Latest news with #ExpressBiFoldingDoors
The Sun
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
The simple ‘cross' rule you must follow to keep your home cool in the heatwave – and it costs nothing
WITH temperatures hitting 34C in parts of the UK, keeping your home cool and comfortable can be a real challenge. But Jade Oliver, Home Stylist at Express Bi-Folding Doors, has revealed that making a few simple changes around your home can make all the difference. 2 2 The secret, she says, lies in mastering smart ventilation - and her 'cross' hack won't cost you a penny. 'The simplest and most cost-effective way to cool your home is by creating a cross-breeze,' says Jade. 'Open windows or doors at opposite ends of your home to encourage airflow, it acts like a natural wind tunnel that pushes warm air out and pulls cooler air in. "It's a technique we regularly use in our showrooms when temperatures rise, and it can instantly reduce the indoor heat.' This zero-cost method, often overlooking in favour of fans or air con, is one of the most sustainable ways to ventilate a property - especially in modern homes that benefit from wide windows and sliding doors. Jade adds: 'Even if you don't have large doors, this trick works in any home with two accessible points for air to move through. "To boost the effect, open upper windows upstairs to let hot air escape, as heat naturally rises.' Alongside this clever ventilation method, Jade shares more expert advice to help households beat the heat this summer, with all the tips focused on low-effort, low-cost changes that can make a big difference. Here are her seven budget-friendly ways to keep your home cool this summer... Create cross breeze Open windows or doors on opposite sides of your home to flush hot air out and bring cool air in. Six items every UK driver should remove from cars this weekend In multi-storey homes, open upstairs windows to allow heat to escape from the top. Time your airflow right Ventilate during the coolest parts of the day typically early morning and late evening. Avoid leaving windows open in the middle of the day when the air outside is hotter than inside. Otherwise you risk letting in warm air and making your home even hotter. Keep your curtains, blinds closed Curtains and blinds should be kept closed during the day, but once the heat starts to drop they can be opened again. Invest in a thermal or blackout curtain to keep rooms significantly cooler. Create a DIY 'cool room' Focus on keeping just one room as your designated cool space ideally one that's naturally shaded. Set up fans, keep blinds drawn, and move there during the hottest parts of the day to avoid overheating the entire house. Switch up your bedding and decor Swap heavy duvets and throws for lightweight cotton or linen versions. Natural fabrics are more breathable and help regulate body temperature better than synthetics. Opt for lighter-coloured bedding and cushions too, as they reflect rather than absorb the heat. Switch off unused tech Electronics like TVs, laptops, and chargers all generate heat, even when not in use. Turn off unused devices at the plug and try to limit oven and stove use during the hottest times of the day to avoid heating up your home unnecessarily. Add houseplants Indoor plants not only brighten up your home but can help cool it down. Plants like peace lilies and ferns release moisture into the air, which can create a refreshing effect indoors.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The simple trick to keep flies from entering your home using a natural ingredient they ‘hate'
IT'S second nature to open doors and windows to let fresh air in during the warm summer months. But unfortunately, this is also how pesky flies can find their way inside - and they can be tricky to get rid of once they're in. 2 2 Luckily, the pros from Express Bi-Folding Doors have revealed some of the best tricks and tips for banishing flies and other insects without breaking the bank. The first hack is perfect if you have leftover citrus peel from recipes - don't throw away this peel! Instead, collected the peel and add them to small pots around both doorways and windows. Not only will they leave your home smelling great, but they'll keep pesky flies out, since they hate the scent. And since oranges can be picked up for as little as 28p in supermarkets like Aldi, this is a budget-friendly hack too. If you want to go all out, you can also combine two scents flies hate - cloves and lemon. Simple cut the lemons in and stick in a few fresh cloves before placing them in the same spots around your home. You don't have to reply on left over fruit though, as essential oils can also do the trick. For those who'd rather not have fruit peels around their homes, essential oils will work just as well - flies hate the smell of strong oils. Again, strong scents work best, like peppermint, lemongrass and eucalyptus, the pros told How to Keep Wasps, Bees, and Flies Out of Your Home with a 5p Onion Hack All you need to do is add a dab or two of the oil to some kitchen roll or a cloth and hang them out around windows and doors. For this hack, simply cut up some strips of kitchen paper or cloth, and place a little bit of your chosen essential oil on them. Even more tricks to banish pesky flies According to the whizz behind this purse-friendly hack, Chris J Carr, a DIY concoction that costs pennies to make and will give you results in a mere five minutes. ''Just put it in the kitchen, and all flies, mosquitoes, and bugs will go away." he said. To whip up the cheap and simple remedy, you will need: 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil (or other vegetable oil), as well as 1/2 cup shampoo. When it comes to adding the latter, there's no need to use your fancy shampoo - any cheap discount store version will work just fine ans save you extra cash. Start by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl and place it in the kitchen, before waiting for the bugs ''to flock to it''. Although Chris had caught dozens of teeny fruit flies in just five minutes, he advised to leave ''the mixture out for a couple of hours or until you feel the insects have been caught.'' If you still spot the annoying flies and mosquitos taking over the kitchen, repeat the process, he added. Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months!
