Nine cheap and free hacks to stay cool in hot weather including bedtime habit to avoid having fan on overnight

TEMPERATURES are sizzling again across Britain leading many to reach for energy guzzling tools to keep themselves cool.

However these gadgets come with a cost as appliances such as air conditioners and dehumidifiers can add a whopping £395 to your energy bill. 

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It is important to remember that you do not have to spend a fortune to avoid breaking a sweat. 

There are a number of hacks and items that you might already have in your home which can help you remain cool as the sun makes a rare appearance in Britain. 

Some of these hacks will not even cost you a penny so they can be super helpful to remember. 

Keeping blinds and windows closed

When the sun is shining it can be difficult to keep your windows and blinds shut. 

But knowing when to open and when to close them can be an extremely cost effective hack to stop your house overheating. 

When temperatures are cooler opening a window lets cold air in – but when the weather is warmer it does the opposite. 

“If it’s a particularly warm day and the air is warmer outside than inside, close windows to keep the warmer air out,” Joanna O’Loan, knowledge manager at the Energy Saving Trust (EST), previously told The Sun. 

Joanna said it is actually easier to stop heat entering a home than it is to cool it down again,” she explained.

So 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.

If you are keen to get some fresh air again it should be okay to open the window again when the sun has moved away. 

Water and ice bowl 

This is a handy trick using everyday household items. 

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 affordable hack aims to keep your room cooler by circulating the cold air produced by the water and ice.

Fans are really great tools to keep you cool but sometimes they can push warm air around a room, rather than cool it down.

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 to close to any electrical device – including fans.

Fans are a good investment to make as they are quick fix to help you cool down. 

You also don’t have to spend a fortune when buying one. 

The Sun has rounded up the cheapest fans currently on the market – with some costing as little as £8. 

Switch off unused appliances

This tip is not only simple but can also help you save on your energy bill. 

If one of your appliances isn’t in use then make sure that it is turned off.

This will create less heat and may cool your own temper as well.

As well as that, it will also help you cut down on your energy bill. 

If you have an appliance such as an air fryer you might want to consider using that instead of a traditional oven. 

This is because air fryers use less watts than an oven and do not create as much when you open them. 

Ditching your hairdryer or straighteners for a few days can also really help in keeping your body temperature down. 

Get the tinfoil out

Using tin foil to shield your home from the sun’s rays can help to keep your home cool without having to turn on a fan or air-con.

To try this method out all you need to do is cover your windows with the shiny cupboard staple. 

Be especially sure to cover the windows that are hit with direct sunlight. 

The Sun spoke to window and glass expert Allan Reid from Checkatrade who gave this tip on how to get the best results from this hack 

“For best results, place the foil on the outside of the window, not the inside,” Allan said.

You can do this by dampening the shiny side of the foil and sticking it to your windows.

Another way to try this method is by cutting out pieces of cardboard that will fit the size of your window and then cover them with a reflective tin foil layer.

You could also use sticky tape to make sure it stays put.

This is a cheap way to stay cool as temperatures are set to hit close to 30 degrees in some parts of the UK. 

The Sun found tinfoil for as little as 75p in Waitrose, if you don’t already have some to hand. 

Plants

This may not seem like an obvious hack but it can be a natural way to keep your home cool. 

“Not only are plants aesthetically pleasing, they are also proven to add oxygen to rooms, helping keep your house cooler, Andy Simms, from MyBuilder.com previously told The Sun. 

Plants are natural air conditioners and generate moisture into the air. 

If you don’t have any green shrubs to hand, don’t worry you can find some online and in stores for a relatively cheap price. 

Houseplant.co.uk is selling a Madagascar dragon tree for £14.99. 

Meanwhile, Amazon is selling a Areca large indoor house plant for £12.99. 

Try popping your bed sheets in the freezer 

Trying to get to sleep when the weather is warm can at times be a nightmare, and really impact getting a good night’s rest. 

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. 

The freezer tip is an alternative to using a fan, which can be expensive to keep running over night. 

Ditch your duvet

Your duvet can be an effective way of keeping you warm in the winter, but you might want to think about parting ways as the weather heats up. 

Remove your duvet cover from your bed sheets and place them in the cupboard for the summer months. 

You can just use your sheets as a cover while you sleep, and you might find it gives instant relief. 

Using bed sheets with the lightest material is also important as you do not want warm fabrics to cause you to heat up. 

Using a hot water bottle

This may seem bizarre but 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. 

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. 

Thermal blinds 

This may come as a surprise but 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. 

They cost as little as £8 in Dunelm, and can be installed yourself. 

However, if you require a handyman to fit the blinds you will have to factor in extra costs.