Brits urged to hang damp towels from window in heatwave hack today

As the UK sizzles in another heatwave with temperatures pushing past a sizzling 30C, an expert has shared a simple home cool hack - hanging damp towels in your windows

13:57, 19 Jun 2026

Britain is poised to bake in another blistering heatwave less than a month since the previous scorcher.

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Weather experts are predicting temperatures could hit 32C today (Friday, June 19) while a string of amber warnings came into force last night across much of southern England.

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Whenever the thermometer climbs, minds turn to how Brits can keep their homes cool. It's a timeless dilemma and is becoming increasingly pressing as temperatures start to swing wildly.

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One technique that could seemingly help manage the heat in your home is draping chilled towels across your windows.

According to Deyan Dimitrov, laundry specialist and founder of Laundryheap, an online laundry delivery service, the trick simply requires clean towels and some cold water, reports the Express .

He explained: "The cooling towel method involves hanging cold, damp towels around your home at key entry points, such as windows and doors, to help cool the indoor air.

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"As the water evaporates from the surface of the towels, it cools the surrounding air, creating a natural cooling effect."

Draping damp towels before a fan can also deliver a cooling sensation to a space. The specialist advises refreshing towels with cold water every four hours to experience the advantages.

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Weather forecasters believe that this fresh hot spell could witness temperatures climbing as high as 34C. The Met Office states there is reportedly a 40% likelihood of surpassing the highest ever June temperature, which stands at 35.6C recorded in 1957 and 1976.

The amber alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, covers London, the South East, the South West, and the East of England, and is set to be in place until 8pm on Tuesday (June 23).

The amber level of alert refers to the likelihood of increased demand on health services used by vulnerable people and those over 65 years of age with pre-existing health conditions.

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With the UK set to be hotter than Barbados this weekend, the UKHSA also highlights the risk of water-related incidents, including cold-water shock and drowning.

This follows advice from experts urging people to cool their homes by opening one particular door - and it isn't the front door.

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According to one specialist, if you're fortunate enough to own a multi-storey property, there's one window above all others that you should be opening.

Mikey Story of UK Flat Roofing & Insulation Specialists says the loft window is the one to open. Mikey explains this is due to the upper floor typically being the warmest part of the home.

He told Grand Designs Magazine: "Opening your loft hatch can help you cool down your entire home significantly. The second floor is usually the warmest area because hot air rises.

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"So, creating an escape route for this heat can help lower the temperature throughout the house. If your loft has a window, opening it allows warm air to exit through the highest point of the house.

"Especially if you also open other windows to promote airflow. This method works best if your loft is insulated between the rafters."