People urged to fill hot water bottles during heatwave

While you may associate hot water bottles with cold weather or cramps, they can actually be used to help keep you cool during hot weather. And with yet another heatwave arriving in the UK, households up and down the country are likely looking for any ways they can keep cool in the coming days.

Taking to Instagram, Dean Commodore, who posts household and DIY tips as @casadelacommodore, has shared how you can use a hot water bottle to help you enjoy a cool and restful sleep during hot weather. He says: “Fill a hot water bottle 3/4 full, then pop it in the freezer.” After a few hours, or however long you decide to leave it, just take the hot water bottle out and pop it in your bed.

Dean’s followers were quick to comment on the post, with one adding: “And make sure you use a different hot water bottle for the winter – the freezer can erode the rubber and make it more liable to bursting when holding hot water, so best to dedicate a summer and winter one to avoid any nasty accidents!”

While another asked: “What if its just in fridge not freezer?” To which Dean replied: “Sure of course you can I’m afraid that you would probably get 30 mins of cooling effect in this hot weather though.”

And a third Instagram user commented: “Such a great tip; we use freezer blocks, but I guess this might stay cold all night.”

They said: “Closing curtains or blinds in rooms that face the sun can help prevent heat from building up indoors.”

Window dressings act as shields against the sun’s heat, helping keep your upstairs less humid and stuffy.

If you don’t have anything to block out the sun, hanging a bed sheet or towel should have a similar effect.