The bout of hot weather in the UK this summer isn’t over just yet, with highs of 27C forecast for the next few days. There are some clever techniques for keeping cool with instant results
The UK has been hit with soaring temperatures in recent weeks, with signs of another heatwave just around the corner.
England had its warmest June on record, according to provisional Met Office statistics, with the hottest day of the year recorded with temperatures surpassing 34C in some parts of the country. While it has cooled off over the past couple of days after a scorching weekend, forecasters predict warm weather to return on Wednesday, with highs of 27C.
Some people love nothing more than basking in the sunshine; however, for many, the heat can prove a struggle, making getting to sleep and trying to stay cool difficult. Luckily, there are many tried-and-tested methods for coping with warmer-than-usual weather in Britain.
Resooma, a platform that helps renters set up bills for their next home, shared a series of hacks on its TikTok channel, leaving its followers thrilled. One user described one method as “brilliant,” while another said the tips were just what they needed, Express reports.
The video contained five tricks, with the first being to place a bowl of ice in front of a fan. The commentator suggested it would “distribute cold air around the room.”
It also advised Brits to keep windows closed during hot weather, even if it feels counterintuitive. Demonstrating the tip, the video was overlaid with the words: “Shut out the heat”. The narrator added: “Keep the heat out by shutting windows and closing curtains, just remember to open them at night time to let the cooler air in.”
They also suggested placing a damp tea towel in the freezer for about half an hour. When placed on your skin, the frozen fabric would “instantly” cool you down, providing some short-lived relief from the heat.
Online parenting expert Harriet Shearsmith also advocates for the chilled tea towel method to cool down her children.
In a post for her blog, Toby & Roo, Harriet, who is mum to Reuben, Tobias, and Edith, revealed that she always has an ‘ice towel’ to hand, which works wonders when her little ones are struggling. She simply takes one of her towels from the bathroom cupboard and creates her own DIY cooling hack.
Explaining how her followers could follow suit, Harriet, who wrote the parenting book Mummin’ It, said: “I’ve actually just made one of these and whacked it in the freezer for when the kids come home, as I know Reuben is going to be finding it tough.
“It’s exactly as it sounds – put a towel in cool water, wring it out until it’s damp and then put it in the freezer – keep repeating. Drape over shoulders for a cooling effect, or hold against your head. This is also a good one if you’re feeling sick, to be honest.”
Another trick for those in need of an immediate way to cool down is by putting your forearms in cold, running water. The narrator from Resooma continued: “A quick way to bring down your body temperature is to run your forearms under cold water.”