We'll be needing each and every one of these tips today.
With temperatures set to break the highest on record in the UK in Leeds today, reaching 39 degrees and a scorching 41 across Yorkshire, if there was ever a time to be preparing your home to stay cool, this would be it.
Those who have spent time abroad where temperatures like this are more frequent are experts in keeping their homes as cool as possible, so overseas property experts from YourOverseasHome.com have compiled a list of ten ways that we can keep ourselves and our homes from melting in the heat.
Keep reading to find out what they recommend you change in your home to keep cool over the coming days.
It might seem counterintuitive, but if the air outside is hotter than the air in your home, keeping your windows closed could help your home stay a little cooler.
Keep curtains and blinds closed
Much of the sunlight that enters your home through the windows turns into heat, so it’s a good idea to keep your curtains and blinds closed, at least during the hottest times of the day. You may even want to opt for blackout curtains to keep windows covered and block the sunlight out completely.
Manage the humidity
While dehumidifiers won’t necessarily reduce room temperature, they can help control the sticky, thick air that makes hot days even more uncomfortable. Humidity decreases the rate at which our sweat evaporates, making us feel much hotter and sweatier, so investing in a dehumidifier can make your home a bit more comfortable during the hottest and most humid days.
Use large appliances at night
Large appliances can give off significant amounts of heat, so try not to use them on the hottest days if possible. Instead, pop washing machines and dishwashers on overnight instead. This will also help save some money on electricity bills - it’s a win-win scenario!
If you spend most of your time in one room, consider closing the doors to the rooms you don’t use as often - like bedrooms and bathrooms. Closing off parts of the house can help keep the cooler air concentrated in a single area, and means the room you’re using the most will cool down faster - and stay cool.
Swap out incandescent lights
Incandescent light bulbs waste a huge amount of their energy in the heat they emit, so if you’re trying to cool a room down without AC, small shifts like switching to compact fluorescent lamps can have a surprisingly significant impact, while also lowering your energy bill.
Consider fan placement
Fans only keep air moving around, rather than actually cooling the air itself, so make sure you’re setting them up in the best locations. It’s best to place them next to open windows at night or in hallways so that they draw in cooler air to the warmer areas.
Image: Unsplash
Opt for cotton sheets
Textiles like flannel sheets and fleece blankets are fantastic for insulation, but cotton is a far smarter choice at this time of year as it ‘breathes’ easier and stays cooler. If you really want to up the ante, pop your sheets in a carrier bag in the fridge an hour or two before you go to bed, so that they’re nice and cool for you to sleep on.
Keep your extractor fans running
Turning on the extractor fans in your bathroom and kitchen can help pull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy shower out of your home.
Unplug any electrical appliances that you’re not using
Plugged in electronics generate heat even when they’re off or not in use, which can make an already hot home even hotter. Unplug things like toasters, kettles, TVs and device chargers when you’re not using them.
The beautiful spa town of Ilkley has been crowned the best place to live in the north of England by The Sunday Times.
The results are in, and our very own Ilkley has taken the top spot for the north and north-east category.
The list posted but the Sunday Times every year, features 72 locations across the UK that they deem are the best spots to settle down in.
Judges visited each location to take in the atmosphere, explore the history and chat to the locals to find out what made each place so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not the first time the wonderful spa town of Ilkley has been praised, having been the national winner back in 2022 it's no stranger to taking home the trophy.
The judging panel said about Ilkley: “It’s not just the fresh air, fantastic scenery, excellent schools and direct trains to Leeds that make Ilkley this year’s pick of the north and northeast. It’s the get-up and go of a community that tackles every challenge with gusto.”
"It's hard to imagine anywhere with more opportunities for youngsters."
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Also getting a mention in the regional category was Horsforth, which was recommended for its transport links, brilliant local schools and thriving social scene.
The guide said: "The city is Yorkshire's economic powerhouse - but for something a bit greener, a bit more family friendly, it's hard to better Horsforth's streets of sandstone houses."
Elsewhere up north, Sheffield got a special shoutout where the judges said: "Burgeoning creative industries and judicious regeneration are igniting interest in previously overlooked postcodes ... Hipsters and happy families alike are celebrating, welcoming, embracing, loving this city-wide vibe."
So if you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city centre, then why not hop on a train and visit the best place to live up north and see for yourselves what the fuss is all about.
Adolescence tops Netflix charts with more than 24 million views in four days
Emily Sergeant
New British series Adolescence has shot right to the top of Netflix’s most-watched TV charts after more than 24 million people tune in.
Hitting the streaming platform just last Thursday, Adolescence is a four-part limited series about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering one of his classmates, with each episode remarkably being filmed in one unflinching and continuous shot.
This truly gripping story unfolds in real time as the main characters search for answers in the wake of a shocking tragedy.
Who is actually responsible? Why did it happen? And could it have been prevented?
Image: Netflix
Co-created and written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, with Graham starring alongside an ensemble cast of accomplished actors such as Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, as well as screen newcomer Owen Cooper as the young boy Eddie Miller, accused of murder, the show tells the story of how a family’s world is turned upside.
“We could have made a drama about gangs and knife crime, or about a kid whose mother is an alcoholic or whose father is a violent abuser,” Stephen Graham said ahead of the show‘s release.
Image: Netflix
“Instead, we wanted you to look at this family and think, ‘My God, this could be happening to us.’ And what’s happening here is an ordinary family’s worst nightmare.”
Over the course of the four intense one-shot episodes, the show shines a uncomfortable spotlight on and examines key themes such as male rage, the dangers of social media, cyberbullying, incel culture, and more.
The latest viewing figures show that Adolescence undoubtedly has been a runaway hit, with a whopping 24.3 million views amassed in its first four days of availability, making it the streaming platform’s top show for the week of 10-16 March.
Image: Netflix
As the show continues to garner universal acclaim, standing at 98% on notable critic website Rotten Tomatoes, those viewing figures are set to clock up thick and fast as the days go on.
While Adolescence and Jamie’s story isn’t based on a real person or event specifically, Graham, Thorne, and director Philip Barantini have confirmed that the idea for the series did spring from reports that co-creator Graham had heard about on the news of young boys being involved in knife crimes – particularly the shocking 2021 murder of Ava White in Liverpool.
Much of Adolescence was filmed in Pontefract in West Yorkshire, with the casting of Cooper in the role of Jamie ultimately influencing where the show was shot.
“We knew it was going to be set somewhere in the North of England, and we also knew it would be from somewhere around wherever our Jamie was from – in this case near Warrington – because it would have been unfair to make him do an accent,” explained director Philip Barantini.
All four episodes of Adolescence are now available to stream on Netflix.
Sophie Smith -
19th July 2022 
