I Survived 40C Heat in Madrid Without Air Con - Here's How

Vicky Parry lived in Madrid.

When Britain gets very hot, I feel I have an advantage because I used to live in Madrid where summers are very hot and air conditioning was not always available.

You learn what works and what doesn't when it's very hot.

Some things are obvious like drinking more water and keeping the sun out. Some things you learn by trying. And some things you do when you're really hot.

After living in a flat without air conditioning in Madrid, I still use these habits when the UK gets very hot.

Vicky shares her tips for surviving the heatwave.

The biggest thing I learned in Madrid is to act before your home gets too hot.

In very hot weather, open windows when the air outside is cooler than inside, usually early morning and night. Then close them when it gets hotter.

Close curtains and blinds in rooms that get direct sun, especially south-facing ones, to keep the heat out.

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It sounds simple, but it makes a big difference.

If you have more than one floor, the downstairs is often cooler. Heat rises, so upper bedrooms can get very hot.

In Spain, people would sit in the coolest room. They wouldn't stay in a hot room just because it had a sofa.

This might sound silly until you're really hot and try anything.

Cooling your lower body with cold water can make your whole body feel cooler.

It's like running cool water over your wrists or feet, but stronger. It's not elegant, but it helps.

If you're very hot, a cool bath or shower helps.

A warm bath before bed can also help because the contrast makes the air feel fresher when you get out.

The key is a warm bath, not boiling. You're not trying to recreate a steam room.

Drinking water is important.

When I lived in Madrid, drinking water was about survival, not wellness. If you're sweating more, drink throughout the day.

I keep a bottle near me in hot weather and avoid too much alcohol and caffeine.

Some cooling bedding and sleep products can help a bit.

Companies like Emma, Simba, and Bedsure make cooling products that can help keep you cool at night.

But there's a limit. If you're already boiling, these products might not be enough.

I use my dog's cooling sheet that cost about a fiver from a pet shop.

Don't worry, my dog has his own.

The cooling sheet is brilliant. It stays cool and doesn't leave you feeling damp.

I like handheld fans because they remind me of the Madrid metro.

The reality of using a handheld fan is less glamorous.

After a while, fanning yourself just feels like exercise.

A small electric handheld fan is better because it does the work for you.

I have a Groov-e fan that I use on public transport or in waiting rooms.

But fans aren't a miracle cure. If the air is hot and stale, a fan can just blow warm air back at you.

If I was spending money on something in a heatwave, it would be a fan rather than air conditioning.

Fans are cheaper to run than air conditioning.

I've looked at different fans, and even the pricier ones are relatively cheap to run overnight.

For example, Dyson's Cool CF1 uses 30 watts at maximum speed, which is about 0.8p an hour.

A bigger tower fan like the Dyson AM07 uses more watts, but it's still not expensive to run.

A traditional pedestal fan is also relatively cheap to run.

A quieter smart fan like the SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan is one of the cheaper options to run.

Fans can make you feel cooler, but they don't lower the room temperature.

This is worth remembering before you buy anything in a heatwave.

A fan moves air over your skin to make you feel cooler, but it doesn't change the room temperature.

Sometimes that's enough, but sometimes it's not.

If your bedroom is very hot, a fan can help, but it won't cool the room down.

I understand the urge to buy air conditioning when your bedroom gets too hot.

Air conditioning can actually lower the room temperature, but there are catches.

First, it's more expensive to run than a fan.

Second, portable air conditioning units are often noisy and need proper venting.

So, I'd treat air conditioning as a bigger, pricier option.

Most of the habits that helped me in Madrid were free.

Shut the sun out, open the house at the right time, move downstairs, drink more water, and cool your body.

And if all else fails, sit in the darkest part of the house with a cold flannel and a fan.

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