How do you cool down during the summer?

Summer may be our favorite season, but not when the temperature outside is more than 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Ugh! And if you don’t have an air conditioner, it might be difficult to survive. A trip to Antarctica would save the day! But we’ve got your back in case you don’t have money to move abroad!

We have some tips and tricks in case your budget is at its limit, and you can’t afford an air conditioner.

How do you cool yourself during the summer season?

1. Insulate your attic and walls

A lot of things will help keep your home warmer during the winter, but the most important thing is insulation. Because it can lower the energy bills, and that will help you so much during the winter peak, plus it will help the cool air in and the heat out.

This will cost you a bit in the beginning, but you will be grateful, especially during summer. Do you have insulation in your house?

2. Keep the windows closed during the day

It’s so warm around lunchtime, especially if you live in a flat. And if you have the “brilliant” idea of opening the windows and leaving them like that during the day, I have to tell you to reconsider it.

You may think that you’re going to get a breeze, but how is this possible if outside everything is melting?

Keep your windows closed if you want to have a cool room during the day!

You can open them at night to have cooler air, plus it will help you sleep as well.

3. Buy a fan 

A fan is always useful to have in the house, especially if you don’t own an air conditioner. I’ve been there, struggling with this battle. But I’ve got you! If you have a bowl of ice and a fan, you will create a cool breeze in your living room.

All you have to do is to fill a mixing bowl with a lot of ice and place it in front of a fan.

If you turn on the fan, the air will be a lot cooler and chilly. Everything I desired during the summer!

4. Bake and wash at night

Believe it or not, your home is more likely to get a lot hotter from your washing machine. That’s why it’s safer to do all the chores during the night or after the sun goes down.

Are you going to bake some chicken? Leave it for tonight if you’re not in a hurry with cooking.

Keep your house cool during the summer heat!

TIP: A new restaurant just opened up in your neighborhood? Cool! Then you can order some food, especially during the warm days. 

5. Store ice 

This is mandatory during the summer, especially if you are a fan of tea. And the colder the better. Specialists say that drinking a lot of water will help you stay cool on hot days.

But you must know that you should avoid alcohol or caffeine because they will dehydrate you.

Even if you are staying indoors, dress in light and cool clothing. Showers help you too, and it’s actually recommended to take two or three per day. In case you can’t take a shower right away, try to apply a washcloth dampened in cool water to your arms and forehead for a quick cool-off.

What do you say: yay or nay to the heat? 

6. Try planting vines

If you are living in a house with a nice big garden, then consider yourself lucky! Because you will have a lot of other opportunities to make your house a lot cooler. How? By trying to plant vines. These plants will work similarly to installing an awning. Ivy, for example, grows quickly and provides a cool shade.

And the look of your house will be pretty nice too!

These cute climbers can reduce the temperature by actually blocking the sunlight that is a menace to your walls, especially during warmer days.

7. Close the refrigerator door

We tend to open the refrigerator door just because it’s cooler, and that breeze is everything we need during the summer days. But I remember when I was a kid, and my mom used to say, “Close the door, Jason!” and I was mad and never understood why. Now I do.

This action is pretty counterproductive to cool off your home. Its engine needs to work a bit harder to keep a constant temperature and actually generates more heat than usual.

Remember to close the door in under a minute!

8. Get rid of incandescent lights

Did you know that incandescent bulbs waste at least 90% of their energy in the heat they release? So if you are trying to cool down your room without using the air conditioner, then it’s time to say goodbye to incandescent lights.

You can switch to compact fluorescent lamps, which will also reduce your energy bill. See? It’s going to be a win-win situation.

And there is no shame in that. We are all looking for tips and tricks to save more money by the end of the month!

9. Block out the sun

I simply love the stories about vampires and how much they dislike sunlight. If you have big curtains, don’t forget to use them because they will keep your house cool during the daytime.

If you know that a specific room in your house is pretty sunny during the day, block it with a dark curtain.

If you have some trees around your flat, they will also help you keep cool during the summer.

What other hacks keep your bedroom cool during this heat wave?

10. Shut doors to unused rooms

If you have some rooms that are not really used during the day, make sure you keep them closed. In case you really need to turn off the air conditioner, make sure you confine the coolness to places where it’s most needed.

Shut the doors to the areas that do not need to be cooled.

Where do you spend your days during the summer heat?

11. Avoid using your dryer during the day

We previously mentioned avoiding using your washing machine or even the dryer because they can create even more heat. And you don’t want that!

If it’s possible, dry your clothes early in the morning or late at night when the heat outside is less intense than during the day.

Or, if you have a backyard, try to dry them naturally. They’ll also smell better too!

12. Buy a dehumidifier 

This tiny thing is pretty useful in your house. Because humidity is pretty uncomfortable for both humans and pets. Dehumidifiers actually “suck” all the moisture from the room, making the air fresh and easier to cool. If you can keep the indoor humidity level under 60%,

If you want to save some money when it comes to your electricity bills, just use a unit that turns off when the humidity drops below your set level.

Don’t waste the gathered water; use it to water your plants.

Takeaway

Unfortunately, turning on the air conditioner will empty your wallet. And the electricity bills will explode. But summer won’t go away that easily, so all the methods from the above are more than useful to cool down your home.

It’s either you use a fan, or you simply pull the curtains.

Whatever method you choose, make sure to stay hydrated and limit your walks during the day.

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