š„µ Too Hot to Handle? Hereās How to Keep Cool at Home Without Melting (or Breaking the Bank)
If youāve been sticking to your sofa like a grilled cheese sandwich lately, youāre not alone. This heatwave is no joke, and while we love a bit of sunshine, itās getting a bit too much like living inside a toaster. So, here are some easy (and mostly cheap!) ways to keep your cool at homeāeven if air con is just a fantasy from your last holiday.
š„µ Too Hot to Handle? Hereās How to Keep Cool at Home Without Melting (or Breaking the Bank)
If youāve been sticking to your sofa like a grilled cheese sandwich lately, youāre not alone. This heatwave is no joke, and while we love a bit of sunshine, itās getting a bit too much like living inside a toaster. So, here are some easy (and mostly cheap!) ways to keep your cool at homeāeven if air con is just a fantasy from your last holiday.
1. Block That Sun Like Itās a Nosy Neighbour
Close your blinds, curtains, or anything else you can find during the day. South-facing windows are the worst offendersālike little heat cannons aimed right at your face. Blackout curtains are ideal, but even a DIY blanket-draped-over-the-window job will help.
šø Cost: Free (unless you decide to splash out on thermal curtains, which can cost around Ā£15āĀ£30 a pair)
2. Fans: Your New Best Friends
Fans donāt 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 runāso if you use it 8 hours a day, thatās around Ā£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 donāt trip over it on your way to the fridge.
šø Cost: About Ā£1ā3/month, depending on how much you use it
3. Skip the Oven Unless You Fancy a Sauna
Nowās not the time for roast dinners. Ovens pump out heat like thereās no tomorrow. Go for no-cook meals, BBQs, or channel your inner Mediterranean and eat cold pasta salad three nights in a row. Itās fine, itās ācontinentalā.
šø Cost: Saves electricity + your sanity
4. Open Windows (But Only at the Right Time)
Open them in the early morning or late evening when itās 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. Itās basic physicsāgo you!
šø Cost: Free, unless a moth flies in and claims squatterās rights
5. Ditch the Duvet
Swap your big fluffy winter duvet for a light sheet or a fan-friendly cotton blanket. Sleeping in 30Ā°C heat with a 13.5 tog duvet is the adult version of self-sabotage.
šø Cost: Ā£10āĀ£20 for a light summer set, or just kick your duvet off and hope for the best
6. Unplug the Heat Makers
Laptops, TVs, chargersāthey all give off heat when left on. If itās not being used, unplug it. Your room will thank you (and so will your energy bill).
šø Cost: Saves money, roughly Ā£1āĀ£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 youāre auditioning for a role as a boiled ham. And drink plenty of water. Sorry, iced coffee doesnāt count (but we wonāt judge).
šø Cost: Free-ish, unless you treat yourself to a linen loungewear set and a novelty water bottle
8. Create a Cool-Down Zone
If youāve got a portable fan or even a small air con unit (lucky you), focus on cooling one roomādonāt try to tackle the whole house. Shut the door and make that room your personal chill-out cave.
šø Portable air con: Ā£0.30āĀ£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. Itās surprisingly effectiveāand oddly satisfying.
šø 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 shouldnāt double as a greenhouse.
šø LEDs cost about Ā£1/year to run, vs Ā£8 for old bulbs
Bottom Line:
Staying cool doesnāt 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. š