Hot nights

Aril

Here in sunny Sussex it's been rather warm these past few nights and a friend passed on the following tip if you're without fans- fill a hot water bottle with cold water. Particularly good for fractious children!
Regards
Aril

Jet

That's a good idea. I can't sleep with a fan on as I hate the noise.

I used to go to bed with a cold flannel as a child and this helped me.

Murtle

what a welcome idea - it's sweltering here to, not complaining at least it's not as close as it has been recently!!!

Pooky

I made some lavender wheat bags a few months ago that you can heat up - great for the kids to take to bed as no danger of leaks......I have a couple of small ones wrapped in the freezer for bumps and scrapes. Put a couple of bigger ones in last week for the kids to take to bed - great for cooling them down.

blue-kat

warning: don't leave kids with fan at night !

One hot June night a few years back I left my 2 lads in the sweltering attic bedroom with an elec fan. When I went to check up on them I told off the oldest for hogging the fan. Later on I decided to check on them again - just as well. Oldest had put the fan pointing directly at his sleeping little bro and he was freezing, and was in early stages of hypothermia ! Scary ! _pale_

I must've been the only person using HOT hot water bottles that night as I warmed him up gradually untill his temp came into normal range.
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blue-kat

Jem8472

I use a freezer block wrapped up in a tea towel, keeps me nice and cool. I have never had a problem sleep with a fan on me but I never direct it at me I let it move. But when you falls asleep your body temp drops anyway.

Galtizz

I have to admit I've been using a fan (dread to think what my electic bill will be if I keep it up :eek: ) I've put a plug timer on it so it comes on for about an hour before we go to bed and goes off an hour or so after we get into bed, that way I don't wake up freezing at 4am, or miss my alarm clock because it's still going in the morning :rolleyes:

pavlovs_dog

we've been keeping front and back windows of the house open to allow as much of a (hopefully cooling) breeze through as possible.

we also turn off as many lights and electrical appliances as possible. they all give off heat, even if its just a little bit, so switching them off helps keep things cool.

maryb

American websites are good for tips on this as they have very hot summers. Never thought I'd need these in England!!

Some hints i remember reading are to have a fan at the top of the house to help warm air escape through high windows open at the top and draw in colder air through open ground floor windows. Also place a washing up bowl with ice cubes floating in water in front of a fan so that it cools the air before the fan circulates it. Probably best on days which aren't quite so humid as at present (they have very dry heat in Texas)

hornetgirl

We always keep our loft hatch open during very warm weather. My grandad's theory was that as warm air rises, it would help it get up into the roof space quicker.
No idea if it really works but we always do it anyway!

Ticklemouse

Similar idea to the iced water in front of the fan, but leave wet towels or tea towels in a draft ie at open window because it will cool any air that comes into the house.