Heatwave survival handbook: Tricks to keep you cool and your home comfortable

It’s that time of year again: temperatures soaring above 40°C in parts of Europe, sofas turning into sticky traps, and sleeping feeling like an impossible mission. And let’s not forget the most overheard phrase in any elevator: “It's hot, isn't it?” Yes, the heatwave is here and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

But before you commit to worshipping your fan like a household deity, let me share a few hard-earned tricks from many summers spent on scorching pavement. You can survive the heat - and even enjoy summer - without having to sell a kidney to pay your electricity bill.

Turn your home into a heat fortress

Forget that your house is an oven. With a little strategy, you can turn it into your own private shelter. You don't have to have air conditioning, it just takes a little ingenuity.

1. Mastering the blinds (and windows)

This is commandment number one: be smarter than the sun. Wherever sunlight shines, heat follows, so during extreme heat, keeping things dark is your best defence.

• Bunker mode during the day: As soon as the sun starts to intensify (usually around 11:00 a.m. or noon), lower all the blinds and close the curtains and windows. It’s tempting to crack a window to "let in some air," but all you’ll get is a wave of hot air. Keep your home in comfortable, cool semi-darkness instead.

• Night-time cross-ventilation: This is where the real magic happens. When temperatures drop at night—even just a little—open windows at opposite ends of your home to create a natural cross-breeze. If you live in a flat, try opening one window facing the street and another facing an interior courtyard. You’ll notice the difference!

Two people seek shade under a tree (Two people seek shade under a tree)

2. The improved fan trick

A fan on its own just circulates warm air, which isn’t ideal for cooling a room. But with a few smart tweaks, you can turn it into an effective cooling system:

• The "home air conditioner": A classic that never fails. Place a large container filled with ice cubes and a handful of coarse salt right in front of the fan. The air you blow will pass through the cold mass and cool down.
• The damp cloth trick: Hang a thin, damp cloth or sheet (well wrung out - we don't want a puddle) over the front of the fan. The effect is similar: the air is cooled as the water evaporates from the cloth.

3. Use the power of water and plants

• Strategic scrubbing: Scrub the floor with cold water at the hottest times. Evaporation will absorb the heat from the room, leaving a pleasant cooling sensation.
• Green up your windows: If you have a terrace or balcony, plants are your ally. They create a cooler and more humid microclimate. Large-leaved plants and creepers on the facade act as a natural insulator. Indoors, plants such as poto or sansevieria help to purify and cool the air.
• Spray without fear: Keep a spray bottle with cold water handy and spray curtains, plants and even the air from time to time. These micro-droplets in suspension help to lower the temperature.
• If you have a humidifier, use it. Raising the humidity to a level of 40-50% helps to lower the temperature. However, we remind you of the vital importance of cleaning it properly.

Humidifier (Humidifier)

4. The kitchen and bathroom, your problem areas

• Banish the oven: Cooking with the oven or using the ceramic hob for a long time is like turning on the heating in the middle of August. Opt without hesitation for salads, gazpacho or any dish that does not require fire.
• Warm showers, not polar showers: Your body may ask for a cold shower, but the contrast is so strong that your body will react by generating more heat to compensate. A shower with lukewarm water is much more effective in lowering your body temperature in a sustained way.

Your body: pamper it so it doesn't suffer

Keeping the house cool is key, but you also need to take care of your own internal thermostat so that you can get through these hot days in the best possible way and without suffering from heatstroke.

• Drink even if you are not thirsty: When you feel thirsty, it is a sign that you need hydration. Always keep a bottle of water handy. If water alone bores you, add a few slices of cucumber, lemon or mint leaves - refreshing and pleasant!
• Food, your (fresh) fuel: Put aside the heavy stews. Now is the time for watermelon, melon, pasta salads, grilled fish? Light meals that keep you hydrated.
• Cotton, your best friend: Forget synthetic fabrics that do not breathe. Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured cotton or linen clothes. And yes, this also applies to bedding. Cool cotton sheets are a blessing on a hot night.

Warning signs not to ignore to avoid heatstroke

Let me pause for a moment because this is very important. Heat is no joke and heat stroke is a very serious medical emergency. Learn to recognise the signs.

What does it feel like? A sky-high fever (over 40°C), red, hot and dry skin, a very intense headache, dizziness, nausea and/or confusion. If you or someone around you has these symptoms, do not hesitate to:

1. Call 112 immediately.**
2. While you wait, move the person to a cool place.
3. Remove excess clothing and cool the body with cool cloths on the neck, armpits and groin.

Especially keep an eye on young children and the elderly, who are the most vulnerable. With these tips and a bit of common sense, this heatwave will be just another summer anecdote, so take care of yourself!