Money hacks How to keep your cool in a heatwave

It's tempting to throw the windows open all day in the hope of a breeze, but when it is really hot outside, you only let in hotter air.

- Samuel Gibbs

Open windows (at times)

Open the windows nice and wide overnight or early in the morning to let cooler air in, then shut them as the outside temperature climbs.

Try to generate a through breeze by opening windows on opposite sides of your home or from top to bottom.

Close the curtains A lot of heat comes through the windows as thermal radiation, which warms the surfaces and air in your room, raising the ambient temperature.

Closing the curtains or blinds acts as a barrier, helping to prevent the heat from going further into your room than the window.

Shade the windows If you can, hanging a sheet or other barrier over the outside of the window helps prevent the thermal radiation from entering your room. The British Blind & Shutter Association says research at a London block of flats found that the temperature reached 47.5C in rooms without shading, whereas rooms that had external blinds fitted reached a maximum of 28C.

Get a fan... Using an electric fan to move air around your home can help cool you, as long as the air temperature is less than 35C. It will not cool down a room.

This week the Guardian published an article that included our pick of the best fans. The best overall was named as the AirCraft Lume, a pedestal fan costing (at the time of writing) £119 from the online retailer AO. The one named both the best budget fan and best desk fan is made by Devola and was available this week for £49.99.

Buying an energy-efficient model will help with running costs and reduce the amount of heat that the fan's motor creates.

You can also position it in front of a window when it is cooler outside to encourage air to enter your home.