce Heat Sources Inside the Home

Appliances generate heat even when you don’t notice it day-to-day. During a heatwave, it’s worth thinking about what’s adding to the warmth indoors.

• Avoid using the oven: opt for cold meals, salads, or cooking on the hob instead. A barbecue outside also keeps the heat out of the kitchen.
• Switch off electronics that you’re not using. Televisions, computers, and games consoles can generate residual heat when left on standby.
• Run washing machines and dishwashers in the evening rather than during the hottest part of the day, and if possible, air-dry laundry outside rather than using a tumble dryer.
• LED bulbs produce far less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs, another small but useful contribution.