British Gas has urged UK households to avoid using washing machines before 5pm amid the scorching heatwave this week

British Gas has urged Brits to avoid using their washing machines during the day until Friday as sweltering temperatures grip the nation.

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across parts of the UK this week, as a heatwave threatens to bring record-breaking temperatures of up to 38C, with warnings in place from this morning through to Friday night.

As the mercury continues to climb, British Gas is calling on households to hold off running their washing machines until after 5pm, in a bid to keep homes cool during the scorching conditions.

Running your laundry in the evening, from 5pm onwards, can make a significant dent in indoor temperatures during heatwaves.

Peter Knowles, Service and Repair Engineer at British Gas, said: “We all know how frustrating it is when our homes are hot and stuffy. The good news is that there are some practical steps that households can take to help keep inside temperatures down during the summer months.

“Things like doing your washing in the evening, keeping windows closed during the middle of the day or putting your fans on the floor are all small changes that can make a real difference.”

The British Gas engineer also noted that holding off on cooking until a similar time of day will further help to bring indoor temperatures down.

Avoiding the use of ovens, hobs, tumble dryers and washing machines during the hottest parts of the day prevents adding unnecessary heat when temperatures are at their peak.

The gas company recommends batch cooking during early morning or late evening hours, air-drying laundry outside wherever feasible, and opting for lighter meals that don’t need cooking during the warmest parts of the day.

Another method to maintain cooler homes is to disconnect heat-producing devices.

This includes chargers, laptops and other gadgets. When left plugged in, these emit ambient heat even when not being actively used.

During a heatwave, numerous devices can add to that stifling indoor atmosphere, so unplugging what you’re not using will help maintain rooms slightly cooler.

Ahead of the heatwave, the Met Office said: “Hot and humid weather is expected to continue through the middle of the week, with exceptionally warm temperatures both day and night.”

The forecaster added: “Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required. Failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment is likely, with the probable loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity, gas or mobile phone services.”