This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links: We thought that the worst part of summer was over, but not so! There’s a brand new heatwave on the horizon. As Brits we are decidedly not used to this and we are not prepared for it; some of our cars don’t even have aircon, let alone our houses, which are designed to keep the heat in rather than to disperse it as quickly as possible.
We. Are. Not. Made. For. This.
If you have the cash, then you can splash out on a mobile aircon unit. They’re not cheap to buy or to run, but they do take all the stress out of trying to make the house cool enough to sleep in.
If this is beyond your reach and you’re having to make do with a fifteen quid Argos fan, here are some heatwave survival tips for keeping your cool when the heat becomes unbearable (and you don’t have aircon).
Keep curtains closed
This is primary school level stuff, but if you walk down your road you’ll be amazed at who doesn’t make sure they keep the curtains or blinds closed on rooms that face the sun. Blazing sun streaming through a window will heat your house up like crazy.
Move downstairs
Heat rises so if you have rooms downstairs then it will generally be much cooler – if you’re able to make a makeshift bed there you might get a better night’s sleep than upstairs.
Use fans to promote air circulation
Opening doors in the house and using fans to push the hot air outdoors can help keep the temperature lower. When the air cools outside in the evening, open up those windows and get the fans going to circulate the air. Remember to shut the curtains before the next day to keep the cooler air in. . If you have room in your freezer to make lots of ice, putting the fan in front of it can help cool a room.
Use water to cool down
Water has a great cooling power. A water spritzer can help cool you down during a heatwave, and a cool shower or bath before bed can really make a difference and make it easier to sleep. If the heat is too much, then taking a a wet towel or ice pack to bed can help.
Dress cool
Loose, light clothing is the way forward – avoid anything tight fitting. Basically comfort is key, and try not to care too much about what you look like; this is about survival, not a flipping fashion show. If you want to garden in your pants then just blinking well do it, and hell to the neighbours.
If you’re prone to sweating and feeling self conscious about the impending 40 degree weather, a sweat-proof hyperhidrosis shirt can save embarrassing sweaty pit stains.
And, if you’re prone to chub rub (which is AWFUL and affects many many women, not just plus size ones!) then some chub rub shorts will save your life; no, I’m not being overdramatic.
Not only do wide brimmed hats look fabulous, darling, but they will help shade your face and neck and
HYRDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
And not with alcohol. Wine and sun is a recipe for heatstroke, so as tempting as the beer garden is, it’s best avoided during the hottest part of the heatwave. Caffeine isn’t great either.
Get a water bottle and keep it on you at all times, especially when travelling in case you have an unexpected breakdown or traffic jam to contend with – this is good advice in general, but very important when you’re losing water through sweat. And talking of sweat…
Go to the supermarket
…Or to a shopping centre, café, the office soft play, the gym, or anywhere where they have air con and you mooch about and can cool down. The less time you spend in your home during the day, the cooler it will be at night.
Don’t exercise outside in the heat
You’re a sensible person; stay in the air conditioned gym or go for a late evening jog in the shade, but in general staying out of the sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm is advised and you certainly shouldn’t be exercising outside during this time.
That goes doubly for dog walking; don’t dare take your pooch out when the sun is at its hottest. The tarmac could burn their paws and let’s face it – would you go for a jog in a fur coat? No? Well, don’t make them do it either.
For tips on keeping toddlers happy during a heatwave, see this post.