There’s no doubt about it, temperatures are rising and the temptation to turn on the air conditioning grows a little more each day. Staying cool in the heat can be pricey though, especially if you’re relying on air conditioning to do most of the work. There are a few ways you can get rid of the huge electric bills though without forcing yourself to be covered in sweat throughout the day. With these tips to help you stay cool, you’ll wonder why you put up with the heat for so long. Better yet, you’ll wonder why you gave up so much money when there’s so many solutions to help you feel amazing on the hottest of days!
1. Bedding
Your bedding may be the last thing you think of when it comes to cooling yourself down. In fact, for most people, the bedding ends up getting pushed to the foot of the bed because it’s too hot to handle any extra layers. However, the type of bedding you use can say a lot about how cool you stay in the hot months. For instance, flannel sheets are pretty much a no-no as the temperature rises. You’ll want to stick with cotton if you’re on a budget, but if you want to splurge, silk will keep you the coolest. Before you begin your day, you may want to move all of your bedding and hang it up in the coldest room in the house. This will help keep these items cooler which will also cool down your body. Another great way to make bed time refreshing is to place your pillow and sheets in a plastic bag. Then, stick this bag in the freezer. The plastic will protect the fabric from getting wet, so when you go to bed you’ll have freezing cold sheets and a pillow to enjoy.
2. Change Your Diet
Believe it or not, but changing the way you eat can actually help to keep you cool. Some of the best foods to eat when it’s hot are spicy foods. The spices force you to perspire more which cools down the body significantly. You should also keep a lot of frozen treats on hand. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should have ice cream every single day. Instead, turn your favorite drinks into popsicles. Or, freeze healthy yoghurts with a mixture of fruits. You can really think out of the box when it comes to these treats or simply surf the internet looking for something that strikes your fancy. Eating light and cold foods will also do you a huge favor. For instance, salads are perfect for summer time and you can change them up to make them taste unique each day. You should also eat cold fruits. One of your best food options is cucumbers. They’re light and mostly made of water anyway so you won’t have to worry about calories. Keeping hydrated is important too. Drinking a cold glass of water can cool you down for up to an hour. You should also switch from hot coffees and teas to cold brews.
3. Stay Downstairs
Everyone knows that heat rises, so this summer you may need to spend a little more time downstairs. This can be difficult, especially when most bedrooms end up in the top of the home. Thus, when bed time rolls around it may be too hot to sleep. If this is the case then you may want to organize a few camp outs downstairs. If you make some tents for the kids it’ll become a great summer time activity that they will tell their children all about. If you have a basement then you might want to take some time to turn this into a family friendly room. Try adding a television and a few places to sit to start with. This could be one of the best places for the family to eat meals and enjoy one another’s company during the day. If you have a garage then it may be almost as good, so don’t be afraid to move the cars out while the heat wave continues on!
4. Enjoy the Dark
When it comes to daytime in the summer, you may want to get used to spending time in the dark. Generally speaking, closing the blinds and curtains will actually keep your home much cooler throughout the day. Try to do this as soon as the temperature begins to rise so you won’t have to deal with all of the sun pouring into the home. If you don’t want to close up the entire house then simply close the side in which the sun is hitting. When the sun finally goes down then you can open up the home and enjoy all of your daily conveniences. It’s important not to run anything that will add heat to the home during the day time if you’re trying to keep cool. This includes a lot of items we use every day such as the washing machine and dryer, dishwasher and television. So, you may have to come up with alternative forms of entertainment. Of course, the most important thing you can do is open up the home at night. It usually cools down significantly so make sure all of your windows are letting the cool air in!
5. Fans
One of the cheapest ways to cool down a house is to use fans. Fans are great for many reasons though as they can also help keep allergens from bothering you and they keep rooms feeling fresher. You can choose from a wide variety of fan too, including simple handmade fans. One of the best fans to have in your home, no matter the season, is ceiling fans. These help distribute cool air around the room so you’ll feel better in a matter of seconds. You might also want to utilize box fans in the window. These can be used to pump cool air in the home during the night and to pump hot air out during the day. If you’re worried about the power bill then you can stick to fans that are solar or battery powered! Of course, if you already have fans in the home then you should always make sure they’re on the correct setting. During the hot weather they should be turning counter clockwise.
6. DIY Air Conditioner
It may seem too good to be true, but you can actually DIY an air conditioner that will cost you next to nothing to run. There’s a couple of ways to do this too! If you’re looking for a personal cooler for just sitting around by the pool or in your home then all you really need is a cup with a lid. Fill the cup with ice and then place the lid over it. If there’s already a hole in the lid then you’re good to go, if not then make one. Now, all you do is blow into the hole. When you’re finished cold air will make its way out. If you want the cold air to go even further then place a small fan by the hole. If you want to cool down an entire room then head to your local department store. You’ll need a Styrofoam cooler, two dryer vents and a small fan. Before you begin, place several bottles of water in the freezer. Then take the lid of the cooler and measure out the size of the vents on each end. You want these measurements to be as snug as possible. When you’re finished move to the center and draw a hole a little smaller than the fan. Now, cut out all of your measurements. Place each vent into the appropriate hole and then fill the cooler with the frozen water bottles. Place the lid back on and turn on the fan!
7. Utilize Shade
During the hot months, the shade is going to be your best friend. You may even find it cooler in the shade than in your own home. To ensure you get to enjoy more shade you should strategically plant trees around the home. With enough trees blocking out the light, your home will stay quite a bit cooler. Although blinds and curtains help out, you can’t beat the shade that an awning creates. Try to make some DIY awnings and place them above the windows in your home. It’s easier and cheaper than you expect, especially when you factor in how much money these awnings will save you. You should also add an awning onto your porch. This will provide you with a cooler place to enjoy a meal while you relax in the evenings.
8. Cook Efficiently
Your diet doesn’t say everything about keeping cool. The way you cook can speak quite loudly too. If you’ve ever been in a home that bakes in the middle of summer then you probably know how unbearable it is. Using your stove or oven can be one of the worst decisions when it’s hot, so try to avoid it as often as possible. One of the best things to do is count on your outdoor grill to do a lot of the work for you. You can also use your crockpot to make some of your family’s favorite meals, such as casserole. If you have a home filled with kitchen gadgets then you’re doing well for the summer months. You can easily fire up an electric grill or wok to make some healthy dishes everyone will love. If you still think it raises the temperature then place the item outside and cook there. Of course, you could always stick to foods that don’t need to be cooked in the first place.
9. Change Your Wardrobe
Sure, you may think you’re doing good sitting around in your denim shorts and cotton top, but there’s better wardrobe choices you could be making. For instance, you may want to start shopping for loose fitting clothing. This will make you feel less sweaty as the temperature rise. Light weight clothing is also a must. Usually button up tops will have this material, but you should always check out a fabric before you buy it. If you feel something and it’s breathable then it is a definite must for your summer time attire. You should also stick to light weight shoes, such as flip flops. There’s many slip on styles that use light fabrics too which may be better for your feet than some of your sandal options.
10. Go Out
If you just can’t keep cool in the home, don’t automatically go for the thermostat. Instead, get out of the house for a while. There’s actually many public places you can go to cool off that won’t cost you much. For instance, you can learn which days at your local museum, or other attractions, are free or have reduced price tickets. This could take up hours of the day and they’re almost always air conditioned. You may also want to spend some time at the theater when the tickets are a reduced price. Another great place to go is the library. The family can check out books, enjoy story time and take part in any event the library is hosting. You can also sign everyone up for low cost classes so you’ll keep cool and learn something too! The public pool is also a great idea, but make sure to look into season passes so you won’t spend as much! Finally, a lake, river, the beach or anywhere free that offers water to play in is a total must!
The heat doesn’t have to beat you! In fact, you can really stand against it and your rising electric bill by trying out some of these options. With a little know-how you should feel cooler than ever this summer without using the air conditioner!
