Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Heatwave hacks

67 replies

Bluewavescrashing · 25/06/2020 21:14

  1. Dampen a cotton sheet in cold water and lie it on top of you when you go to bed
  1. Open the loft hatch so hot air goes up into the loft space

3 refuse to do any physical work or actually move from the padding pool

Any others to add?

OP posts:
slipperywhensparticus · 25/06/2020 21:14

Ice in front of a fan?

CatBatCat · 25/06/2020 22:43

Behind it.

Stroller15 · 25/06/2020 22:46

Years ago, before Google fact checking, I heard you shouldn't have cold showers but mild ones. Your body gets warmer trying to warm itself up again than.

BooseysMom · 25/06/2020 22:49

29.5 in our bedroom Angry... hot emoji
It's stifling. Opening windows makes no difference. We're in a new-build and it's so well insulated it's brutal during heatwaves.
I'd open the loft hatch but don't think it can take any more hot air!

RandomMess · 25/06/2020 22:50

Bowl of water and ice cubes for your feet.

Keep the blinds and curtains shut to keep the sun out during the day.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 25/06/2020 22:52

Yes @randommess exactly, if you get your feet cold the rest of you cools down too.

Hot water bottle filled with cold water in bed helps too. Put it in before you get in so the sheets and mattress cool down nicely first.

jomaIone · 25/06/2020 22:53

I'm currently lying in bed, with one of those big gel ice packs for injuries inside my pillow case, a damp t-shirt over my legs and the fan on. It's utter bliss ❄️❄️❄️

Dairymilkmuncher · 25/06/2020 22:53

Thank you so much for the loft one that's an excellent idea!

I don't think I have any from Scotland and struggling Blush

Frozen fruit blitzed for kids "ice cream"

Wrists under cold water quickly when having a hot flash

Don't cooked bakes tatties for dinner and have the oven blasting an hour

Teatree face cream seems to be the only one that doesn't make me face sweat

Chafe bands or comfort shorts for thighs rubbing and get those legs out

iwilltaketwoplease · 25/06/2020 22:55

Put your wrists under cold water if you're breaking a sweat.

AnnaSW1 · 25/06/2020 23:02

Not really a hack, but I always say the best piece of advice my mom ever gave me in life was to turn my pillow over to the cool side Grin

rodentfeet · 25/06/2020 23:03

the third one op lol, and sleep in the pool, make a bottle of squash and freeze it, cold shower, walk around with wet clothes on.. freeze a hot water bottle, you can get these spray bottles to cool your face down when too hot, wear an icepack dress?

MillicentMartha · 25/06/2020 23:17

Keep windows and curtains closed on the sunny side of the house. If it’s hotter outside than inside keep that hot air out! Open windows at dusk to get a through draft.

quarentini · 25/06/2020 23:22

Pet gel pad things in pillow and at bottom of the bed for feet. Bliss

BonnesVacances · 25/06/2020 23:23

No. 2. doesn't work. Heat transference doesn't work like that. But I can vouch for no. 3. Grin

FondantPud · 25/06/2020 23:26

@MillicentMartha

Keep windows and curtains closed on the sunny side of the house. If it’s hotter outside than inside keep that hot air out! Open windows at dusk to get a through draft.

I do this but keep all windows and doors shut from about 8am to 9pm. As soon as outside temp is warmer than house I shut it all up, close curtains etc. Especially on side the sun shines.

Make kids come though door fast to stop hot air coming in- door on hottest part all day.

Also cool shower. Shake off (but don't towel off ) once finished dash to lie on pre arranged large towel on bed. Place cold cloth on forehead.
Lovely and cool as water evaporates from body.

Or paddling pool in garden just for feet dipping whilst enjoying cold drink - always in shade and better after sun set.

seenbeensbean · 25/06/2020 23:26

Leave cold water in the bath as it cools the air down

BlackCatsRule88 · 25/06/2020 23:29

I have a cool bath/shower before bed and then go to bed with wet hair which seems to help

DinosApple · 25/06/2020 23:34

I wash my feet in cold water before bed. That helps. I'm one of those people who is cold 90% of the time. Until it goes above 25 degrees. Then I'm too hot HmmGrin.

DinosApple · 25/06/2020 23:36

Also, leave your DH on the sofa snoozing, so there's only one hot bod in bed! Just about to do this one.

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/06/2020 23:37

Make DH sleep in another room, then you have a cool part of the bed to move to.

MissConductUS · 25/06/2020 23:40

I just put on the central air conditioning. It's been a lifesaver the last few days.

QueenCT · 25/06/2020 23:42

I have a gel ice pack wrapped in a tea towel. Bliss

BibiBlocksberg · 25/06/2020 23:42

Weirdly, the loft hatch opening does work a treat here (new build townhouse w bedroom on third floor & sun belting on bedroom side between 2pm & sundown in summer)

Was completely unusable in summer before, but w hatch open after around 9pm & ceiling fan on, sleep is possible even in a heatwave.

Just curious on the heat transfer thing, worried hatch opening relief is only a placebo effect that exists only in my overactive imagination now :)

Bargebill19 · 25/06/2020 23:42

Go for a drive and put the air con on. (I know not environmentally friendly but the environment isn’t being friendly either!)

I have enjoyed going to work just for the air conditioning!

Adamandtheaunts · 25/06/2020 23:43

The loft one is a terrible idea - warmer air plus cooler air = condensation. If you get damp and mould problems this will be the cause.