The UK is set to experience soaring temperatures yet again in the coming days, just three weeks after seeing record-breaking 40 degree weather during the last heatwave. While the Met Office has noted that this week’s weather won’t reach the dramatic heights we saw in July, this heatwave is shaping up to be a 10-day scorcher, with conditions moving into the low to mid 30s from Thursday and potentially reaching a whopping 35C on Saturday.
The searing temperatures have forced the government to declare heat health alerts across every region in England, paired with danger to life warnings and wildfire fears. Thames Water is also set to bring in restrictions on water use in the coming weeks.
As the cost of living continues to soar in Britain, many people will be looking for tips on how to keep cool on a budget. The cost of running an electric fan has been a hot topic as of late as energy prices have skyrocketed in recent months, with another dramatic spike set to hit the country in October. According to Uswitch, the typical 120w pedestal fan costs around 3.4p an hour to run on average. This soon racks up if you’re running a fan throughout a 10-day heatwave and may not be an option for those looking to reduce their electricity bills in any way they can.
To help combat these costs, we’ve rounded up a range of fan-free heatwave hacks to try during this week’s scorching temperatures.
Hot water bottle hack
It may be the last place you’d expect to find relief from the heat, but the hot water bottle tucked away in the back of your cupboard is surprisingly just as useful during the summer months as it is in the winter.
A hack that went viral on TikTok during the July heatwave, simply fill your hot water bottle to around ¾ full with cold water and make sure it’s sealed securely. Pop the trusty bottie in the freezer for two hours and you’ll have a cooling companion come bedtime or to use while working from home. You can also add ice cubes inside the bottle as it starts to thaw, to keep it cool.
According to the Hot Water Bottle Shop website, “It is advisable to wrap your water bottle in a towel if it doesn’t already have a cover to prevent overexposure to the cold and to have a continuous supply of ice cubes by refilling empty moulds.”
Tinfoil
This hack will set you back just 68p, or nothing at all if you’ve already got a roll of tinfoil to hand. It involves covering windows that get direct sunlight in foil to prevent the heat turning your home into a furnace. When the sun shines through a window it is magnified, thus exacerbating the heat in your home.
Using a few sheets of tinfoil on your windows will reflect the heat back outside before it enters your home. Make sure the shiny side is facing outwards to ensure the heat reflects effectively. This handy hack has been dubbed as a game-changer for keeping your house cool during scorching temperatures, so much so that Google searches for tinfoil reportedly soared in the UK during the July heatwave.
Peppermint tea
Reaching for a cuppa might be the last thing on your mind when battling the heat, but this herbal remedy is worth considering. Peppermint tea is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but it can also help you keep cool too.
Simone Thomas, a nutritionist and wellness coach, tells The Mirror: “Easy to grow in the garden or in pots, and cheap to pick up in the supermarket, peppermint is the perfect pick me and up and offers a natural way to cool down as the herb’s menthol stimulates your body’s cooling receptors.”
When it comes to choosing a hot or cold brew, Simone says she “prefers it cool when it’s warm outside as it’s so refreshing”.
“I also love to make peppermint tea and then freeze it into ice cubes to use later in the day as a further way to keep cool and remain hydrated,” she adds.
“You can also add mint and water to a jug of water and call on this natural cocktail all day long when you are feeling the heat and don’t want to hit fizzy drinks”.
Freezing your bed sheets
If the stifling heat is resulting in sleepless nights, this cost-free hack might be your saviour. Putting your bed sheets in the freezer acts as an alternative to running an electric fan, as it will keep your bed and body cool as you go to sleep.
Many people have taken to Twitter to share their success with this hack, with one user commenting that they experienced a “nice cool feeling” when they got into bed after putting them in the freezer shortly before they hit the hay. Another said that the trick “truly does help in the crazy heat.”
Keeping windows shut and closing blinds
The age-old heatwave debate is whether to open your windows during the day or leave them closed. Many people struggling in the heatwave swear by keeping their windows closed with their curtains or blinds shut, as this helps to keep the heat out of your home.
While opening windows can provide a welcome breeze, the direct sunlight beaming in from your window will heat your home in the long-term. In the evening when the sun has stopped beaming down, you can open your windows to create air-flow.
Praising the heatwave hack, one Twitter user said: “I have to keep reminding the house that right now it is cooler inside than outside so keep the windows closed. It feels colder outside because of the breeze, but that is a lie.”
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