An intense heatwave has hit huge swathes of England, leaving sweltering Brits suffering in homes that are not built to withstand high temperatures. The Mirror breaks down all the ways to cool down, fast
Brits across the country are struggling to cope in the heat with record-busting temperatures and no air con – but thankfully there are plenty of easy and cheap ways to stay cool.
Blazing temperatures are likely to remain for the rest of the week after a ‘historic’ heat dome descended on Britain, with today officially becoming the hottest May day on record. The Met Office confirmed that today’s heat has broken the record set on Monday, with Heathrow and Kew Gardens “provisionally reaching 35.0C”.
And with a “tropical night” recorded in the UK on Monday, people across the country are already dreading getting to sleep tonight. The high humidity combined with homes that are designed to keep heat in, not to let it out, is a recipe for disaster in these temperatures. An amber health warning has been extended by 24 hours for several regions in England, while the Climate Change Committee has warned that “the UK was built for a climate that no longer exists”.
From tin foil tricks to a science-backed hack for cooling your car down in seconds, here’s our ultimate guide to coping with the heat this week.
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‘Genius’ sleep trick
Restless nights are one of the worst parts of a heatwave, and mean you’ll be struggling through the day ahead with lower energy than usual. But there might be one saviour.
YouTube star LadBaby went viral during a heatwave after sharing his unconventional cooling hack – a pet cooling pad repurposed for humans.
While these are great to keep your pooches comfortable, they also can serve as a cool layer in bed to help you sleep. The savvy Brit placed the mats on top of the bed sheets – but underneath the covers – ready yo be slept on.
Fans have called the move “genius” and it’s relatively affordable. Ladbaby got his mats from B&M, but you can grab them at a wide variety of online retailers and shops, including Amazon, Argos, Dunelm, and Pets at Home, where they cost around £15.
£1 tin foil hack to keep your home cool
The nifty hack involves covering your windows in tin foil to prevent light from entering your home. All you need to do is take the tin foil – actually made of aluminium these days and not tin at all – out of your kitchen drawer and rip off large strips, taping them to the plastic frame that lines your window until the whole thing is covered.
In theory, the trick should work because glass windows magnify heat but the shiny foil reflects it, meaning that it should bounce the sunlight off of your windows and prevent the heat from entering your house.
The tin foil trick is safe to use, as experts say that sunlight won’t melt the foil, nor will it release any harmful toxins once it starts to get hot.
When The Mirror tried this hack out, we found that the foil did bring temperatures down by a couple of degrees which made things more bearable, but you’ll probably still need the help of a fan.
Getting the most out of your fan
Chances are you’ll be feeling smug if you bought a fan before the scorching temperatures hit, but you still might not be using it to the best of its ability.
Most of us point the cool air directly at our faces, but consumer group Which? says that if it feels hotter inside than it does outside, you should try pointing the fan out the window instead to push out the hot air in the room. Then, when it cools down at night, turn it around again to pump the cooler air into your room.
And although it is tempting to leave a fan running continuously overnight, there are a few side effects to consider. The moving air causes flurries of dust and pollen which can be bad news for anyone with allergies, asthma and hay fever. If you wear contact lenses, you may also find your fan causes dry eyes.
“Try placing a bowl of ice cubes in front of your fan to send a cooling breeze around your room, and make sure to keep your device free of dust to make sure it runs as efficiently as possible,” Deyan Dimitrov, a laundry and homecare expert, advises.
Wet towels and blankets
The best part about this one is that it’s totally free. You can hang a wet sheet or towel in front of an open window or doorway – a bizarre but oft-suggested method. Make sure you’ve soaked it in cold water though.
“The method allows trapped water to evaporate from the surface of the towels and cool the air flowing around your house. Since this hack can be fashioned out of existing household items, it’s a cheap and useful alternative for houses that don’t have access to air conditioning,” Dimitrov tells us.
Hot water bottle hack
Grabbing your hot water bottle might seem ridiculous in a heatwave, but trust us, this one works. Fill it up with icy cold water and take it to bed with you, and ensure you get a better night’s sleep than you’ve enjoyed for days.
The design of a hot water bottle is that it retains the temperature of what is inside, but this works for keeping things cold too. Place a jug of cold water in the fridge for a couple of hours before bedtime, then tip the chilled water into the neck of the bottle, making sure not to fill it too much and ensure it is fastened correctly. Make sure that you’re using a cover or wrapping it in something though, so you don’t get an icy shock.
Cool your car down in seconds
Waiting for your air conditioning to kick in after unlocking your car and taking a seat can feel like cruel punishment in times like these. A physics hack from maths professor Hannah Fry might speed things up.
Open a window on the opposite side of your car and then very quickly open and cut the driver door. “You might look like a bit of an idiot” she explains, but “the reason it works…is the door when its moving outwards sweeps out the air in its way creating this area of low pressure”.
Keep your dog safe in heatwave
Make sure if you’re worried about your dog’s hydration that you add extra water to their food – you can do this with cats too. Unlike humans, our dogs can’t handle the heat as well, and they are susceptible to heatstroke if temperatures are high enough.
Take them outside in the early morning or later part of the evening to avoid the worst of the heat. If you think your pet may be in distress from the heat, contact your local vet for advice and they can decide on the best course of action to take.
99p hay fever wipes hack
If pollen regularly ruins your day, this one is for you. Enriched with tea tree and peppermint oil, Nuage’s viral hay fever relief wipes got a thumbs up from us. Simply wipe over your face while avoiding contact with your eyes and feel an instant soothing effect.
When The Mirror gave these a go, we were impressed. “After 30 minutes of running in the sunshine, my eyes weren’t itchy and I didn’t have a stuffy or runny nose. On another day, I decided to go for a walk in the park straight after wiping my face, and I also felt like it was so much easier to breathe, and didn’t suffer from itchy or runny eyes,” our writer said.
“I think the magic of this product lies within how practical it is. Many hay fever sufferers will know how good it feels to come inside after a day outside and wash all the pollen off your face. These wipes allow you to bring them around with you, and then simply give your face a refreshing wipe while you’re out and about.”
Illegal antics during a heatwave
You might be tempted to do anything in an attempt to cool down, but sometimes this desperation can land you on the wrong side of the law.
Sunbathing in your garden naked should be avoided, unless you’ve got a shielded set up where your neighbours won’t see you and potentially complain. If someone alleges you’re “intending” to cause distress with nudity, you might get the police coming to your door.
Driving barefoot is also a no-no. Flip flops and sandals can also cause problems when driving and might see you accused of not driving with due care and attention. You should also never leave your dog in the car in a heatwave.
Swimming anywhere you fancy is not allowed, no matter how tempting the water could look. Harbours and waterways that are in constant use should be avoided – check with your local authority to find a safe and approved swimming spot. Even strong swimmers can get in trouble in strong currents, or surprisingly deep water.
