Records are being broken, being outside is unbearable and the weather advisories don’t seem to stop coming with the heat wave that’s making life in the Midwest and other regions in the country downright miserable.
If you’re trying to find ways to beat the heat and you don’t have air conditioning, or it just can’t keep up with these excruciating temperatures. You are not alone.
But there’s always a way to combat the hot weather, most especially if you need more than your freon-fueled accessory.
The Huffington Post lends several tips to fighting off the heat without air conditioning, we’ve picked out five of the best alternatives.
Close curtains and blinds
Keeping your windows covered will prevent the light and heat of the sun from entering your home. Plus the glass of your windows is going to absorb the heat too, keeping those blinds and curtains closed will hold the heat off from radiating throughout your home. And don’t forget a lot of blinds are white and they will reflect the light as well. Be sure to invest in darkening curtains as a deterrent from the light and heat too.
DIY air conditioner
All you need is a fan and some ice — or something that will thaw slowly.
Putting your ice in a large bowl or Tupperware item and placing your fan at the correct angle will allow you to blow the cold air coming from the cold object and spread cooler air throughout your home. Add some salt to your ice too, it helps make it colder.
Set ceiling fans to counter-clockwise
It’s all about the little things, right?
Using the counter-clockwise, according to the Huffington Post, makes the airflow at a high speed more beneficial to keeping your house cool. It will create more of a breeze as the air circulates.
Body temp over home temp
Just like in weight-loss efforts, pay no attention to the number — think more about how you feel.
The same can be said about the thermostat.
Your body temperature is going to be more important that the temperature of the room you’re in. Having things like cold, hydrating drinks like water and-or Gatorade and water-based foods will keep you cool and allow you from overheating. Foods like watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber and celery, amongst others, will allow you to eat and hydrate at the same time.
And if you’re really feeling woozy from the heat, add some salt to your food. A cold drink and a snack like potato chips are a great combination for regaining some strength back.
Leave the bathroom fan on
Bathroom fans are meant to suck the air out. Hence their use after a hot shower to get rid of the steam or after a thorough cleaning to get the intense aroma of cleaning products out.
Leaving on your bathroom fans will allow for hot air to get trapped in a whirlwind and sent into your attic or right out of the house. Taking cooler showers will also not only help your body temperature, but will keep your bathroom fan from fighting extra and unwanted hot air.