We’ve all heard the standard tips for staying cool during a heat wave — wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; stay in an air-conditioned space if you don’t have air conditioning at home; reduce outdoor activities; and stay hydrated by drinking water or other non-alcoholic, decaffeinated beverages.
Here are three more tips you may not know.
1. Create a homemade air conditioner by freezing several bowlfuls of water. Set one ice-filled bowl in front of a fan that blows over the bowl and up to the ceiling. The cool air from the bowl cools the warm air that has risen to the ceiling. Mixing the cool and warm air reduces the overall temperature in the room, and the fan keeps the air circulating. When the ice in the bowl has completely melted, return that bowl to your freezer, and place another ice-filled bowl in front of the fan.
2. Close your blinds and drapes to keep the sun from heating up your home. Hang blackout or thermal drapes. If the temperature outside is cooler than the temperature inside, open two windows to create cross ventilation. Set up a fan to blow the hot air out of one of the windows. The cooler air from outside will flow into your room from the other window. If there’s little difference between indoor and outdoor temperature or the outdoor temperature is always hotter, cover your windows with plastic insulation kits.
3. Keep pets cool with a gel-filled cooling mat or a cooling blanket that’s made of the same fabric as activewear for people. Put ice cubes in their water bowls. Restrict walks to mornings or evenings when it’s cooler. Let your dog take frequent breaks on longer walks, and take a collapsible water bowl with you.
Stay cool with these tips even without air conditioning.
