As much of England endures the latest heatwave, public‑health bodies and local experts are pointing to an unexpected contributor to overheated homes: household clutter. According to the Oxford Mail, Miroslav Radov of Rainbow Rubbish Removals warns that piles of paper, fabrics and furniture blocking airflow can act as “heat traps”, making rooms stay hotter for longer just as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has placed wide areas under yellow heat‑health alerts. The warning comes as forecasters and news outlets describe this spell as the country’s fourth heatwave of the summer.

Radov likened accumulating clutter to “putting on a thick jumper indoors during a heatwave”, saying the effect is not only uncomfortable but increases risk: “Paper piles, fabric stacks, and blocked airflow around furniture all keep rooms hotter for longer, and that’s before you factor in fire risk,” he told the Oxford Mail. The problem, he added, is especially acute in older properties and homes without air conditioning where natural ventilation is already limited.

Public agencies are issuing parallel advice. The UKHSA’s heat‑health guidance for yellow alerts urges people to keep homes cool and to close curtains on sun‑facing rooms, while the Met Office has been clear that the current conditions are more extensive than earlier spells this summer and that temperatures in parts of England and Wales are expected to reach the low 30s Celsius. Those official advisories also highlight the need to recognise heat exhaustion and heatstroke and to follow practical measures such as ensuring good ventilation and staying hydrated.

Beyond comfort, household clutter creates a genuine safety hazard. Warwickshire County Council’s fire‑safety guidance notes that hoarding and excessive clutter supply fuel for fires, can block exits and windows, impede rescue and even obstruct smoke alarms — all factors that make homes harder and more dangerous to evacuate and for firefighters to enter. Radov pointed out that poor airflow can also increase strain on fans and electrical appliances, which in some cases may overheat and spark.

Radov acknowledged that letting go of possessions can be emotionally difficult and encouraged techniques to ease the process. He cites what he calls the “Lemon Theory” — a mental shift that recognises memory is not solely tied to the physical object — and suggests photographing items to preserve sentimental value before discarding them. That approach has research support: a study reported by CNN found that people prompted to photograph possessions were more likely to donate sentimental items, suggesting photography can make decluttering psychologically easier.

Practical steps shared by Radov echo both charity and council advice: break clear‑outs into manageable chunks, create labelled collection points for things to keep, donate, recycle or discard, and start with an area that feels achievable to build momentum. Official sources add complementary heat‑safety measures — close curtains in the daytime, open windows in cooler evenings to encourage cross‑ventilation, and check that smoke alarms are working — as small household changes that reduce both heat and risk.

The broader public‑safety picture underlines why reducing “heat traps” matters beyond mere comfort. The Met Office reported peak temperatures around 33–34°C in places during this spell, and regional reports recorded highs of about 33.4°C as the country entered the fourth heatwave. Local media and emergency services have also warned of increased wildfires, pressure on water supplies and added strain on health and social‑care services. For those most vulnerable — older people, infants and people with chronic illness — the combined risks of extreme heat and limited mobility in cluttered homes make simple neighbourly checks and targeted help especially important.

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Source: Noah Wire Services