Heatwaves happen only a few times a year in the UK, which makes them unbearable because we aren’t used to them.
Additionally, our houses are not painted white like in continental Europe to reflect heat, nor do most of us have the luxury of air conditioning.
Thankfully, there are ways to stay cool in a heatwave, and we have many tips to help you make positive changes around the home.
Let’s jump in!
Contents
Upgrade to a breathable mattress
Let’s cut to the chase – the worst thing about heatwaves is bedtime, and your mattress will make you super uncomfortable if it isn’t breathable.
The worst offender for poor breathability is memory foam. Still, you can get charcoal-bamboo memory foam that is highly breathable – the Mlily Bamboo Superb is an excellent hybrid option with a medium-firm feel.
Another option is a memory gel mattress like the medium-feel Sleepeezee Pocket Gel Poise, which uses Staycool gel to dissipate heat and keep you cool.
If you want a traditional mattress, look for one with a vented border like the Giltedge Beds Weeton, which has a medium firmness rating.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Weeton 1500 5FT King-size Mattress, Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore.
Sleep with a bedsheet
Heatwaves eradicate the need for a duvet, and even a summer duvet will be too warm without air conditioning. It’s better to sleep with a bedsheet (or a duvet cover) only so your body heat can escape easily.
The material is also essential – avoid microfibre blankets and throws because these absorb moisture and hold it, making you feel clammy.
Install solar window film to keep out the heat
Solar window film reflects around 90% of the sun’s UV light and heat, keeping your bedrooms and living spaces cool in heat waves. Conservatories, attic windows and even skyscrapers use solar film as a heat barrier.
You can buy solar film online and install it yourself, but a professional installation will only set you back around £200 per window.
Get heat-reflective curtains/blinds, and close them!
People’s biggest mistake during heatwaves is leaving curtains and blinds open, especially when those windows are exposed to the sun.
Thermal curtains/blinds or any curtains/blinds with a white lining will reflect heat back, helping to keep rooms cool. It’s also worth popping open one of the windows so that any built-up heat between the glass and curtains can escape.
Get an unvented, mobile air conditioner to cool down your space
The problem with portable air conditioners is they require an external vent to remove warm, moist air. A better solution is a mobile air conditioner with ice boxes, which use ice packs to cool down air with dehumidification.
Pictured: IcyAir Mobile Air Conditioner, available from Amazon UK
Our favourite product is the IcyAir Mobile Air Conditioner, available from Amazon UK, which can reduce the temperature in a room by around 10 degrees Celsius.
Prioritise bedroom airflow
The easiest trick in the book to stay cool at bedtime is to increase airflow for windchill (the cooling effect of wind blowing on a surface).
The best appliance is an electric fan, which you can position to face you, so you don’t feel muggy air in your bedroom. Some electric fans also rotate and tilt and let you set timers, or you can plug them into a smart socket for voice control.
Otherwise, crank a window, but on nights without much wind, you will need a fan to get air circulating your bedroom.
Stay hydrated so you sweat (yes, sweating is good!)
Sweating cools you down through vaporisation – heat is required to evaporate sweat, so your body cools down by expending heat energy.
You need more water in heat waves because you sweat more, and an ice-cold drink will give you a refreshing boost when you need it.
We recommend sticking a bottle of water in the freezer and letting it freeze – you can then take it out an hour before bedtime and enjoy a cold drink all night.
However, avoid drinks that contain caffeine six hours before bedtime because any amount of caffeine significantly disrupts sleep.