10 ways to keep cool on a budget….

I originally published this post a few years ago but with the heatwave we’re having at the moment and the fact that our new house seems to hold heat like an actual greenhouse, I’ve found myself coming back to it and looking for every possible way to keep cool again. 😂

Our old Victorian house is lovely in lots of ways but once the heat gets in, it really likes to hang around which means we’ve been trying all sorts over the last couple of weeks just to make things a bit more comfortable without relying on fans running constantly.

Some of these are things we’ve done for years, some are little tricks I’d completely forgotten about until recently and some only give temporary relief, but honestly when it’s boiling hot even ten minutes of feeling cooler feels worth it.

They’re kind of the Summer version of putting an extra jumper on in Winter so you can hold off turning the heating on.

Create a breeze through the house

This makes more difference than any fan we own.

If I just open the living room windows then not much happens apart from the curtains moving a bit dramatically. But if I open the kitchen patio doors as well, we suddenly get a proper breeze flowing right through downstairs.

Upstairs we do the same thing by opening windows on both sides of the house and leaving bedroom doors open. Even the kids do it willingly which tells you it must work because normally every door in the house is shut for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Sometimes the breeze is so strong downstairs that the living room door slams shut unless we wedge it open. 😁

Avoid using the oven if you can

The last thing I want on a boiling hot day is the oven heating the kitchen up even more.

We tend to keep meals really simple when it’s hot anyway so it’s usually things like salad, wraps, picky bits or something cooked outside on our little George Foreman electric grill. Not only does it stop the kitchen turning into a sauna but it also means there’s less washing up which always feels like a win.

Even the slow cooker can make the house feel warmer than I’d like in the middle of a heatwave.

Run your wrists under cold water

This sounds far too simple to work but it genuinely helps cool you down quickly.

If I’m feeling really overheated then I run cold water over my wrists for a minute or two and it seems to take the edge off almost straight away. Apparently it helps cool the blood flowing through your veins which then helps cool the rest of you down a bit too.

I also do this before bed if the bedroom feels unbearably warm.

Swap the quilt for a lightweight blanket

There comes a point during a heatwave where even the thinnest Summer quilt feels too much.

We all still like the comfort of having something over us though so we keep a couple of really lightweight blankets ready to swap in when it’s extra warm. It’s enough to feel cosy without waking up feeling like you’ve spent the night wrapped in insulation.

Put your bedding in the freezer

I know this sounds ridiculous but stay with me because it’s honestly lovely on really hot nights.

I’ve been known to put pillowcases or lightweight blankets into a bag and pop them in the freezer for an hour before bed. Obviously they warm up again pretty quickly once you’re in bed but that first cool feeling when you climb in is amazing.

Have a lukewarm shower before bed

A cool shower before bed helps so much when the heat feels unbearable.

Apparently ice cold water can actually make your body work harder to warm itself back up afterwards so lukewarm or slightly cool water is supposed to work better overall. I don’t know the science behind it but I do know I sleep much better afterwards.

Close curtains before the hottest part of the day

We don’t sit in darkness all day pretending we live in a cave, but closing curtains in the late afternoon definitely helps keep bedrooms cooler.

Upstairs especially, the rooms that get direct sun are noticeably cooler in the evening if we remember to close the curtains before the hottest part of the day hits.

It’s the same logic as keeping heat in during Winter, just the opposite way round.

Choose cotton bedding and pyjamas

Anything too heavy or synthetic just makes me feel hotter.

Cotton bedding is definitely the nicest option when it’s warm and lightweight cotton pyjamas are much more comfortable than anything fleecy or overly cosy. As much as I love a fluffy blanket in Winter, Summer is not the time for it. 😁

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