All posts tagged: heatwave

Best Cooling Blankets: Stay Comfortable on Hot Nights

Best Cooling Blankets: Stay Comfortable on Hot Nights

Published by Sam Flores

As a nation, there’s nothing we love more than discussing the weather, but usually, it’s about how cold or rainy it is. Because it’s an acute kind of torture trying to sleep when temperatures linger in the mid to high-20s in the wee, early hours. You know the score: sweaty hair sticking to the back of your neck, trying to stop your limbs touching, and venturing one, or two, hopeful legs out of the covers to catch any passing whisper of a breeze. How to sleep in hot weather Farah Arshad, Head of Design at DUSK, offers some stay-cool tips: Invest in the right fabrics: use cotton pyjamas and invest in 100 per cent cotton bed linen. Egyptian cotton bed linen is lightweight and breathable, helping to keep you cool throughout the night.  Cold as ice: put a tray of ice in front of your fan. As it melts, the breeze will pick up the moisture and give off an icy cool mist.  Keep it cool: the ideal room temperature to sleep is 16 -18°C. …

Is the best electric BBQ better than charcoal and gas? I tested five to find out

Is the best electric BBQ better than charcoal and gas? I tested five to find out

Published by Sam Flores

Using an electric barbecue is simple: plug it in, heat it up and you’re cooking in no time. Even the best charcoal barbecues take a while to get going and the best gas barbecues can still run out of fuel (I’ve been caught out mid-garden party by bad planning before). So, electric barbecues are growing in popularity and have the advantage of precise temperature control and fitting in smaller spaces where flames or smoke may otherwise be a concern. The best electric BBQs range from around £80 for a basic model with no lid up to around £900 for sophisticated models, with grill and appliance brands like Char-Broil, Weber and Ninja all entering the market. You can cook on grill plates or griddles and choose portable models small enough to sit on a table or big enough to feed the whole family, like a traditional charcoal one. Some even provide woodchips to get that smoky barbecue taste. The best electric BBQs: At a glance How to choose the best electric BBQ Electric barbecues come in …

Best portable air conditioners, tried and tested

Best portable air conditioners, tried and tested

Published by Sam Flores

At-home cooling tech is increasingly becoming a must-have. The best portable air conditioners can help keep your home cool and your sanity intact. But how do they work? While the best fans simply move air around and air coolers chill it using evaporation, an air conditioner actively lowers the temperature of a room by running air through a refrigerating unit and fanning it back out, expelling unwanted heat through a window. They’re fairly pricey, costing between £135 and £800 (and have higher running costs than fans and coolers), but a portable AC unit is more convenient than installing a built-in air conditioner. The running costs of around 25 to 35p per hour will prove good value for money when the temperatures rise, and most have a Class A energy rating. Below you’ll find reviews of the portable units we recommended, but if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five: The best portable air conditioners: At a glance How to choose the best portable air conditioner Portable air conditioners come in …

The best cooling pillows to prevent night sweats, including Simba, Silentnight and Cloudpillo

The best cooling pillows to prevent night sweats, including Simba, Silentnight and Cloudpillo

Published by Sam Flores

If you struggle to sleep and constantly flip your pillow because you’re too hot, you might consider trying one of the best cooling pillows available to aid your slumber. They’re designed to stop you overheating in bed, ranging from those that rely on the material of the fillings to regulate your body temperature to cooling gel pillows, which are cold to the touch. “Some pillows, especially ones filled with feather down or solid memory foam, can trap heat, meaning the sleeper may overheat during the night,” says Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert for And So To Bed. “Some people can be especially sensitive to overheating at night, such as those experiencing menopausal hot flashes or an overactive thyroid. Cooling pillows or pillow covers may help you regulate your temperature during the night, potentially helping you sleep better.” Solutions range from a £10 chilled insert from JML to a £150 cooling memory foam pillow from Tempur. I’ve tried them all and you can read my reviews below, followed by answers to some frequently …

The best cooling mattresses, tested by a hot sleeper

The best cooling mattresses, tested by a hot sleeper

Published by Sam Flores

First, look at the structure. Traditionally, foams are dense, but dedicated cooling memory foam or hybrid mattresses feature enhanced technology for better temperature regulation. Look for phrases such as “open cell”, which means the foam may have gaps for air to pass through and “gel beads” or “phase change materials”, which both absorb excess thermal energy to draw it away from the body. Air flows more freely through pocket sprung mattresses, due to the space between the coils. Some designs also incorporate natural materials, such as wool, to dissipate heat and wick moisture. Composition is important for the cover, too. Natural fibres, such as cotton, are more breathable than synthetic fabrics. Textiles derived from wood pulp (any described as viscose, bamboo, eucalyptus or Tencel) also tend to be better for temperature regulation. As for firmness, softer mattresses can trap more heat as you sink into them. For further advice, read our guide on how to choose a mattress. Source link

Met Office names UK regions due to bask in 17 and 18 degree heatwave this week as temperatures hit levels expected in early summer

Met Office names UK regions due to bask in 17 and 18 degree heatwave this week as temperatures hit levels expected in early summer

Published by Daniella Wilson

After months of relentless rain, the UK is about to feel a little more optimistic. The Met Office has forecast a welcome burst of milder weather this week, with London expected to reach 17C on Wednesday, complete with sunshine and clear skies. Remarkably, that is warmer than the 16C forecast for Athens, with parts of central and south eastern England tipped to climb as high as 18C. It is the kind of forecast that has us all mentally dusting off the trench coats, planning “just a quick coffee walk” that mysteriously turns into a full afternoon outside. UK is set to be warmer than Athens this week Why it is suddenly warming up The shift comes just days after Storm Pedro swept across the UK, bringing rain, ice and snow, alongside dozens of flood alerts and warnings. Forecasters believe a change in wind conditions is behind the milder air pushing in, and the weekend has already given a preview of what is to come. The highest temperatures of the year so far were recorded across …