There is something rather lovely about the first properly warm day of summer. Doors stand open, washing dries in no time and lunch can be eaten in the garden. But when the heat lingers and our homes begin to hold on to it, the novelty can wear off surprisingly quickly.

The good news is that staying comfortable needn’t mean buying an air-conditioning unit or filling an online basket with cooling gadgets. A few small changes, made at the right time of day, can make a real difference—and most won’t cost you a penny.

Here are 15 simple ways to keep yourself and your home cooler during a UK heatwave, using things you already have.

How to keep your house cool in hot weather

1. Close curtains before the sun reaches the window

Sunshine pouring through a window soon turns a room into a greenhouse. Close curtains or blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight, ideally before the sun comes round. Concentrate on east-facing rooms in the morning and west-facing rooms later in the day.

If you have pale curtains, draw those first: lighter colours tend to reflect more sunlight. Keep internal doors closed between particularly hot rooms and the cooler parts of the house.

2. Shut windows when it is hotter outside

Opening every window can feel like the natural thing to do, but it may simply let hotter air into the house. If the air outside feels warmer than the air indoors, keep sun-facing windows closed.

Once the temperature drops in the evening, open the windows again—provided it is safe to do so—and let the cooler air inside.

3. Create a cooling cross-breeze

In the evening or early morning, open windows on opposite sides of your home to encourage air to flow through. Opening doors between them can help the breeze travel from one side of the house to the other.

Window safety should always come first, particularly in homes with young children or pets. Avoid leaving accessible windows wide open or compromising your home security overnight.

4. Find the coolest room in the house

We often stay in a room simply because that is where we usually sit or sleep. During very hot weather, it is worth being flexible. North-facing rooms, downstairs spaces and rooms with fewer windows are often cooler.

Move your chair, work or bedtime routine there for a few days. If the bedroom is stifling, sleeping downstairs may be more comfortable.

5. Switch off hidden sources of heat

Lights, televisions, computers, games consoles and chargers all give off a little warmth. One device may not seem important, but several running together can make an already warm room feel stuffier.

Turn off anything you are not using—and switch it off at the wall where appropriate. It saves energy as well as reducing unwanted heat.

6. Give the oven a rest

An oven can warm the kitchen long after dinner is finished. On the hottest days, choose meals that need little or no cooking: sandwiches, salads, cold leftovers, fruit, yoghurt or anything already waiting in the cupboard or fridge.

If cooking is unavoidable, do it earlier in the morning or later in the evening, when you can open the windows and release the heat.

Free ways to cool your body down

7. Drink water regularly

Keep a glass or reusable bottle of tap water nearby and take regular sips throughout the day, rather than waiting until you feel very thirsty. If you are heading out, fill a bottle at home and take it with you.

Alcohol can contribute to dehydration, so it is sensible to limit it during very hot weather.

8. Cool your skin with tap water

There is no need for a plunge pool. A cool shower, a splash of water on your face or rinsing your hands and forearms under the tap can all help.

You can also dampen a flannel and rest it on the back of your neck, or lightly sponge exposed skin with cool water. Re-wet it whenever it begins to feel warm.

9. Make use of what is already in the freezer

An ice pack—or even a bag of frozen peas—can provide welcome relief. Wrap it in a tea towel and place it against your neck or under your arms for short periods.

Never put ice or a frozen item directly on bare skin, as this can cause an ice burn.

10. Wear the lightest clothes you own

Choose loose, lightweight clothing, preferably made from a breathable fabric such as cotton or linen. A roomy T-shirt or loose dress will usually feel more comfortable than tight-fitting clothes.

At home, go barefoot if it is safe and comfortable to do so.

11. Slow the day down

Hot weather is not the time to race through the heaviest jobs. Save gardening, cleaning, exercise and other strenuous tasks for early morning or evening. During the hottest hours, take things gently and rest when you need to.

If you must go outside, choose a shady route and try to avoid the strongest sun, usually between 11am and 3pm.

How to sleep in a heatwave without spending money

12. Prepare the bedroom during the day

Do not wait until bedtime to tackle an overheated room. Keep bedroom curtains or blinds closed while the sun is on the window, switch off unused electronics and keep hot air out during the warmest part of the day.

Open the window once the outdoor air becomes cooler, if it is safe, and leave the bedroom door open to help air circulate through the house.

13. Use lighter bedding

Put away thick duvets and use a cotton sheet or an empty duvet cover instead. Natural, breathable fabrics tend to feel less clammy than heavy or synthetic bedding.

If two people are sharing the bed, separate sheets can be surprisingly helpful: there is less shared body heat and no tussle over the covers.

14. Cool down before going to bed

A cool shower shortly before bedtime can help you feel more comfortable. Keep it pleasantly cool rather than painfully cold. Dry off lightly, put on loose nightwear and take a glass of water to bed.

Placing a damp flannel nearby can also help if you wake feeling too warm.

15. Borrow a cooler public space

Sometimes the house simply becomes too hot. If a nearby library, community building or place of worship is open and free to enter, spend an hour or two there during the hottest part of the day. A shaded park may also feel cooler than a stuffy room, provided you have water and stay out of direct sun.

There is no prize for enduring an overheated home when a safe, cooler space is close by.

A simple routine for keeping cool

The trick is to work with the temperature rather than against it:

  • Early morning: open windows and let cooler air flow through.
  • Before the day heats up: close sunny windows, curtains and blinds.
  • Afternoon: stay in the coolest room, drink water and take things slowly.
  • Evening: open windows again when the air outside feels cooler.
  • Before bed: cool your skin, lighten the bedding and ventilate the bedroom.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion

Heat can make people unwell, particularly babies and young children, older people, those with long-term health conditions and anyone who spends a great deal of time outdoors.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness, headache, nausea, cramps, intense thirst, tiredness and excessive sweating. Move the person to a cooler place, remove unnecessary clothing, cool their skin and give them water. If you are struggling to treat the symptoms, contact NHS 111.

Call 999 if someone remains unwell after 30 minutes of cooling and drinking fluids, or develops confusion, a seizure, loss of consciousness, very hot skin that is not sweating, or other signs of heatstroke.

For the latest health guidance, see the NHS advice on coping in hot weather and the UK Government’s Beat the Heat guidance.

A cooler home, without buying more

Keeping cool in a UK heatwave is often less about what you buy and more about timing: shade the windows before the sun arrives, keep hot air out, welcome cooler air back in and give your body regular chances to cool down.

Start with the room you use most and one or two ideas that suit your home. Small changes can make a hot day feel much more manageable—and leave both your purse and the planet a little better off.

Further Reading: Surviving the Scorching Heat Wave, How to Keep your Garden Thriving during a Summer Drought and Hosepipe Ban