🥵 Too Hot to Handle? Here’s How to Keep Cool at Home Without Melting (or Breaking the Bank)

If you’ve been sticking to your sofa like a grilled cheese sandwich lately, you’re not alone. This heatwave is no joke, and while we love a bit of sunshine, it’s getting a bit too much like living inside a toaster. So, here are some easy (and mostly cheap!) ways to keep your cool at home—even if air con is just a fantasy from your last holiday.

🥵 Too Hot to Handle? Here’s How to Keep Cool at Home Without Melting (or Breaking the Bank)

If you’ve been sticking to your sofa like a grilled cheese sandwich lately, you’re not alone. This heatwave is no joke, and while we love a bit of sunshine, it’s getting a bit too much like living inside a toaster. So, here are some easy (and mostly cheap!) ways to keep your cool at home—even if air con is just a fantasy from your last holiday.

1. Block That Sun Like It’s a Nosy Neighbour

Close your blinds, curtains, or anything else you can find during the day. South-facing windows are the worst offenders—like little heat cannons aimed right at your face. Blackout curtains are ideal, but even a DIY blanket-draped-over-the-window job will help.

💸 Cost: Free (unless you decide to splash out on thermal curtains, which can cost around £15–£30 a pair)

2. Fans: Your New Best Friends

Fans don’t actually cool the air, but they make you feel cooler by moving it around. A standard 40W pedestal fan costs about 1p per hour to run—so if you use it 8 hours a day, that’s around £2.50 a month. Not bad for some breeze, right?

Pro tip: Stick a bowl of ice in front of the fan and pretend you're in the Arctic. Just don’t trip over it on your way to the fridge.

💸 Cost: About £1–3/month, depending on how much you use it

3. Skip the Oven Unless You Fancy a Sauna

Now’s not the time for roast dinners. Ovens pump out heat like there’s no tomorrow. Go for no-cook meals, BBQs, or channel your inner Mediterranean and eat cold pasta salad three nights in a row. It’s fine, it’s “continental”.

💸 Cost: Saves electricity + your sanity

4. Open Windows (But Only at the Right Time)

Open them in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler outside. This lets the hot air escape and brings in that sweet, sweet breeze. Bonus points if you open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze. It’s basic physics—go you!

💸 Cost: Free, unless a moth flies in and claims squatter’s rights

5. Ditch the Duvet

Swap your big fluffy winter duvet for a light sheet or a fan-friendly cotton blanket. Sleeping in 30°C heat with a 13.5 tog duvet is the adult version of self-sabotage.

💸 Cost: £10–£20 for a light summer set, or just kick your duvet off and hope for the best

6. Unplug the Heat Makers

Laptops, TVs, chargers—they all give off heat when left on. If it’s not being used, unplug it. Your room will thank you (and so will your energy bill).

💸 Cost: Saves money, roughly £1–£3/month depending on how much stuff you leave plugged in

7. Dress (and Drink) for the Heat

Think loose clothes, light colours, and natural fabrics like cotton or linen. Avoid tight, sweaty clothes unless you’re auditioning for a role as a boiled ham. And drink plenty of water. Sorry, iced coffee doesn’t count (but we won’t judge).

💸 Cost: Free-ish, unless you treat yourself to a linen loungewear set and a novelty water bottle

8. Create a Cool-Down Zone

If you’ve got a portable fan or even a small air con unit (lucky you), focus on cooling one room—don’t try to tackle the whole house. Shut the door and make that room your personal chill-out cave.

💸 Portable air con: £0.30–£0.50/hour to run, so use wisely!

9. Cold Showers & Damp Flannels: The DIY Spa

Take a lukewarm (not freezing) shower to help your body cool down. Or go full grandma mode and pop a damp flannel in the fridge, then dab your neck and wrists. It’s surprisingly effective—and oddly satisfying.

💸 Cost: Just a bit of water, so practically free

10. Keep the Lights Low

Old-school bulbs give off heat like mini suns. Turn them off or switch to LEDs, which stay cool and use way less power. Your house shouldn’t double as a greenhouse.

💸 LEDs cost about £1/year to run, vs £8 for old bulbs

Bottom Line:

Staying cool doesn’t mean cranking up the bills. With a few tweaks, some well-placed fans, and a bit of strategic laziness, you can survive the heatwave without melting into a puddle of regret.

Now go stick your head in the fridge and tell it we said hi. 😎

Get in touch with us

First Name

Last Name

Your Email Address

Mobile Phone

Are you looking to

Buy

Sell

Rent

Let

Please enter message here

Please confirm that it is okay for us to contact you about this information as well as products and services. (You will always be given the right to unsubscribe at any point in the future)

Confirm

Timing It Right: When Is the Best Time to Put Your Home on the Market?

If we had a pound for every time we heard, “Is now a good time to sell?”, we wouldn't need to sell any houses at all!

CLICK HERE >

Is It Time to Downsize? Key Signs to Watch For

Downsizing can be a smart move at the right time—but how do you know when that is? This guide highlights common signs that it might be time to consider a smaller home and the benefits it can bring.

CLICK HERE >

Question?..... What Is an EWS1 Form and Why Might You Need One?

An EWS1 form confirms the fire safety of a building’s external walls. Introduced after the Grenfell tragedy, it’s often required by mortgage lenders for flats in taller buildings or those with cladding, helping assess potential fire risks and impact on property value.

CLICK HERE >

Are You Ready to Sell Your Home This Summer?

Thinking of selling your home this summer? Before you list, here’s what you need to know to avoid sitting unsold, missing the right buyer or losing thousands. A few smart decisions now can change everything.

CLICK HERE >