Scorching temperatures have left hundreds of people worrying about how they are going to sleep at night. Monday saw some of the hottest temperatures on record across Scotland, as a heatwave hit the majority of the UK.
At around 5pm, temperatures in parts of Aberdeenshire reached over 31C. The all-time record for Scotland of 32.9C, set in Greycook in 2003, is expected to be shattered today, with temperatures of 34 degrees at Floors Castle in the Borders anticipated.
With the rising mercury, people around the UK are worrying about how to keep down temperatures in their houses. Without any air conditioning, it isn’t long before our homes skyrocket in temperature, but thankfully there are a few hacks to help you get through it.
One of them includes your loft, which may provide a simple way to cool your entire home down. Opening the loft hatch can be a nifty solution to reducing the temperature in your home, according to Liverpool Echo. This is because hot air rises and an entrance for the heat to escape will lower the temperature in the rest of the home.
Victoria Arrington, a spokesperson for Energy Helpline, said: “If you have a loft window, opening it up will let out warm air, and that will likely produce a cooling effect - especially if you open some additional windows in your home to keep the air flowing.”
Of course, it is better to try multiple cooling techniques at once, such as using fans, opening windows when it’s cooler outside than in, and keeping your curtains or blinds closed. Here’s a list of tips and tricks to keep your home cooler.
Cool down the air
Millions will add a fan to their room at night in hot weather, but this doesn’t lower the temperature as it only distributes air that is already in the space. To create cooler air, place ice cubes in front of a fan to help bring down the temperature as it cools down the air while passing over the ice.
Cold water bottle
Slipping a hot water bottle under the covers on winter nights can feel like a luxury, but doing the same for hot nights with cold water has a similar effect. Before you jump into bed in the evening, slide a couple of hot water bottles filled with ice cold water under your sheets to help cool down bedding.
Use a timer
Put appliances and air conditioning units on timed sockets or use an app that allows you to remotely control these. Appliances such as ovens, microwaves and light bulbs can give off unnecessary heat so make sure to only use them when necessary.
Freeze a flannel
Soak a flannel and tuck it into the freezer folded in half for a few hours. When relaxing in the evening, rest the flannel on your forehead, feet, or other pressure points such as ankles, neck and wrists that can heat up easily. This will provide instant relief and help your body to unwind.
Keep hot air out
Although it is tempting to open every window during hot spells, make sure to keep those that are south facing closed or with blinds over during peak hours in the day. Once the sun has set and the temperature has eased, open again and let air flow through the home.
Switch to cold showers
It might be a shock first thing in the morning, but cold showers have numerous benefits including shinier hair, better skin, making you more alert, cooling down and even saving on energy bills. The Energy Saving Trust advises that installing a water-efficient shower head can create a saving of £185 on bills.
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