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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for heatwave coping tips / purchases that help?

65 replies

CassandraWebb · 21/06/2026 19:57

I have a neuromuscular junction disorder called Myasthenia that means my body pretty much stops sending signals to my muscles the heat so I am pretty worried about next week.

So I am looking to gather all your best tips /advice /purchases!

I know someone will come and lecture about "hysteria" around the heat but it really does affect me very badly- in particular it gets scary when it causes a flare that means I cannot swallow safely

I have an air conditioner in the sitting room so I will work in there. And I know work will be happy for me to work from home (as I will rapidly get to the point I cant function otherwise). But there will still be times I have to leave my air conditioned bubble

I do have a neck fan, and some cooling neck tubes that last 30 mins or so. Spray bottles of water help a bit.

But I am sure there are other tips that might help me (or others!)

OP posts:
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PaperTyger · 21/06/2026 20:41

HumberSquid · 21/06/2026 20:34

Best thing I've found is hanging sheets outside the windows on the south side of the house so the sun doesnt hit the glass. Makes an enormous difference.

We also do this I am able to feed it through the window . Anything to stop the sun actually touching the glass
..

Op re vigourous ringing out I hope not !!😂
However I can highly recommend the fan . Others seem weak on compassion

goldenhunter · 21/06/2026 20:38

Honestly I don’t think any purchase helps besides AC units or good fans. Keep your windows and curtains closed when the sun is on them, and open when the air cools. Aim a fan at the external wall in a room to bring the temp down a little, and run your AC in a shut room to get it chilled then shut the room down and blast the fan.

Do you really need to leave the AC bubble? Order food and essentials online, and try not to leave? If you let us know why you need to leave the house we can maybe make some suggestions for alternatives?

C080889 · 21/06/2026 20:35

I rate running a cold shower over a flat sheet so its about 50% wet, laid over me in bed with the fan on. Not as heavy as a towel.

Imsixtyandiknowit · 21/06/2026 20:35

The cool towels stay cool lot longer than normal towels or flannels in my opinion

MissKittyFantastico84 · 21/06/2026 20:35

An alternative to the cooling towels or bathtowels is a big damp muslin cloth - like the ones you can’t live without as a new mum - draped around your shoulders and legs. My son is eight now and I purposefully kept the best ones for this very reason!

HumberSquid · 21/06/2026 20:34

Best thing I've found is hanging sheets outside the windows on the south side of the house so the sun doesnt hit the glass. Makes an enormous difference.

Original poster
CassandraWebb · 21/06/2026 20:31

PaperTyger · 21/06/2026 20:18

Ocoopa mini fan Amazon is amazing in power

We've ordered some "cooling towel " toddy 15 quid no idea what they are but people are raving about them and also going to do the cold hot water bottle advised on here ,put hot water bottle on freezer

I keep wondering about those cooling towels but they seem to require some vigorous "wringing out" and I have to avoid any exertion in the heat. I would be interested to hear how well they work though!

OP posts:
PaperTyger · 21/06/2026 20:18

Ocoopa mini fan Amazon is amazing in power

We've ordered some "cooling towel " toddy 15 quid no idea what they are but people are raving about them and also going to do the cold hot water bottle advised on here ,put hot water bottle on freezer

Bridgertonisbest · 21/06/2026 20:17

I saw a doctor on instagram suggesting that we 2/3rds fill a hot water bottle with cold water and then freeze it. Not sure how it will help when you need to leave your air conditioned bubble but it was a damn game changer for helping us to sleep.

Wonderbug81 · 21/06/2026 20:15

Sleeping with a wet towel instead of cotton sheets. It's incredibly cooling, especially with a fan going.

Sometimes I also use it during the day like a blanket over my knees. You could try it when you're at your desk.

p0pple · 21/06/2026 20:09

I sincerely hope no one belittles your condition on this thread. If possible, keep windows open overnight and close once it starts to heat up in the morning, closing curtains and blinds too. This keeps cool air in. Open them up again when it starts to cool down later on. That said, if you have a north/south facing home, it’s good to have windows open on the north side if there’s a breeze, to let cooler air in. Hope you get through this week ok OP.

JennyChawleigh · 21/06/2026 20:04

We were in France a small hotel room with only an electric fan during the heatwave last year, and I wrung out my towel in cold water and slept on it.

Original poster
CassandraWebb · 21/06/2026 20:02

CharlotteStreetW1 · 21/06/2026 20:01

My heatwave tip is to put an ice pack under my pillow so I can keep flipping the pillow over to the cold side.

Hope you get through okay OP.

Oh I like that idea, thank you !

My speech was slurring today and we are nowhere near peak temperatures so I just want to be prepared

OP posts:
CharlotteStreetW1 · 21/06/2026 20:01

My heatwave tip is to put an ice pack under my pillow so I can keep flipping the pillow over to the cold side.

Hope you get through okay OP.