How do you sleep in the heat?
Posted by Unlucky_Apple_3907@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 267 comments
Any tips, tricks, life hacks? The fan no longer helps, and the bedroom is 27+ degrees at night because my top floor flat heats up like a furnace. Waiting for the AC to arrive but I haven't slept in 4 days now!
flyingteatowel@reddit
Shut everything up in the day. When outside temp drops below inside temp, start opening windows
AutomaticInitiative@reddit
Unfortunately does not work for me, with brick facing sun for all of the afternoon, it spends the next 10+ hours radiating all that heat back out once the Sunday gone down.
PeterG92@reddit
Unfortunately that just doesn't work for my flat. Will be boiling no matter what
Jerico_Hill@reddit
A third of my downstairs is a south facing conservatory with no wall between it and my kitchen so I feel your pain. I could cook in there no joke.
humblepaul@reddit
My conservatory hit 58.6c yesterday, with exterior doors closed. Thank god im moving.
Weak-Employer2805@reddit
was this temp measured in direct sunlight?
humblepaul@reddit
No. I have a siver screen on the conservatory roof (inside).
Beena22@reddit
Mine hit 52.5C with the doors open yesterday. I hate it.
Bugsmoke@reddit
That’s because your doors were open. Hit countries keep all windows and door closed during hot spells. Open them in the evening. It feels counter productive but it works.
Beena22@reddit
It's all glass so it acts just like a greenhouse. When the doors are shut in the hot weather you can barely breathe in there because it gets so hot.
EnumeratedArray@reddit
Doesn't really work for conservatories, the glass keeps the heat in and it just builds up and up. Hot countries don't have conservatories for this reason.
humblepaul@reddit
It has a large glass roof, and glass doors. I experimented, and with the doors open it's 4c cooler. I've not got a fan on mid setting, blowing out the open doors sucking out the heat and it's 46c.
Ballbag94@reddit
We put a curtain between our kitchen and conservatory, helps keep the heat in during winter and out during summer
kushpvo@reddit
I mean, i hope you can cook in your kitchen regardless of the weather outside
-Po-Tay-Toes-@reddit
It's a kitchen so yeah I'd hope you could cook in there!
Jerico_Hill@reddit
I mean the conservatory but thanks for point that out.
Lynvor@reddit
My house is a south facing new build, unless I actually go and buy an AC unit then anything else is pretty much futile.
onionsareawful@reddit
just do it already. trust me, you'll regret not doing it sooner.
beeruk@reddit
What type did you buy?
Alarming_Matter@reddit
And then you use more electricity which leads to global warming! (Not having a go at you...thinking of doing the same myself but the catch 22 of it all is infuriating)
946789987649@reddit
Can you access the outside windows? You can get reflecty things which negates 90% of the issue
SarkyMs@reddit
They are a top floor flat, the roof is the problem.
Mediocre-Opinion@reddit
Solar panels on the roof powering a mini-split AC could be the answer. Assuming you are allowed to mount them etc.
ASpookyBitch@reddit
If the windows are in the roof, putting a cover on them but having them open would be a benefit to you. Heat rises but closing your windows is giving nowhere for that heat to go.
I got a reflective cover, not the transparent stuff the literal shiny/blackout sheet that magnets to the window frame. That would stop heat getting IN while letting the heat that is rising OUT.
ldn-ldn@reddit
No issues in my new build flat. I bet you're one of those people in my housing complex who keep their windows open all day and then suffer and complain non stop. When we had +42 a few years ago in London, my flat was +30. Not great, but nowhere as bad as +42.
Lynvor@reddit
I keep my windows and trickle vents closed but when it gets the afternoon the temperature difference is negligible from what I have experienced. Also 30+ degrees is diabolical why have worded that as if it's acceptable lmao.
ldn-ldn@reddit
When it's over +40 outside, +30 is much better.
Katticus_Woot@reddit
We got a portable air con after the first summer of living in a new build. They need to start adding air con while building them
Careless_Count7224@reddit
Same here. My bedroom is three sided external walls meaning it collects the suns heat all day. It starts with one side, then moves all the way around. Opening windows does nothing. The most frustrating thing is when you stick your head out of the window in the evening and there is a lovely cool breeze but I just cannot get that cool air inside.
We've started the process of getting aircon but it costs a lot and needs some electrical work doing first (e.g. increasing size of consumer unit).
PersonalityWinter382@reddit
If there's a cool breeze outside in the evening, run a fan facing out of the open window. That will expell the hot air and the only thing that can physically replace it is cool air from outside.
ChrisRR@reddit
Get a fan and point it towards the window when it cools down to draw cool air through the flat
Appropriate_Zebra341@reddit
You and me both, if I closed all my windows and curtains I swear my flat is hotter on the inside
Rasples1998@reddit
That only works in specific situations. My room can get to 33°C whether the window is closed or open and the blinds are down or up, it doesn't matter.
Familiar9709@reddit
If you're top floor this doesn't really work
flyingteatowel@reddit
We used to put huge sheets up in the windows when we lived in a flat. Used to reflect the heat a bit
Hugh_Jorgan2474@reddit
Wash your feet with cold water before climbing into bed. No idea how or why it workes. I heard someone suggest it on the radio last year, and have been doing it ever since when it gets really hot at night, it seems to help
Amylou789@reddit
I put on wet socks. Feels disgusting and cold, but I'm asleep before they warm up. And they dry by the morning
Intelligent-Leg-3862@reddit
Yep same with wrists too. Run your hands under the cold tap for a minute or two and seems to help me.
NotEvil_JustBritish@reddit
Another good trick is popping an icepack at the bottom of the bed, like a reverse hot water bottle.
bababababoos@reddit
I've always said my feet regulate my temperature! In even the coldest winters as long as my feet are warm the rest of me is absolutely fine.
Tattycakes@reddit
Wet towel.
nerdwithahusky@reddit
I’m sleeping on the floor with a dog cool mat (dunelms and sports direct have human sized cheaper then if advertised for humans) a migraine cap just out the freezer cooling blanket from dunelms , and I have a ac unit from Amazon that I can fill with cold water and ice blasting directly at me. Also sport quick dry material tshirt and shorts.
Wish I kept my dogs bed after he died it was a foam egg crate shape with a cooling layer
DancingSpacePenguin@reddit
In the freezer!
br0kinFPS@reddit
I put a mattress on thr floor in my kitchen right next to the freezer and open the door, I also go outside and get the hose pipe, put it on trickle and bring it inside, balancing it over a chair so it drips slowly onto my body while I have an industrial fan blowing air over me. I sometimes like to push an ice cube or 7 in my underwear as well.
smellyfeet25@reddit
I live in a middle flat and i actually slept quite well last night. i got to sleep late though and i had to get up for work and before that i had to put that cat out as she was meowing.
Try laying on the bed instead of getting in it at first.
craigybacha@reddit
Badly.
mad_saffer@reddit
It sounds counter intuitive but we have windows on opposite sides of the room. We open both and then point a fan OUT one window. It creates a sort of air flow and pulls cooler air in the other window. Had a nice cool room last night.
PARFT@reddit
oh right - I’m poor enough to try this trick thanks.
Yedasi@reddit
I do this but I also prop my internal doors open with little usb fans at the bottom to suck the colder ground level air into my room.
I have a fan in the middle of the room pointing up at an angle to move the hot air down towards a fan pointing out the window.
I’ve just got home and done this and my room has gone from 32C to 28C in 30 minutes!
Obviously still hot but very much more bearable.
Jimbobthon@reddit
It does work to an extent, but then you need windows on the opposite side. The two bedrooms we have, only the one this trick would work with as it lines up nicely to the landing window
Zee_has_cookies@reddit
Nah, we have one window in our bedroom with 2 openings and a non opener in the middle. Our bed is under the window, so we stand the fan on one of the bedside tables and point it out the window and the cool air comes in the other.
JedGamesTV@reddit
They don’t have to be opposite. All you need to do is create negative pressure in the hot room by aiming a fan out of the window, which draws cool air from the house into the hot room, which then exhausts out of the window.
ludicrous_socks@reddit
This is where it all falls apart for me, there isn't any cool air to be had :(
The airflow is most welcome though
JedGamesTV@reddit
The air will cool as it’s travelling through the house, the reason why you think there’s no cool air is because there’s no air flow, so it’s just warm and stagnant air.
Jimbobthon@reddit
Also helps if you have an attic door you can open, gives the heat a chance to escape. More so if you have a window up there you can open as well
Zee_has_cookies@reddit
I do this as well. Me and husband were both under the duvet last night!
cockatootattoo@reddit
I think that’s called the Bernoulli effect (excuse possible spelling). You’re creating low pressure by blowing the air out of your room, and therefore causing air to be sucked in. Or something such like. Maybe I’m talking nonsense.
Flapparachi@reddit
I think Bernoulli’s principle is for fluids, but pretty sure it’s the same sort of thing. I science, but I’m an animal biologist 🤷🏻♀️ Now I really want a physicist to answer this.
gr7ace@reddit
It is only bernoullis effect when the fan is inside the window pointing outwards and the flow of air then sucks surrounding air outwards also.
Link below
https://www.tiktok.com/@wolf_science/video/7115516617093631278?lang=en-GB
PARFT@reddit
open window lie outside sheets and let evap heating on perspiration keep you cool til the temperature drops
dantes_b1tch@reddit
I coughed up for air con. Otherwise I couldn't
BigDaddySpez@reddit
Buy a 200 year old house. Costs a fortune in winter but nice and cool in the summer 😂
Altruistic_Lies@reddit
Mine is weird. Downstairs I needed a jumper yesterday, but upstairs was toasty. Granted it's 131 y/o but the walls are stupidly thick lol
TheHootOwlofDeath@reddit
Mine is the same (1930s build), downstairs is always a pleasant temperature but upstairs is much warmer!
Altruistic_Lies@reddit
I slept in the living room when we had that 40° heatwave, I run a dehumidifier all day anyway, so it's about 35% humidity too, so it's not sticky. It has it's perks lol
audigex@reddit
It’s worth noting that the humidifier is removing moisture but increasing the temperature
Altruistic_Lies@reddit
Yeah I reckon it is, but because I'm not sweaty, it doesn't feel bad at all. If it's off, its still warm, and then it's all sticky, so it's a lesser evil
Besmirching_Badger@reddit
Depends. After a week of high temps the house itself often turns into a furnace once the stone heats up
audigex@reddit
Yeah old houses often seem to “buffer” temperature changes well, but once they fully heat soak they can be worse
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
I miss living in a 200 year old house. It was beautiful.
Lufc87@reddit
I went to my sister's earlier. She lives in a Victorian house and her living room was literally 8 degrees cooler than mine despite both facing the same direction.
Antergaton@reddit
Similar thing, ground floor flat, east facing. I get sun in morning then not at all, I sleep with quilt all year round.
Flatcapspaintandglue@reddit
Yeah man, I live in an old stone cottage, the living room is pretty much a windowless cave with a north facing patio door. Brutally cold in winter but appreciating it now!
Electronic-Country63@reddit
lol same, ours is Georgian and my husband was wearing fingerless gloves last week while sitting and working… this week we’ve had to have to air con on all night!
Illustrious_Study_30@reddit
Same. Our living room sits between 20-23 almost always in summer. It's nice. The back of the house is a glass box though 😬. ..
tola9922@reddit
Window, curtains doors open. Fan on each side of the room pointing at me and a wet flannel on my belly worked well last night. Also cold shower before getting into bed
WBB3-World@reddit
I put a couple of block of ice in water in one of those air diffusers ( the type you put essential oil in) and set it to high. The cold mist seemed to cool the room down quite a bit.
IdleStamina@reddit
Open window when it gets cool with a fan in front of it to fan the ever-so-slightly cooler air in
Minimum-Praline-2457@reddit
Damp tshirt in freezer for thevpillow
La-Orange@reddit
be butt naked. sleep on top of duvet. keep all windows and doors wide open
uGRILAH@reddit
The fan works perfectly when paired with a water mister / spray (standard one used for gardening etc is fine). Spray exposed skin - wherever that may be - and let the fan do its work. TRUST ME. It’s brilliant. Just keep on spraying 😃
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
Sleeping tabs. I do wake up every few hours but as long as I try to go back to sleep immediately I can usually sleep a few more hours
showmethecats89@reddit
Freeze a hot water bottle, wrap it in a pillow case and sleep with it behind my knees/on my back
Key_Cell7071@reddit
Sleep downstairs while it's extremely hot if it's possible
Use a weighted blanket to simulate the pressure without all the heat
Strategically position a large fan near the bed
Open windows wide at night and shut during the day
Keep the bedrooms blacked out during the day
Take a cold shower to lower your body temperature an hour before bed
If you have the luxury, push your sleep cycle forward so you're going to sleep in the cold and wake up after midday when the heat is strongest
SimplyFootballNet@reddit
I built a home-made cooling device, that keeps my room nice a cool: https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/s/Yk0FjEkFz7
For some reason is pissed people off on the HousingUK sub.
pgnlzbth@reddit
They got their knickers in a twist didn’t they 😂 hilarious! Hey, it sounds great and it works for you, and that’s all that matters. People are funny 😂
SimplyFootballNet@reddit
Yeh, ridiculous. I was just explaining a fun little DIY project I did - that happened to work well for me. I really don't get why it bothered that community so badly.
Xenozip3371Alpha@reddit
Sleep on top of the quilt.
If in a place with more than one floor, go to the lower floor since heat rises.
Azuras-Becky@reddit
I got balckout drunk last night, that seemed to do the trick.
Wouldn't recommend it as a daily solution though...
cragification@reddit
Most of this advice is garbage.
Assuming you're already sleeping naked... get the biggest towel you have (or a bedsheet) and sprinkle it with the shower hose until it's somewhere between damp and wet (or soak it in water and ring it out but that's too wet for me). Then use that as a sheet over you.
Darkgreenbirdofprey@reddit
So what I do is I close my eyes and pretend that I'm sleeping.
And then it just happens. Sleep achieved. Cogito Ergo Sum.
Kamoebas@reddit
Ceiling fan
EntertainmentGlad544@reddit
Fill hot water bottle with cold water then freeze it.... Have that at the foot of the bed
DanscoRed@reddit
For the last two nights - I haven’t done. Max 3 hours each night.
Gooner_93@reddit
Its got me crying for winter tbh
luckynumberstefan@reddit
May sound obvious to some but just in case: make sure the fan is blowing air directly onto you. Fans don’t cool a room but they do cool a person so if it isn’t pointing at you, you might even be increasing the temp of your room from the fan motor
chefshoes@reddit
lie on a towel
CornelliSausage@reddit
Melatonin
NunaKhan@reddit
Have one of these fitted, heats and cools
_peakDev@reddit
Went to South of France last year and had 30° overnight. We put a damp towel in the freezer during the day, and then draped it over us at night with a fan pointing towards us.
Probably not the best thing long term for your skin, but was the only way I could sleep so seemed like a good trade off for a few nights!
Overall-Lynx917@reddit
Learned this during a visit to a sandpit during military service.
Take a cotton sheet, soak it in water, wring/spin it so its just damp. Cover yourself with it when to go to bed. It's cooling by evaporation.
Aware-Plankton-8711@reddit
I smoke a joint before bed that helps me but that’s not for everyone 🤔 maybe a pint of vodka?
Ok_Trainer1097@reddit
Freeze a water bottle, go to sleep with said water bottle and use it as a Teddy Bear. The crevice behind the knees is of the best spots to cool yourself down quickly. Source: I come from an Italian island where the temperatures are way over 30 degrees for at least 6 months a year.
lookhereisay@reddit
I filled an old 2l Cola bottle up with water and froze it. Last night I wrapped it in a tea towel and slept holding that all night.
It still had a massive ice block in it this morning even though our bedroom was 29 degrees last night.
We have a portable a/c but cannot get any sleep with it on. Despite cooling the room before bed the temperature raced up within an hour.
BinFluid@reddit
I do this but with a hot water bottle
Etheria_system@reddit
Just for safety - make sure you don’t ever use that hot water bottle for hot water now. Freezing it degrades the rubber and causes micro cracks and tears which can then cause it to split when you put hot water in it
Geepandjagger@reddit
Cold shower before bed and sleep perfectly
SlaveCell@reddit
Brit living in Spain here, I do this and also wet a small towel (tea towel size) and sleep under/over it.
Geepandjagger@reddit
Also a Brit living in Spain but currently visiting relatives in the UK. I finally think my body has acclimatised to Spain as first day I was wearing a jumper and wondering what all the fuss was about 😃
SlaveCell@reddit
I have ceiling fans in all of the rooms, but this might be the year to install A/C (luckily I have pre-instalation)
Also not sure you are allowed to admit that you wear a jumper. I have to be the last one to use (in order), long sleeves, jumper, coat in Spain.
hotchillieater@reddit
Doesn't help much when the bedroom is 30 degrees unfortunately
Miserable_Arm_4372@reddit
Portable air con unit was the answer for me. Finally caved and bought one for £300 off amazon last year (pay in 3 if needed), its a godsend. You do have to have a window or something nearby to vent the heat, and it is pretty noisy, but the unbearable heat completely outweighs those as cons, plus I do like white noise to help me sleep...nothing worse than seeing every hour in through the night because you can't cool down!
Election-Usual@reddit
I don’t find it a problem whatsoever
Even-Funny-265@reddit
Get as low as you can, obviously you're in a flat tso don't have much choice but maybe sleep on the floor?
---_-------@reddit
I would also recommend an AC, but having made a mistake I would say don’t be tempted to get one too powerful for your intended room.. if it cools too quickly, the humidity goes right up. And too much humidity is bad if it’s hot or cold.
-mmmusic-@reddit
portable ac unit.
keeping windows and curtains/blinds shut during the day.
windows open wiiide at night when outside is cooler than inside.
fan facing outward to expel hot air.
dunk your whole head in cool water (not cold!!)
cool wet towels
dog cooling mat if it's that bad!
MapOfIllHealth@reddit
If you have a spare spray bottle with a mist setting, give your bed sheets a little spritz before you get in. Repeat as necessary.
ruellera@reddit
We’ve been spraying it directly onto the kids too.
---_-------@reddit
Yeah, this is my tip too. I keep a spray bottle with tap water in it next to the bed. Have an oscillating fan turning so it covers your whole body in bed. Use the spray bottle to mist the water onto your exposed skin, and let the fan draught pass over your damp skin. This draws the heat out of your body, and works a bit like a swamp cooler.
We also keep those blue freezer blocks in the freezer during the day, and just before bed wrap them in pillowcases to use as cold pads for necks, wrists, etc. I think I got about 8 of those back when Tesco had them for 50p in a clearance bin.
RichieRichard12@reddit
I love doing this, but my partner hates me doing it as he insists it'll just raise the humidity in the room and make it worse overall.
Special-Audience-426@reddit
Ice pack on the back of my neck and a wank to make me sleepy.
Tall_Opportunity_521@reddit
I dont. Im almost 24 hours awake. I am... not happy about it.
mbridge2610@reddit
Have a cold shower (or soak your feet in cold water) before bed works for me
welshgirl0987@reddit
Wet a sheet. Wring it out really well or spin it in your washer on spin Drape it over you - bliss
acmhkhiawect@reddit
I have a south facing bedroom, these are some things that have helped me.
Ikea have a £10 cool pad - bought one for me, my partner and the dog. It just makes your bed sheet feel like you've got the cool side of the pillow. Not the biggest difference but it stops your bedsheets feeling 'actively' warm.
Opening both sides of my window, pointing fan out of window once it got cool & before I got into bed. Last night this got my room down from 30° to 26° (as indicated on my fan).
Once in bed, cool pad under the sheet + fan directly over me.
When it got to 40°, I used to put a couple bed sheets in Ziploc bags and put in the freezer. They didn't stay cold for too long but it was long enough to get to sleep. I have also used the freeze a two litre bottle and sleep with that. Not the comfiest but it is cool. Wet flannels on ankles/wrists/forehead.
I think something else good to know about sleep generally, is even if you lie down and rest, your body & brain get a lot of the rest needed even if you don't actually sleep. So I also try to take the pressure off actual sleep and try to think of resting instead. Listening to YouTube videos in bed with my eyes shut and trying to relax the pressure of actually needing to sleep helps me snooze off.
teamonkfish89@reddit
Wear a wet T shirt! It feels weird initially and will make your sheets a bit damp but it works amazingly well.
Rekyht@reddit
Haven’t slept in 4 days but haven’t figured out how to use the search box apparently, given there’s a dozen threads from every summer
PersonalityWinter382@reddit
Sleep deprivation cam do pod things to you to be fair.
medlilove@reddit
Sleep without a blanket and accept the monster under my bed will get me
kill4foodx@reddit
Wait...do you guys sleep?
Top-Cat-a@reddit
I slept in the garden - obviously not necessarily applicable to flats.
Low_Ad_5255@reddit
Try cleaning your fan blades. They can collect dust and dampen the effect.
User-1967@reddit
No clothes, on top of the bed with the fans blowing over me
prankishink@reddit
Have blinds down/curtains pulled when the sun is shining on your windows.
A air con unit (not a air cooler/ice over water thing) is about the only thing that will bring the temperature down. Everything else is just blowing the same hot air around. Hope it arrives soon for you.
hagwidsbuttquack@reddit
Bedding in the freezer, get a mist spray bottle of water to spritz on yourself and the bed before you sleep with the fan on
Constant-Estate3065@reddit
Open bedroom windows and doors as soon as the sun sets. At bedtime, leave windows and bedroom doors open, remove duvet and put in earplugs.
kcermita@reddit
Soak a flannel in cold water and cover your eyes with it. It cooled me down last night. A colleague of mine told me that she puts a blanket in the freezer!
ChipmunkAny8571@reddit
Rinse a flannel under cold water and put it on your forehead or chest, always works for me. Hold it in front of the fan to make it even colder
AddieLarue777@reddit
I honestly just keep the fan out all night and take my duvet out of the bed cover and just sleep with the bed cover as a thin sheet over me as I can't sleep without anything covering me. Also keep all windows open and constantly have water to sip next to you
Ellen-Sebb@reddit
Naked.
jay19903562@reddit
Bought an air conditioner last year. Absolute dream.
Put it on about an hour before bed usually.
I am a shift worker and it's really improved my daytime sleeping when I'm on my night shifts no end so worth every penny.
Tuscan5@reddit
Which air conditioner please?
ruggpea@reddit
When I did my research for one, Honeywell 9000 BTU came up repeatedly.
Unfortunately it was sold out so I went for an alternative brand as I didn’t want to wait.
Tuscan5@reddit
Thank you.
GothicGamer2012@reddit
I am also interested in which air conditioner. Commenting so I can come back and check later.
emehen@reddit
Check out Climachill. I've had their PAC 12 for 3 years and it's been great. Very powerful at 12,000 BTU and connects to WiFi so I can turn it on and off with voice control via Google Home. It's noisy so you can't really sleep with it on but you can are least cool the room right down before going to bed. Costs about 20p per hour to run according to my smart meter. It's quite bulky and heavy though
vishbar@reddit
If you can, I’d strongly recommend a mini split. Costco does a fixed price deal at around £1800. Local installers will do it maybe a bit cheaper, but I liked not having to get quotes, etc.
It is by far the best upgrade we’ve made to our house.
EverybodySayin@reddit
They're mostly all the same tbh. They're all loud cause the condenser is built into the unit and they all work the same way. The strength is determined by the BTU - higher BTU = more powerful but also consumes more electricity, so choose based on your room size (you can google charts or calculators for this).
Stormgeddon@reddit
Basic Curry’s Logik brand has worked a treat for us.
imnotavampire24@reddit
I have a ProBreeze 5000 BTU. Came with the window venting kit, super easy to install. I live in a small studio, and it keeps it cool all day. Best thing ever.
luffyuk@reddit
Naked with no blanket
Sagegreenlama@reddit
Get a large fan and place it up on something so it is level with your body and blows right across you all night. Advice from a Texan. Also the white noise of the fan is soothing and helps me stay asleep. It’s normally around 26 f at night here in the summer.
Glittering_Habit_161@reddit
I sleep without the duvet on me.
MrBread0451@reddit
Once I got a job I sleep like a baby the night before a workday no matter what
MiserableWinter636@reddit
I bought a portable aircon. They are cheap now £200 Game changer. Best thing I’ve ever bought
Fanjo_mcclanjo@reddit
Im my nice cold Scottish home. It can get up to 22 degrees if I set it on fire.
DingoBingoWimbo@reddit
27 degrees in my Edinburgh flat yesterday 😢
Fanjo_mcclanjo@reddit
Aw mate that's heartbreaking.
I never considered this stuff before but ill need to learn more about keeping homes cool when I move next year cos Im now thinking I just got lucky with the last 2 places ive lived which were in parallel streets and facing the same direction.
DingoBingoWimbo@reddit
Good luck! I need to learn too otherwise summers gonna be shite
Fanjo_mcclanjo@reddit
Wrap your house in that silver bubble wrap insulation!
DingoBingoWimbo@reddit
😭
Phil_Mike-Huntin@reddit
Don't know where you are but I was cooked in Loch Lomond
Fanjo_mcclanjo@reddit
I am currently battling 31 degrees in Croatia for the next week, but I am very lucky that my house position means it doesnt take the full brunt of the sun all day and I can create a through draft by opening both bedrooms windows.
By night time my bedroom has cooled right down again even if the front of house is still warm.
GodOfThunder888@reddit
If your room is already hot, it will be impossible to get the out this heatwave. You need to act before the room heats up. UK homes are generally well insulated, meaning they can remain cooler for longer, but once heated it can take ages to get the heat out. British windows also don't seem built for catching wind. Sometimes, I have the window open, it's cool outside, and I don't even feel a breeze.
Keep curtains and windows closed during the day, only open when it's cool again outside. I often check it by hand, open the window slightly, and if the air is warmer outside than in, I keep everything closed. In my area, the heat actually arrives late in the day and remains for quite some time so I don't open my windows until later at 9-10pm. Mornings all windows open until it starts to heat up again.
If it's already hot, just sleep in front of the fan. There is nothing else you can do really. A little "Caribbean" trick for me, I use some water, aloe vera and peppermint oil (only a few drops), all in one cup. Before bed, I put it on my arms and legs. Gives a nice menthol effect. If you sleep in front of the fan this is enhanced.
markvauxhall@reddit
I'm sorry, which "UK" are you talking about here?
hotchillieater@reddit
I can only think of one...
buy_me_a_pint@reddit
Sleep alone
Opposite_Art5474@reddit
Get a proper AC unit. £1200 or so to buy and get installed. It also heats my place up in winter
YsoL8@reddit
Shut all the curtains. If you've got vertically opening windows leave a gap open over the opening to generate air flow.
When you have the AC, shut all the windows
JossJ@reddit
You can get window stickers like this (they're also simple to remove in case you rent). We've got something like them on some of our windows and it's made a HUGE difference.
Familiar9709@reddit
Just open the windows in the evening. use a fan to help
TheRiddlerTHFC@reddit
Badly
Accomplished_Luck404@reddit
I bought a proper wall mounted air con a couple years ago for about £400 and had it fitted for another £300. Best thing I ever bought. Even if I only use it once or twice per year it will have served me well by the time it’s done. I’ve just walked out my 18c bedroom and was hit with a huge gust of heat on my landing. Considering doing the downstairs next
lovesorangesoda636@reddit
Damp flannel on my feet.
I'm 32 weeks pregnant, uncomfortable, too hot at the best of times. The damp flannel helps cool me down enough to be able to get to sleep.
tedlovesme@reddit
Close windows and curtains on any part of the house that gets direct sun. As soon as the sun moves off that area, open curtains and windows to allow heat to escape.
If you have a loft hatch open it.
Move to seaside for cooling seabreeze
SeaIntelligent4504@reddit
Last night, i wet a towel and had it on me.
FornyHucker22@reddit
heard this one but I flip flop before falling asleep 😐
SeaIntelligent4504@reddit
What do you mean by flip flop?
FornyHucker22@reddit
roll left n right n face down. almost never face up
SeaIntelligent4504@reddit
Ah! I'm a right/left, occasionally up, almost never face down. I use towel (and normally fan, but was too sleepy to find it) to get cool (moving the towel as necessary), then take them off and try to get to sleep before getting too hot again. Not a perfect solution, but it allows for some sleep.
faerieW15B@reddit
Last summer, I soaked a towel, wrung it out and put it over myself when I went to bed. It was so hot overnight that by the morning, the towel and myself were both dry, but it kept me cool enough to get me off to sleep.
IngenuityOk1479@reddit
Hi Aussie here, Put bottles of water in freezer and wrap in light towel and hug them in bed. Also wet towel in fridge for a while
Temporary_Degree_890@reddit
Cooling blanket from amazon and the fan on me, it helps to cool the blanket even more, ad I have a cooling pillow case.
Logical_fallacy10@reddit
Fan always helps. When it’s around midnight - run your fan for an hour in the window pointing outwards. This will force out hot air and replace with outside air. Then you close the window and face the fan towards the ceiling over the bed to it drizzles on you. Works.
Smedlington@reddit
In the evening, fan blowing out of the window with the door open to the landing to allow cross flow from the landing window. In bed, fan on the windowsil still but flipped around aiming at us. Cross flow still exists but with the cooler outside air washing over you.
The cross flow is a game changer. Discovered when my wife went to the toilet last night and the temperature was significantly cooler when she opened the door and wamer when she shut it.
Purging the still warm air in your house is the name of the game without AC.
google_me_not123@reddit
Water cooler are cheaper and better than A/C's. A/C's consume a lot more power and generate a lot of heat which makes it even hotter outside..if everyone had A/C the heat would be much worse.. We have using water cooler for last3/4 years during heat waves..out it on an hour before and works perfectly..last 2 nights..have had to take a blanket after 1AM
LadyNzuri@reddit
Someone suggested to me to fill a hot water bottle with tap water and freeze it. Then wrap it in a towel and hug it like a teddy when going to bed. Sometimes I place one under my feet or knees as well. It works for me.
leoinclapham@reddit
Put some ice in a box and place it in front of the fan
sakmentoloki@reddit
Air con unit.
MidsummerMidnight@reddit
Usually just close my eyes
The_Fyrewyre@reddit
Sleep downstairs.
Violet351@reddit
Cold water bottles
DirectorsCuts91@reddit
That's the neat part, I don't!
SparrowTavern@reddit
Cooling pillow, works wonders
nico735@reddit
Try hanging up wet sheets to get the evaporative cooling. It helps but the humidity will be higher.
Ok-Committee9283@reddit
I’ve a 4 month old who isn’t a great sleeper so when she went down I closed the curtains but windows open.
She woke up at 11 for a feed and sun had set so I opened the curtains letting in the cool air quicker.
She woke at 3 before the sun rose so closed them.
We sleep with white noise for her and the toddler so they can sleep through birds ect.
Our house runs cold anyway (1974 build) managed in winter by thick jumpers and layers in summer it’s a godsend. We were 24 last night.
Temporary-Zebra97@reddit
My old professor developed a technique when he lived in india, at bedtime take a cool shower, then leap into bed and hope you fall asleep before you start sweating.
Many-Giraffe-2341@reddit
Naked
spacejester@reddit
This is the way
hatthewmartley@reddit
Once the temp starts to drop outside, you have to get that air moving through the house. Opening a window does very little if there is no breeze.
I open my bedroom window and put a fan next to it pointing in, and in an opposite room I do the same but have the fan pointing out. You need to create positive airflow to consistently draw in fresh air and push out stale air.
Hannah-may@reddit
We sleep downstairs. It’s at least ten degrees cooler.
MercuryJellyfish@reddit
I got an AC unit years ago. One of the bedrooms in my house, which I use as an office, is basically completely untenable in heatwaves. Just shut the door, pretend it doesn’t exist. The other bedroom can be kept comfortable with the AC. All of the heat ends up in that room, gets vented out of the window by the AC. The downstairs remains pretty cool all summer, because my house doesn’t get that much sun on the ground floor what with one thing or the other. It’s kind of dark and miserable in the winter, mind.
ReactionCreepy428@reddit
Work exhausts me so much I just fall asleep instantly
Guy_Incognito97@reddit
Ice bath before bed.
Swansboy@reddit
Go to sleep later.
No_Excuse_9023@reddit
Badly
cari-strat@reddit
Buy a dog cooling mat to lie on in bed. Put your pillow in a bag in the freezer if you have a chest freezer, or your pillowcase at least. Get a fan, and once it cools off at night, stick a big tub of ice or a load of cool-bag blocks by the fan and blast the cool air around.
Brilliant_Quail6889@reddit
I sleep with several icepacks (wrapped in a tea towel) under me and a fan on me. Plus all the usual curtains and windows closed when the sun is on my bedroom.
becpuss@reddit
Keep all your windows and curtains shut during the day it’s warmer outside than in . Damp towel in the fridge for sleeping with I wrap ice packs in a towel and sleep hugging them . Honestly I spend a lot of time with cold wet tea towels wrapped around my neck water spritz sit in front of a fan
Lingonberry-Radiant@reddit
I once covered myself in wet blue cloths. The water evaporating was sooo cooling. Unfortunately the dye leaked and I woke up looking like a 17 stone, hairy, smurf.
shanloulie@reddit
get into bed, cover yourself with cool damp towel until shivering cold, remove towel for blanket, sleep like baby
The_Cozy@reddit
Get two fans and direct them at you from different sides of the bed
I slept in an attic for years where it was regularly 30+ and was able to sleep under my duvet because of how cool being in a cross breeze is
jolittletime@reddit
We have a south facing bedroom. Close.windows and curtains as soon as you get up. When it gets dark open the windows and curtains and ideally another window on the other side of the house to get a through draft. Hope your cat doesnt decide to take a dive from a first floor window during the night (he's fine - he just gave us a heart attack by walking along the window ledge outside and back.in the other window when he realised he was too high to jump)
Fredmarklar@reddit
I put the fan on the floor and have it pointed at the side of the bed. The air then goes up over the side of the bed and almost ‘under me’ I find it much better than the fan blown down on me
Ok-Variation-4113@reddit
Get off your phone, get into bed and I close my eyes and try and go to sleep
speedloafer@reddit
I bought a wall fan with a remote and put it up over my bed, then when I wake up I bring it to whatever room I'm in and put it on that wall. I live in a flat in London and its 28.5 when I woke up this morning but I don't feel it with the wall fan.
stuaird1977@reddit
Bollocko
Fantastic-Option-260@reddit
This trick actually works…
In the evening typically the temperature outside is cooler, as is the bottom of the house, but the top (where the bedrooms are) is hot.
Open the bottom windows NOT THE TOP and turn on an extractor fan in an upstairs bathroom (assuming you have one).
It will throw out specifically the hot air, pulling in only cold air from the bottom windows.
It’s the best method of getting the hot upstairs air out quickly.
Big-Vermicelli-6291@reddit
Wet towel in cold water and wring it out, gets your body down to a better temp
nova75@reddit
I didn't: I woke at 4:50
AOHarness@reddit
My ceiling fan saves me every year. I’d highly suggest getting one!
ZombieGash@reddit
Last night I laid in front of the fan naked. I have a misting bottle and every 5 mins I’d mist all my body, the fan and the water made me cool down. Did it for about an hour while watching a movie, then I was cool enough to fall asleep. Will be doing the same tonight ☺️
MattHatter1337@reddit
Get a fan points at a window, itll blow out the warmer air of your flat and by opening a window on the otherside of the flat, draw cooler air in from outside. I see similar has been mentioned with windows but the fan shoukd help.
I just have the fan on me all night.
spik0rwill@reddit
It's horrid.. I slept 2 - 3 hours last night. We have 3 cats, so we cant even open our windows!..
sossighead@reddit
I just gave up tbh. Went to bed at 22:00 and woke up at 03:30. I’d normally be up at 05:00 anyway so just accepted it 🤣
Gaymer_Duck@reddit
I simply didn't
I woke up at 7:30am yesterday, went to work at midnight, finished at 8am, and still haven't slept yet
I've been awake 26 hours because of this heat...
joh153@reddit
I slept naked with a wet flannel on my back with a fan pointed at me. Slept like a dream
Firm_Cash_7498@reddit
A cooling face mask, or a tea towel, in the fridge for a few hours then throw it on when I plan to sleep. Been a lifesaver honestly
Penolta@reddit
I’m thinking of starting an AC business after this heat. It’s May and it’s wild already…
Acceptable_Gear_3097@reddit
To prevent a house getting warm, keep your curtains closed throughout the day. Genuinely the best tip you will ever get.
Open windows and fans push warm air through your house.
I keep windows and curtains closed, leave for the day & come home to a nice cool flat. People do the opposite, open curtains and windows, then can't sleep at night because their home is an oven.
miuipixel@reddit
A cold shower before bed, no quilt just a sheet and running fan on high speed
TheNotSpecialOne@reddit
Slept downstairs. Granted i only got about 4 hours sleep but it was an awesome 4 hours rest
Falloffingolfin@reddit
From someone who lived in Australia in a house with no Aircon for a while, cold shower before bed, only dab off the excess water, don't dry properly. Then get on your bed with a fan directly on you, only pulling over a thin cotton sheet when you get sleepy or chilly. This should be enough cooling to get you to sleep, which is the hardest part in heat.
English_Joe@reddit
Shower before bed.
mystery_alien@reddit
Last night I put up our tent in the garden and just slept outside
Injurious_Beans@reddit
Frozen bottles of water in socks make excellent bedtime companions. When you get up for a pee, also dip your feet and ankles in cold water, or rinse them in a cold shower. Do the same for your wrists.
Cheap_Parking9340@reddit
Alcohol, drink yourself to sleep at night. It works every night of the year not just when it's hot.
Then-Mango-8795@reddit
It may not be pretty but open the windows (can still have curtains closed) strip naked and have just a thin sheet . Nice and cool.
Unusual_Sherbert2671@reddit
Portable AC, people piss £250-300 quid over the period of a month or two on crap, buy a unit instead.
Sacu-Shi@reddit
Hot water bottle. Fill 3/4 with water and freeze (do not fill full!!!). Wrap in a towel.
Cuddle it during the night.
NotEvil_JustBritish@reddit
Just remember to mark it as freezer only, so you don't accidentally use it for hot water later, like I did. It'll probably split and pour hot water everywhere.
Now that was not a fun evening!
Smooth_Brilliant4083@reddit
A damp flannel across the forehead, keep swapping it over. Cold showers and laying nude until too hot, and repeat.
NoFewSatan@reddit
Like any other time of the year
purte@reddit
Kept the bedroom curtains shut all day and swapped the duvet for a sheet. Had a cool, restful sleep.
Luxury_Dressingown@reddit
Nuclear option for me: soak pyjamas in water. Wring them out so they are properly damp but not dripping. Put them on and go to sleep, in front of a fan for greater effect. I recommend putting a towel down first to protect the mattress. This always works for me, sometimes to the extent that I have to cover myself in the duvet or sheet again as it works too well. The disadvantage is you tend to wake up in the morning smelling like a wet dog.
OptimusPrime365@reddit
Soak a tea towel in cold water then squeeze it out. Then place it over yourself like you would a blanket. I actually get too cold when I do this. It’s lovely!
Hench-AF@reddit
Heat??😂 It’s the UK not the Sahara. Easy, I slept easy.
Historical_Project86@reddit
?? The Sahara would be lovely, it regularly goes down to 0 at night.
Historical_Project86@reddit
I think I'm sleeping through about 26. I run a fan for an hour or so while I'm lying down dozing, but the socket is quite far away so that turns into quite a natural very light breeze. Last night was OK, tonight will be worse, and then fingers crossed we will be out the other side.
NickTann@reddit
Installed a ceiling fan years ago. Best thing we ever did. I have on in my office as well. Life changer!
missuseme@reddit
Pretty much the same as I do the rest of the year. I lay down and I'm asleep within a minute.
Only difference is the window is open and I'm on top of the covers.
KHubbs86@reddit
I have a cooling towel that you wet with cold water that I wrap around my ankles, definitely helps cool me down and stays damp and cool for several hours. Room itself is easily 28oC but was relatively comfortable with window open/ wet towel/ fan.
jasilucy@reddit
It was 32 in my room last night and that was WITH aircon blasting out. It overheated and made my room hotter. All I got was a bowl full of water. I slept downstairs in the end. There was absolutely no circulation in the room.
YGhostRider666@reddit
I bought one of those portable AC units a few years ago with a window seal.
Worth every perry IMO
SunSimilar9988@reddit
Lying down with my eyes closed
Waspy_Wasp@reddit
Last year I just took a rapid 5 minute cool shower, it woke me up for a bit but fell asleep again refreshed.
Having something frozen next to you in bed is good as well (wrap it in a towel or something so it doesn't hurt you) especially if you put it between your legs for a while.
dprophet32@reddit
Air conditioning unit I bought years ago. 16 degrees in the bedroom. I don’t sleep otherwise
digitalfir3@reddit
Same here, bought it just before COVID and no longer does a warm period mean a lack of sleep! And since we both now work at home, I can put it on the landing and it does both rooms where we work, a slight assault course to get over the exhaust to get down the stairs 😃
No_Wrongdoer_5155@reddit
Spaniard here. 27 or more degree nights have been our normal during all sumer for years now. And I don't even live in the far south. AC is the way. All the other things may help but only for a while, if they help at all.
regulator202@reddit
Fucking terribly
Cold_Raspberry520@reddit
Go exercise the shear exhaustion from the heat will make you so tired your body passes out lol 😆
avemango@reddit
Sleeping tablets
ldn-ldn@reddit
Open all your windows. The air gets colder during the nights and your place cools down. Close them once the sun rises.
pgnlzbth@reddit
You can sleep under a sheet or empty diver cover. Put it though the wash on a ‘rinse and spin’ and hang it out to dry only ever so slightly. Sleep under it and you will be nice and cold.
Illustrious_Study_30@reddit
I actually don't have a problem at the moment. It's not hot enough at night to disturb my sleep and I keep windows open and the bedroom door open to circulate air.
The best truck ever is a couple of hand towels or flannels dampened in cold water and placed in the fridge . I sleep under those if it gets too hot and that's what I do in Thailand every year when the air con noise grinds my gears. Over here I use a hot water bottle filled with cold water and put that in the fridge for the day. It's the same as heating, you heat yourself first, rather than the whole room.
Martipar@reddit
I'm at my aunt's at the moment and as she has a small house with a large garden I'm in my tent. I've had no trouble with the heat however I'm going home later which means i will probably have to go back to just sleeping on top of my bed.
DrH1983@reddit
I put my fan on the windowsill and try and draw the cooler air in.
My flat was over 30c yesterday at 10pm, actually started to feel ill.
Despite opening the windows I can overnight and using the fan to try and draw air in it was still 26c at 7am this morning. Have a portable AC arriving tomorrow, just need to get through tonight.
Fucking AC had better work.