Households in England are being urged to fill up a hot water bottle this Sunday as temperatures of up to 24C are forecast. While the end of last month ushered in the hottest day of the year, with temperatures reaching a sweltering 35.1C at Kew Gardens on May 26 - the hottest day in May on record for England - the hot weather has since fizzled out as June got underway. So far, this month has been blighted with thunderstorms, pouring rain and cooler temperatures following the May heatwave, but things are looking up again as a weekend of warmer weather is forecast.
A shift in the jet stream is set to bring drier and sunnier conditions to much of the UK this weekend, with the Met Office forecasting highs of 23C across southern areas of England on Saturday, June 13. Sunday is forecast to be warmer still, with southern England once again expected to get the best of the weather with temperatures hitting 24C, while many western parts of the UK can expect temperatures in the low 20s Celsius.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Greg Wolverson said: "Sunday looks set to be widely dry across the UK, with further sunshine and temperatures continuing to rise. Many western parts of the UK can expect maximum temperatures in the low 20s Celsius, with the warmest spots likely across southern England where temperatures may reach 23-24C, bringing a notably warmer feel compared to earlier in the week."
But while the warm weather is glorious during the day, by night it can make sleep pretty uncomfortable with the heat making it difficult to drift off, resulting in a frustrating night of tossing, turning and kicking the quilt off in a desperate attempt to cool down. However, you don't have to resort to running fans for hours on end to cool your room, as all you need is a hot water bottle.
Although the primary purpose of a hot water bottle is to keep you warm, it can also be used to achieve the opposite effect if you fill it with cold water instead. Simply fill a hot water bottle with ice-cold water and place it in your bed just before you go to sleep to help cool down your sheets and pillow. You can also hold it against your skin to cool yourself down, but remember to wrap it in a cover or a tea towel if it's icy to avoid direct contact with your skin.
To make it even colder, you can also fill the bottle with cold water and then put it in the freezer, but be wary of leaving it in there for too long as it can damage the rubber, meaning it could burst the next time hot water is added. So if you do put it in the freezer, make sure to only fill the bottle halfway rather than to the top, or just keep one bottle separate for cold use and the other for hot.
Heat-Treats says: "It's simple; just fill your bottle with iced water, ice cubes or crushed ice. The bottle acts in the same way in reverse; instead of releasing warm heat it emits refreshing cold. Contrary to hot water which will gradually cool down, the icy water will eventually warm up until it reaches room temperature. Some people suggest that you can fill your bottle with cold water and then place it in the freezer to chill further, although it shouldn't be left for more than 20 minutes otherwise the rubber can become compromised and may rupture. The best plan is to have different bottles for heat filling and cold filling. You can also use your cold hot water bottle for cooling down your sheets or pillow before you go to bed. If your bottle doesn't have a cover, wrap it in a tea towel or pillowcase to prevent overexposure to the cold next to your skin."
This tip is backed by the Royal Meteorological Society, which also suggests putting your pillowcase and even your pyjamas in the freezer before bed to help you get to sleep more easily when the weather is warm. In its guidance it says: "Stick your pillowcase, pyjamas or even a hot water bottle filled with cold water in the freezer 20 minutes before bed. This simple trick offers an instant cooling hit that can help you get to sleep faster - especially during those muggy tropical nights where temperatures don't drop below 20C."
