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Households are being urged to close their windows this Saturday as hot weather returns across much of the UK again. This week temperatures could soar as high as 21C on Saturday, April 25, after previous peaks of 19C on Friday, according to the latest Met Office forecast for London. Then, conditions will drop back to 18C on Sunday and Monday.

As hot weather shines down, households across England and the UK are urged to close their windows, as well as curtains and blinds, on Saturday. That's because it can be difficult to keep your house cool when hotter conditions come back. According to NHS guidance, babies and young children should only be kept in rooms between 16 to 20C, and when the temperature outside is warmer than that, it can be tricky to keep to the right indoor temperatures.

Homes across England, in particular, will be baking hot as the sunshine cooks us in our well-insulated buildings built to withstand the cold British winters rather than the summer sun for extended periods.

It means that households in England are being urged to take steps to keep their house cool in the sunshine. And one way of doing so is to close windows and curtains or blinds in the sunniest conditions, and tactically open windows in shaded areas and open all your windows again in the evening, when outside air temperatures are lower.

Energy firm OVO says: "Tempting as it is to fling open the windows at the first sign of summer, it's not actually the best idea. To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out.

"This means keeping windows closed during the day - particularly south-facing windows. Keep curtains, blinds and windows shut when the sun is shining directly on them, and when you're out. Try opening windows on the most shaded side of your home, to avoid sunlight and hot air getting in."

According to the advice from heating professionals at BOXT, many commonly believed cooling techniques might not only be ineffective but could also hit your wallet hard.

Andy Kerr, the founder of BOXT, explains: "Getting rid of unwanted heat in your home can be difficult in the summer months, especially when most UK properties are built to retain heat. While grabbing a fan or opening up all your windows are often mentioned as effective ways to cool your home, these methods may not result in the desired results."

He added: "To help homeowners keep cool as the warmer months approach, we have revealed which common home cooling hacks are myths and why they don't work so you can avoid them this summer.

"When temperatures are particularly warm, opening up all your windows will let more hot air into your home, heating up your home and making you feel warmer.

"Instead of opening all your windows, it is much better to strategically open windows to create cross breezes throughout the day and open your windows during the night to let cooler air in."