With this unrelenting heat wave in full effect and no end in sight, you may be tempted to turn down the thermostat just to get a little relief, but those cooling costs can add up. Living through a hot summer without AC seems impossible, but with these hacks you can stave off the sweltering heat and keep cool this summer while keeping your electric bill down.
Change the Rotation on your Ceiling Fan to Counterclockwise
It’s easier than you think to make this fix (usually your fan will have a little switch on the motor housing that alters its rotation), and doing so will allow the blades to circulate faster, creating a cooler breeze.
Suck Hot Air Out, Blow Cold Air In
This is especially useful at night. Suck hot air out and blow cold air in by putting an exhaust fan in one window, facing out, and closing all the other windows except the ones in the room in which you’re sleeping.
Don’t Let the Light In
Keeping shades, curtains, or blinds closed can lower the temperature inside your house by up to 20 degrees.
Make a DIY Air Conditioner
Mimic the cooling effects of AC by putting a heaping metal bowl of ice in front of a fan. Create a misting effect by tilting the bowl so that the fan blows directly onto the ice. When the air hits the cubes, it will release a cool, misty breeze that chills the whole room.
Don’t Close Yourself In
Keep inside doors open throughout the day, which allows the cool air to circulate throughout your house.
Revamp Your Bedding
Use linen sheets, which are twice as cool as cotton, the next best choice. Invest in a buckwheat pillow, which won’t trap heat the way traditional pillows do. Before bedtime, stick your bed linens in the freezer for a few hours to cool them. At the very least, chill your pillowcases.
Sleep Solo
Your partner may balk, until he or she realizes how much body heat cuddling creates.
Freeze a Water Bottle
Then position it near your feet, which contain many pulse points, while you sleep. Or dunk your feet in ice water before turning in.
Unplug
Appliances that are plugged in radiate heat — even when they’re not in use, so unplug what you can. Now is also the time to embrace your grill; turning on the oven on a 100-degree day is only going to make things hotter.
Turn Off Lights
Even the most energy-efficient light bulbs give off some heat, so make do with natural light on superhot days. But still swap out incandescent bulbs for CFLs, which will also lower your energy bill.
Lie Low
Hot air rises, so putting your mattress on the floor can help you stay cool while you slumber.
Wear Cold Wet Wristbands
Wear wristbands that have been dunked in ice water, and tie a cold, wet bandanna around your neck. Keeping those areas chilled will cool off your entire body.
Stay Hydrated
Water is the best thing to drink to stay hydrated. Sources of water also include foods, such fruits and vegetables which contain a high percentage of water. It’s also best to avoid drinks containing caffeine, which acts as a diuretic and causes you to lose more fluids.
Spray Yourself
Spray yourself with water from a spray bottle, providing water to evaporate and cool you. You can receive a lot of cooling from evaporation, especially if you have some wind to go with it.
Wear a Wet T-Shirt to Bed
Soak a T-shirt in ice water, wring it out, and wear it to bed. You can also wet your hair. Hey, you may be a little damp, but at least you’re cool.
Get in the Shade
Shade can save you as much as 10 degrees of temperature. Arrange for your home to be in the shade by planting trees. Make sure you put them on the south and west sides of the house, as those are the sides where the sun strikes the strongest. They may take a while to grow, but they’ll eventually shade your house.
Get Underground
If you have any way of getting underground, it’s going to be cooler. This could include going down in your basement, getting in the root cellar (if you have one), or going into a conveniently located cave.
