As the UK braces itself for another blistering heatwave less than a month after the previous scorcher, a laundry expert has shared top tips on how to keep your home cool using only a clean towel and some cold water.
Simple Cooling Technique
Weather experts predict temperatures could hit 32C today (Friday, June 19), while amber warnings were issued last night covering large parts of southern England. Whenever temperatures soar, attention turns to methods of keeping homes cool, a challenge becoming increasingly pressing as temperatures swing dramatically.
One technique that could help regulate indoor temperatures is suspending chilled towels in your windows. Deyan Dimitrov, laundry expert and founder of Laundryheap, an online laundry delivery service, explains that the trick requires clean towels and cold water.
"The cooling towel method involves hanging cold, damp towels around your home at key entry points, such as windows and doors, to help cool the indoor air," he said. "As the water evaporates from the surface of the towels, it cools the surrounding air, creating a natural cooling effect."
Positioning damp towels in front of a fan can also deliver a cooling effect. The expert recommends refreshing towels with cold water every four hours to experience the full benefits.
Heatwave Forecast
Weather forecasters believe this hot spell could see temperatures climb as high as 34C. The Met Office suggests a 40% probability of surpassing the highest ever June temperature of 35.6C recorded in 1957 and 1976.
An amber alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency covers London, the South East, the South West, and the East of England, and remains in place until 8pm on Tuesday (June 23). The alert indicates increased demand on health services for vulnerable people and those over 65 with pre-existing health conditions.
With the UK set to be hotter than Barbados this weekend, the UKHSA has also highlighted the risk of water-related incidents, including cold-water shock and drowning.
Additional Cooling Advice
Other experts urge people to cool their homes by opening one particular door—and it isn't the front door. Mikey Story of UK Flat Roofing & Insulation Specialists suggests opening the loft window. He explains that the upper floor is typically the warmest area because hot air rises.
"Opening your loft hatch can help you cool down your entire home significantly," he told Grand Designs Magazine. "Creating an escape route for this heat can help lower the temperature throughout the house. If your loft has a window, opening it allows warm air to exit through the highest point of the house, especially if you also open other windows to promote airflow. This method works best if your loft is insulated between the rafters."
