Nine cheap & free ways to keep your home cool without aircon – including ‘unhinged’ £5 tip that Brits call a ‘lifesaver’

BOILING Brits will be on the hunt for ways to keep cool today as the UK is set to bask in highs of up to 35C. Wednesday, will be one of the hottest days this week as the nation welcomes its fourth heatwave of the year. We share cheap and easy ways to keep cool in the fourth heatwave of the year Credit: Getty Similar highs seen back in June, led to widespread shortages of fans and portable air con units. Alex Baldock, the chief executive of Currys, warned at the star of the month supplies for the cooling gadgets were “tight” at its stores with the gadgets “flying off the shelves” during June’s record heatwave. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! A number of the pricey devices are still showing as out of stock on the brand’s website. But you don’t need to fork out £1,000s to keep cool this summer as a number of free or cheap hacks can get the job done for less. That includes a £5 hack that Brits have called a “lifesaver,” and even a method used by presenter Kevin McCloud. Better yet, many of these savvy hacks cost nothing to run, so you can save money on your electricity bill. 1, Hot water bottle A hot water bottle does not only have to be used for keeping you toasty over winter. Instead, you can fill the bottle with cold water or crushed ice and place in on your body or at the end of your bed. Most read in Money The bottle works the same way in reverse. Instead of emitting heat it acts as a cooling device. If you don’t have a hot water bottle, you could also place a damp cloth on your forehead to get instant relief from warm temperatures. 2. Put your bed sheets in the freezer Trying to get some kip during a heatwave is no easy feat. But a clever hack is to put your bed sheets in the freezer for a few minutes to provide instant relief and lower your body temperature. The idea behind this method is to simply put your bed sheets into an airtight freezer bag- to avoid them getting soaked- and leave them in your freezer for a couple of minutes. If your freezer is not big enough to fit your sheets in, another way of styling cool overnight is to pop your pillow cases in there instead. 3. Keep blinds and windows closed You may want to fill your house with sunshine but it could be doing more harm than good. When temperatures are cooler opening a window lets cold air in – but when the weather is warmer it does the opposite. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item. In order to keep your house cool on a budget keep blinds and curtains closed when the sun is shining through your windows. This is to stop the heating effect of sunlight coming through the glass. 4. Mop the floor You can clean your house and keep cool with this nifty hack. The water you use to clean your floor will absorb heat when it evaporates – making your floor cooler. It’s just like you sweat when it’s hot – it’s your body’s way of keeping your skin cool. TV presenter Kevin McCloud is reportedly a fan of this little-known hack. He told the Radio Times in 2022 that he learned the tip from “little old Italian men” who mopped their stone floors during hot temperatures. 5. Pet cooling mat This hack was shared online by one shopper who swears by the method to keep cool. Commenting on a TikTok video calling for people to share their “unhinged tips on how to stay cool” during hot spells, they said: “Borrowed my cat’s gel cooling mat as she’s uninterested in it and it’s a lifesaver. “I’m considering getting a Labrador-sized one for more coverage.” And it appears they were not alone, with another saying they also use the mats and found them “amazing.” The products can be found on Amazon for around £5 or B&Q is currently selling one for £6.99. 6. Misting spray fan If you are hitting the shops today, keep an eye out for this handy misting spray fan. The spray bottle can be filled with cold water so it can simultaneously spritz you as well as blow air. It costs just £4.99 at Robert Dyas, with shoppers branding it “ideal” and the “perfect answer” for the summer months. You can shop it online but be mindful of the £3.95 delivery fee or you can click and collect it at your nearest branch for free. 7. Resusable ice cubes Bargain retailer Iceland is selling reusable cubes for just £2. The cubes come with liquid inside and can be bunged in the freezer and used over and over again. If you are thinking of getting some from Iceland, you’ll need a basket worth £25 or more to qualify for online delivery. To keep you cool in the warm weather, you could wrap the ice cubes in a tea towel and place on your forehead and neck so it acts as a cold compress. 8. Thermal Blinds Thermal blinds can be a useful addition to your home in the summer. Not only are they good at keeping heat it but they can also keep your house cool as well. Dunelm is selling blackout blinds for just £8 and they come highly recommended by shoppers. “A simple product which is excellent value exactly as described,” one said in a recent review. 9. Water and ice bowl Fans are really great tools to keep you cool but sometimes they can push warm air around a room, rather than cool it down. But this can be a handy hack if you want to make the most of one in your home. To try this hack, fill up a small bowl with water and then add a few ice cubes. Place the bowl in front of a fan and then turn it on. This aims to keep your room cooler by circulating the cold air produced by the water and ice. This trick helps you get the most out of your device. But it is important to stay safe using electrical devices and not to put water too close to any electrical device – including fans. How to stay safe in hot weather The UK Health Security Agency advised you follow these tips to reduce your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke: Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm If you are going to do a physical activity like exercising or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun If you go outside, cover up with light clothing, a hat and sunglasses and slather on sun cream Drink plenty of fluids but limit booze Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you Source: UKHSA Comment now