How to keep cool in hot weather
26th June 2026
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Dress in loose light coloured and light weight clothes. Go bare foot (unless the ground surface is too hot). Wear a sun hat. Use a Japanese style paper fan. (Hand held battery fans will ultimately just add to landfill problems).
- When temperatures outside are cooler than inside then during the day close curtains to keep the sun out whilst, if cool enough outside (ie of it is cooler out than in), keep windows open to allow air moving through the room. You might also a bowl of water on the window sill or hang up wet towels to benefit from the cooling effect of evaporating water. When the sun sets or moves round, open the curtains to allow maximum airflow of cooler air. Open windows on different sides of the house and different floors to encourage air to move through the house.
- If the outside temperature is warmer than inside, it will be better to keep bight windows and curtains closed to keep that hot air out – consider how keeping the windows closed in winter keeps the cold out. If you have a loft or roof space you might open a window here to draw out heat that is building up in the house. Only open the windows when the temperatures drop and then open as many as possible to pull in the cooler air.
- Turn off unused electrical appliances, even those on sleep may be emitting extra heat into the room.
- Shade the outside of the window to prevent the glass from heating up and radiating heat into the room. You could use a sheet or towel as an ad hoc shade. Or place a gazebo or sun parasol to shade the window. Longer term consider fixing an awning to shade south facing windows and/or install external shutters – these will also work to keep warm air in in the winter. Erect a pergola outside and allow climbing plants to shade the window.
- Sit with your feet in a bowl of cold water. Keep damp flannels in the fridge for a cool wipe.
- Freeze a plastic bottle of water (don’t completely fill the bottle as frozen water expands) and use it as a cold ‘hot’ water bottle. To avoid ice burns wrap in a towel before placing it on your skin. Alternatively place in your bed at night.
- Fill a sock with rice, secure the end and place in the freezer. Use as a cold pad or as cold ‘hot’ water bottle in your bed.
- Get up early and start your day while it is still cool. Catch up on sleep later with an siesta when its hot.
- Consider using planting to cool your home – climbers, large shrubs and trees can provide useful shade, herbaceous borders can create cooler local microclimates, grass and planting – unlike paved areas – will absorb rather than radiate heat.
- Have you a tip to share?
Further information
NB these are not recommendations of particular suppliers but signposts for what is available.
The Green Tau 