With temperatures forecast to reach 39°C in parts of the UK on Thursday (August 13), property expert Laura Hamilton has shared her top tips for keeping your home cool. One of her key recommendations is to chill your pillowcase in the fridge before going to sleep.
The fridge pillowcase trick
Laura, presenter of A Place In The Sun, told Express.co.uk: "Put your pillowcase or a thin bedsheet in a sealed bag and chill it in the refrigerator for a short while before bed. It's a brilliant yet simple bedtime trick."
She also advises using lightweight bedding and avoiding thick duvets. "Your body can make your bed feel like a heat trap. Use lightweight bedding, breathable sheets, and avoid thick duvets. A cotton or linen sheet can feel dramatically better than synthetic bedding," she said.
Block the heat before it enters
Laura emphasises that the key is to stop heat from entering your home in the first place. "The secret to keeping your home cool is, don't just cool the air, stop your home and your body from absorbing heat in the first place. Block the sun, shade the windows, and keep the heat out before you have to cool it down," she explained.
She recommends keeping curtains closed during the hottest part of the day. "One of the simplest ways to keep your home cooler during a heatwave is to keep your curtains closed," she said. "It sounds simple, but by keeping your curtains or blinds closed during the hottest and sunniest parts of the day, you can significantly reduce how much solar heat enters the room. The key is to close them before the sun hits the window."
Avoid adding extra heat
Laura also suggests avoiding activities that generate heat indoors. "Avoid using ovens, having long hot showers, using clothes dryers, and using unnecessary appliances during the afternoon. Even lights and electronics add some heat and TV's and computer games consoles can give off a lot of heat too," she said.
While opening windows might seem like a good idea, Laura warns it can backfire. "If it's 35 degrees outside and 25 degrees indoors, opening the windows will usually make things worse. Open them when outdoor temperatures drop below your indoor temperature. So at night!"
Window film and further advice
For a more permanent solution, Laura recommends solar-control, heat-rejection window film. "It blocks a significant portion of solar heat entering through the glass and can make rooms noticeably more comfortable near sunny windows," she explained. "It also helps reduce UV exposure that can fade furniture and flooring. For maximum heat reduction, an external shade/film or exterior solar screen is generally more effective than film applied to the inside because it stops sunlight before the glass heats up."
Laura shares more property advice on her YouTube channel, Property with Laura Hamilton, with new episodes every Friday at 5pm. Her upcoming home brand, Laura Hamilton Home, is set to launch shortly, featuring wall art collections available through www.laurahamiltonofficial.com and in shops soon.
