I tried this home 'hack' to keep my house cool and it worked

With the warmer weather finally sweeping across the UK last week, delightful days started to lead into muggy evenings making for sweaty sleeps in stuffy bedrooms.

While I admit that as a 'woman of a certain age' I may be more prone to overly 'glowing' on a hot summer night, I'm pretty sure I can't be the only one who struggles to sleep on airless evenings. Feeling hot and bothered in the small hours, I flung open some windows and accidentally made my life so much easier.

Now I know that opening the window on a hot day may seem like the most obvious 'hack' to ever grace your screen, but bear with me here. Turns out it is the choice of windows you open that turns stale bedrooms into peaceful havens once again and I'm embarrassed that I never thought of doing it this way before.

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While it is counterintuitive to keep windows closed when it's hot, in the back of my mind I knew that higher temperatures outside would only make the house feel warmer if I let the soupy air flow in. I have therefore always kept my windows firmly shut and curtains drawn when the mercury rises.

Restless and unable to sleep one night, I took a late-night wander down to the kitchen. Quiet and empty with my kids away, I peered into the darkness of their bedrooms, willing for one of them to feel cooler than mine.

Without thinking I opened the windows in the front and back bedroom and inadvertently created a cool, fresh corridor or air that almost instantly turned the temperature down throughout the house.

It's so obvious and yet I had never even thought about it. By opening windows on opposite sides of the house, I'd encouraged air flow that released all that trapped warm air and allowed the cooler late-night air to rush in.

Moving air is cooler than still air, apparently, so I was able to create a bit of a breeze and allow the air to circulate better. I could have taken my make-shift air-con solution one step further by hanging a damp sheep in front of the open window to make the breeze feel cooler again.

The temperature looks set to drop a few degrees this week, but knowing how unpredictable the British weather can be there could be a heatwave just around the corner. For fellow sweaty sleepers, or anyone who just likes to keep cool under the sheets, here are some more ways to stay comfy on a hot night:

Close blinds and curtains

Keep blinds and curtains shut during the hottest parts of the day to block out the sun and prevent indoor temperatures from rising

Cool with water

if you have a fan, put a bowl of ice water in front of it to blow cooler air.

Minimize heat from appliances

Avoid using ovens, stoves, and other heat-generating appliances during the day. Opt for microwave meals, salads, or use an outdoor grill instead.

Choose cooling bedding

Use lightweight, breathable cotton sheets. Consider placing pillowcases or bed sheets in the freezer for a few minutes before bed.

Take a cool shower before bed

A cool shower before bed can help lower your body temperature, making it easier to fall asleep.

Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated helps your body regulate its temperature more effectively.

Close off unused rooms

Shut doors to unused rooms to prevent cool air from escaping into areas you don’t need to cool.

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