How to keep a house cool.

Could she put shutters on the outside of the windows as they do in Mediterranean countries? I assume they live in a hot country?

You can't live n the UK, then

Presumably it’s south facing with no trees for shade. Blackouts will help but keep them closed during the day (unless you are in !) and if possible the windows open or on ventilation setting and all the doors inside the house open , as well as windows on the cooler side of the house (if there is one )! Better maybe Venetian blinds as these can be closed to shade the room but still let some light in and enable you to see out . Air circulation is key so an electric fan - either free standing or even a ceiling fan - would help. If there isn’t a lock setting on the windows I’m sure one can be fitted so you can leave windows ajar but secure . Hard floors also help . Awnings on the ground floor outside could help. As soon as the day loses its heat open up up the blinds and windows to let the cool air in before bedtime .

The
‘ something outside the windows ‘ would indeed be shutters - but Venetian blinds inside would do the same . Continental houses with shutters usually have fully inward opening glass windows so that the air flows through the shutters during the day . Even in the uk south facing houses can get unbearably hot especially for babies who go to bed when the sun is still up - my daughter has the same problem - in Sheffield ?.

I have the bedroom insulated blinds down outside and keep the windows closed after 9 in the morning, only opening them after 10pm in hot weather with the mosquito net as protection. The majority of my windows are south facing. Plants on the balcony help if like me you live in a flat.

This is what we used to do in Spain. We got up very early and opened all the windows. As soon as the sun came up the windows were closed and the blinds and curtains drawn. I would do this on the sunny side of the house. If it is a very hot day I would do it with all the windows.

Last summer was very hot here in the SE, Ellenvannin! Any windows with sun on them were always firmly closed with the curtains drawn.
A fan to keep the air moving can make a considerable difference.

Which reminds me, I need to buy a new one one before it warms up and they sell out, as they nearly always do once a heatwave is upon us. We have one, but it’s very noisy.
But if I buy one now, will that mean we’re bound to have a rubbish summer? ?

All of the above. Last summer, we put also wet sheets over the south facing windows, filled hot water bottles and froze them, ditto damp flannels. It all helped keep cool - but short of proper A/C I don’t know what else can be done.

We live in a bungalow with overhanging eaves, so cool in the Summer and chilly in the Winter!

An awning you can roll in and out shades the widows, we have one on our south facing patio doors.

Witzend We’ve bought a chiller unit as it was so hot last year, that’ll be a wet, cool summer then!
I’m seriously thinking of external wooden shutters for our bedroom, they worked so well when we lived in France.

Aircon! If it is really hot outside (over 35C) that is the only thing that works. When my kids were little and we had no money I would put a clothes hanger near their cribs covered with wet cloths and put a fan on. The day we put aircon in the bedroom was wonderful, peace at last.

In really hot countries, the drill seems to be to keep the windows facing the sun closed all day, and curtains drawn, but to open them all night.

If you can open windows on two sides of the house, (preferably not the sunny side) and leave doors open in between them, the different temperatures outside them will cause air movement from one side to the other, that will cool the inside. Wet sheets will also cool the air as they dry, and the frozen hot water bottle sounds a good idea.

Run a shallow tepid bath, turn the cold tap on only and let the bath fill until it covers you. Lie there for as long as you can, possible half an hour and when you are shivering, get out, air dry yourself and with luck the whole core of your body will have dropped in temperature. You should then feel acceptabley cool for up to 6 hours, sufficient for a good sleep or half a day in a hot house.

Otherwise do as advised above.

Open windows overnight and close during the day until the heat outside is less than inside. Have damp sheets or similar hanging when there's a breeze or fan on.
I think plenty of "traditional" ideas have been covered here.
An awning over south-facing windows is a good idea, as are shutters.
Good luck.

Curtains and windows closed during the day to keep the sun out and a quiet fan to move the air, is most important. If you have a well insulated house cool it off during the night and keep it closed during the heat of the day, damp towels or even clothes if nothing else works.

Good ideas! Thank you.

If you have an attic ..leave the door open to let the hot air rise as high as possible.. makes a HUGE difference here..and again helps air flow...