Help me survive this week’s heatwave

I live in a three storey house, my bedroom on the top floor is the warmest room. I have a cool shower before bed, wet a large towel under the shower, squeeze the excess off and use it as a bedsheet. It really works. I got the idea from cooling towels that we used on a trip to Florida.

Keep clothing light and preferably natural fibres
If it’s a cool morning and/or evening, open windows up.
When the air outside is around 20 C, close windows and curtains/blinds to keep heat out.
Drink fluids.
Cool fruits in the fridge to snack on.
Wash in the morning, and early evening when it’s getting cooler.
If it’s cooler in the evening, head outside and let your body cool down.
If you can, make use of any public cooling spaces eg library, shopping centre etc.
Don’t over exert yourself especially in the heat.
Try to stay in the shade if outside and move at a slower pace.
Cool shower before bed if needed.
On really hot nights, I lie as still as possible knowing that I will eventually fall asleep. Light cotton top sheet if needed. Water nearby.
If there’s a public pool, especially outside, make use of it to cool down especially late afternoon after 4 pm.
This too shall pass

I have the blinds down in my suntrap room
until about 10pm. Then I set the fan up to suck up hot air from the room out of the open window for a couple of hours. Brings the temp right down. I also bought a cooling blanket on Amazon which has been saving me. I have 3 frozen bottles of water, a frozen ice pack, a frozen hot water bottle and two knee length socks stuffed with rice in the freezer. I cover myself in them and they help!

A good portable air con is £600 so no point spending this money if you’re planning to put in a permanent one (I did and I regret). And yes, there’s a thick hose that goes out the window.

I would sleep on the ground floor, amazon blow up mattress with suffice

Just like everyone else. Keep windows and curtain closed to keep the heat out, but yeah, it gonna be hot for everyone. You’ll have to just deal with it sadly. Get a paddling pool to dip in a lunchtime

. . . does the condensation from this not make the bed wet?

www.amazon.co.uk/Dnenellr-Portable-Rechargeable-Bladeless-Hands-Free/dp/B0GDJ34PT6/ref=mp_s_a_1_13_sspa?crid=BC9I5FETD9YP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mLFZji75qa_GP57tI5-5OzQhxwxBDHowC9E1z6GwxZd7X9knVMZnrzGUUIvXbNQ3ufNTQbvxIptfTuf9DQSv-5MFhsmWxIgF34FLkZ2UpQd6xNyPl-bLkvutBqPkjc2zfp3puKgL9iHO4JJ4gpmjo80yR2rdqf3z9FBWZyabJYJgAo-B_1ZxTMpG40c_61xSgumgUTQencRQ2-7qsEuB_g.smXgjQaC56_HmSArkhH192lJEqNkbqSzP0NKi_vE2Pw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cooling+neck+fan&qid=1782078391&sprefix=cooling+neck+fan%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-13-spons&aref=eENAnZBofE&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

Won’t help you for this week - unless you can get an electrician very quickly - but ceiling fans are the way forward! We have very large wooden bladed ones in our main bedroom, my son’s bedroom and the living room. So so much better than a stand alone fan and a whole lot quieter than an aircon unit - which we also have but don’t use since we had the fans fitted

For those suggesting a frozen hot water bottle in bed . . . does the condensation from this not make the bed wet?

If you freeze your hot water bottle repeatedly, don't use it for hot water in future as it weakens the rubber and can lead to splitting. You can buy cold packs online which are specifically designed for repeated freezing. Just wrap them in pillowcases and take to bed with you or wherever you need them.

Bamboo satin pillowcases and sheets.

There are some really good freestanding fans on Amazon which have a cooling effect despite not being air conditioning units. They're best on a low setting blowing air straight at you, but you might find that they help cool the room down very slightly.

I was stressing so much I decided to rent a heavy duty air conditioner unit - £55 per week plus Vat. I’m going to have it for two weeks. They delivered it the same day I ordered it and also collect at the end of the rental. Delivery was £30. It’s brilliant and has made me feel much better about the coming week! It is heavy (35kg) though and a cumbersome shape so it required two strong men to get it up the stairs.

Expensive I know but I feel so much better and will hopefully be able to sleep this week.

I sleep on the sofa downstairs when its really hot. Its much cooler and keep all the curtains closed.

For sleeping definitely a cool shower half hour before bed. It works.

Daytime, the cooling towel, teatowels, cool mist spray are all good. Stay hydrated obviously. At least if ypu are working from home ypu can wear the lightest, most comfortable clothes and a supply of iced drinks.

I'm just here to follow! Literally having the worst anxiety over this heatwave. It hits here tomorrow and looks like it's here for 5 days! I'll be miserable until we fall back into a nice comfortable 22 degrees! Even colder would be better.

Thanks to all for the suggestions for far x

Another recommendation for a meaco fan - I got one during the previous heat wave and it definitely helped. It doesn't just seem to move hot air around like a lot of fans and if I trained it over the bed, it cooled my skin enough to sleep

Which neck fan from Amazon please, I want to get one but not sure which is best,thanks.

Can't edit my post. Meant to say, can be ofc used in addition to another fan indoors, but they are very effective on their own too.

Neck fan from Amazon, or wherever else..
I got one recently and don't know how I coped without it. Great for using while doing so many things.. cooking, walking etc in addition to another fan for extra coolness, but so effective on its own.
I even sleep with mine around my neck and it is so comfortable, I can barely feel its there (im a back sleeper)
I feel far less panicky since I have got it, as it really helps be breathe better which I struggle with when its humid.
It lasts for around 5 hrs easily, when charged up and has 4 settings.

Cold shower then sit in front of a fan. Repeat throughout the day.

Let your hair get your PJs a bit damp when you sleep. Blast the fan. I never get warm because of this.

Stick your feet in a bowl of cool water. Cool shower near bedtime. Windows open at night and stick some earplugs in. Air-con unit with the hose out the window is the best purchase you can make.

Have you got a hot water bottle you can add some water too and freeze. I sometims just get an ice pack out the freezer and have it in the bed.

I have a meaco fan in most rooms also a good circulator one - John Lewis own make.

Have a cool shower before bed too.

I would also love a portable air con and seriously considering it.

It sounds effective then. Does it cool the air well?

I bought a Meaco Sefte fan, was £100 but worth it. I’m too cold in bed with it now, need to turn it down!

I work from home Monday and Tuesday, dreading it as last heatwave the room got to over 30 despite fan and curtains drawn. It’s tough not being able to sleep properly and trying to work

We bought a portable air con unit last heatwaves- got it from screwfix. You do have to put the hose out the window but we don’t sleep with it on, put it on for an hour or so before going to bed and it cools the room down enough to sleep with a lightweight duvet. It really takes the stress out of heatwaves- our terraced house is south facing and gets extremely hot