It’s not always feasible to have a new system installed, so here are our favorite tips for keeping cool during the summer.
Keep those curtains closed!
The sunshine is beautiful, but it won’t help you keep the house at a comfortable temperature. Curtains that block the outside completely, work best.
Cold sheets.
Find your bedroom too hot at night? Stick your bed sheets (or pj’s) in the freezer for a few minutes before bed. It can help keep you cool while you fall asleep.
Turn out the lights!
Lights give off heat. Help keep your home cooler by leaving lights off until necessary.
Ice fan.
Have a fan? It will benefit you more if you put some ice in a bowl in front of it. As the ice evaporates it will cool the air as it blows.
Hot water bottle.
Hot water bottles don’t just benefit you when you have an injury. Make yourself a leak proof ice pack by freezing your hot water bottle. You can also use this to help keep you cool at night by sticking it under your sheets at the foot of your bed.
Exhaust fan.
Turn on that exhaust fan! Just like when showering and cooking, the exhaust fan will help draw out the heat.
Turn off that oven!
Want to cook a roast? Turn off the oven and use a crock pot, instant pot, or simply grill it! The oven is convenient, but it will ruin all of your efforts to keep your home comfortable.
Do you have a fan that can turn clockwise and counter clockwise?
Set to counter clockwise. This will push the hot air up instead of swirling it around the room.
Use cotton sheets.
Lighter sheets like Egyptian cotton are breathable.
Out with the heat!
Point a box fan out of a window to push out the hot air.
Cool off your pulse points.
Elbows, wrists, neck, behind the knees, and ground are all pulse points. Applying cool compresses to these spots will help you cool down fast.
Kiddy pool!
You may look silly sitting in a plastic kiddy pool the size of a hula hoop, but I doubt anyone will be out and about judging on a hot day anyway.
*glug glug*
Drink that water! Be sure to avoid drinking cold beverages when you are over heated. This can put your body into shock (this applies to pets as well). Slightly cooler that room temperature with feel refreshing on the hottest days.
Stick your feet in a cool bowl of water.
(See pulse points above)
Mallow packs.
Make a diy ice pack that won’t freeze your skin. Stick some large marshmallows in the freezer and remove to use on your neck.
Don’t forget the pets!
Keeping a steady supply of water will help pets keep their temperatures down. Cats are more likely to drink fresh water than day old.
If none of these help, head to your local coffee shop and enjoy a cool beverage indoors.