With the country enjoying temperatures that wouldn’t feel out of place in holiday resorts like Majorca or St Tropez, the fine weather we’ve been experiencing looks set to continue.
On our wet and windy little islands, extreme weather, be it hot or cold, often takes us by surprise, and leaves us feeling wholly unprepared. So, if you’re already beginning to lose your cool, don’t sweat it! Our guide to keeping cool is here, to show you how to keep nice and comfortable during these warmer months.
In this guide, you'll find tips on:
Keeping your home cool
Most UK homes are designed with plenty of insulation to keep warmth in, which really doesn’t help when it comes to summertime. Did you know only 0.5% of private homes in Great Britain have air conditioning? However, there are some clever tricks and hacks you can employ to keep things as pleasant as possible.
Start the fans please!
It’s time to get those fans down from the loft. Try to set up any fans opposite an open window, as this will help create a cross breeze. Or, for a little bit of cold hard cash, you could hire a portable air conditioning unit, which may be some of the best money you ever spent!
Use electronic devices less
As anyone who works in an office will know, computers and humans tend to make any space heat up quickly, so try and use less electronic devices when at home. Plus, make sure everything is fully switched off when you go to bed.
Get your loft hatch open
As we all know from science class, heat rises, and as temperatures drop into the evening, all that heat will try and escape to the highest part of the house, which is normally where your bedrooms are located. One way of dissipating the heat quicker, is to open your loft hatch, so that hot air doesn’t get trapped. Many people even find there is a difference in sleeping on the ground floor, and decamp to the sofa. Which leads us nicely on to…
Getting a good night’s sleep
If you were in any doubt, sleep is vitally important to each and every one of us. A good night’s rest allows us to focus better on our work and makes us feel happier and more relaxed. The National Sleep Foundation say that the average adult needs between 7–9 hours of sleep per night, whilst children require an even greater amount, between 9–11 hours. So how can you ensure you all get your beauty sleep during a heatwave?
DON’T have a hot bath
Whilst baths have been proven to make you feel more relaxed, a hot bath immediately before you go to bed is not a great way to get you into a settled sleep pattern. A shower may be a much more sensible option, and with a digital shower, like those from Mira Showers, you can set the exact temperature, to ensure you don’t get too hot (see below).
Switch all electronics off
That goes for your smart phones, tablets, TV or music system. Ambient light has been proven to have a very real effect on our bodies, and these are most obvious when the world around us is meant to be dark.
Black out your windows
With sunrise as early as 4:42am in London on Midsummer’s Day, fitting your quality sleep into those brief dark hours can be difficult. A set of black-out curtains or blinds can really help you sleep on through, even when the world is awake.
Staying cool when showering
Whilst the health benefits of showering have been known for some while, there is a split camp when it comes to deciding on shower temperature. Many people believe a cold shower is the way forward, whilst others think hot is the best option. Here’s our advice:
Take a lukewarm shower
Without experiencing any extremes in temperature, your body will become much more acclimatised to the heat. You will still sweat a little and get rid of impurities, but your body won’t feel as shocked as it would beneath a freezing cold or boiling hot shower.
Use a thermostatic or digital shower
A thermostatic shower valve is great for regulating the temperature of your shower, ensuring you get the right balance of hot and cold. Digital showering allows you to control your shower at the touch of a button, plus with the Mira Mode app, you can choose multiple pre-set temperatures for you and the rest of your family straight from your phone.
Invest in a walk in shower
More and more people are investing in a walk in shower enclosure, not least for the easy step-free access it provides, but in the summer months, it can be invaluable. Unlike a fully enclosed design, the walk in means steam and heat can escape more easily.
Shop showers
If you’re looking for a summer upgrade to your bathroom or ensuite, there are always great deals and offers on showers, shower enclosures and big brand names like Mira Showers, right here at Victoria Plum.
