How to Stay Cool at Night in the Heat

June 14, 2022

The sun is set to scorch this week, and the heat is on to keep cool!

While we all relish a heatwave and the opportunity to bask in the sun, it can be somewhat of a problem when we’re trying to sleep. No one wants to spend the night tossing and turning, throwing the duvet on and off, and ultimately losing sleep.

At Robert Dyas we have plenty of ideas to help you beat the heat. Follow our tips on how to stay cool at night in hot weather and say hello to a sound night’s sleep.

How to Keep Cool in Hot Weather at Night

There are several effective ways to stay cool at night when a heatwave strikes. Here are our top ideas on sleeping soundly in hot weather.

First of all, have a cool shower before going to bed to lower your body temperature.

If you haven’t already, swap your duvet for a summer tog variety with around a 4.5 tog thickness, like this Ultra Light Cool Summer Duvet Anti-Allergy Quilt – 4.5 Tog. And if it’s really hot, sleep with just the cover! Always choose cotton or linen rather than polyester or man-made materials for bed sheets as they’re more breathable in the heat. The same goes for nightwear.

Make sure you close the curtains or blinds during the day if hot sun is spilling into your bedroom, as it will otherwise heat up your room before you go to bed.

Open the windows to encourage a cooling breeze to pass across you while you sleep.

If you have a memory foam mattress or synthetic mattress topper, it might be time to invest in something new. Memory foam and synthetic materials store your body heat, while mattresses like this Cool Touch Mattress are much more breathable. A slatted bed frame will also help some heat escape, as opposed to a solid divan base.

A fan is of course an effective option to go for to help you stay cool at night. If you’re on a budget, this standing fan is ideal for placing next to your bed. To create a makeshift AC unit, place a bowl of ice cubes in front of it to blow the cool air your way.

For those who can’t sleep with the sound of a fan running, this market-leading Pedestal Air Circulator Fan from Meaco is a great shout. Super-quiet, it won’t disturb you while you sleep.

If you’re after something with a timer, this Igenix Tower Fan comes with a 7.5 hour timer which you can operate remotely from the comfort of your bed.

Eager for air conditioning units? Sleeping without AC in summer on a hot night can be pretty uncomfortable, but the price can be prohibitive: the cost of air conditioner installation averages at £1,750 for one small room and £7,500 for a six-room multi-split unit! Why fork out so much for installation and the sky-high energy bills when you can install a simple ceiling fan? Installing one of these will help keep you cool as well as keeping your costs (and your carbon footprint) down. Or you could opt for a portable air conditioner – a much cheaper option to full AC installation – many of which come with remotes so you can operate them in bed.

Another great way to keep cool in the heat at night is with an air cooler. This JML Chillmax Air Personal Space Air Cooler and Humidifier is a very popular choice, and for good reason: it’s a great price and, unlike air conditioners that can use nasty chemical coolants, this cooler only uses evaporation and water to operate! Pulling in warm air from the room and filtering it through cold water, it’s whisper-quiet on night mode for a sound night’s sleep.