The Great 'Ways to keep cool' Hunt

ClaireEx

I found some in my local Lloyds Chemist last week for £1.99 each.

KTee wrote: »

Last year I bought a battery powered 'personal' fan from local petrol station it cost all of £1.50, the difference was that it incorporated a water atomiser in the centre of the impeller.
I used it whilst walking in the Alps in midsummer. Our mountain guides were ecstatic about it it was so effective. I foolishly gave it away to one of them and haven't been able to replace it. If you see one, buy it!

mazza245

I don't know where you are all living but obviously not here in the frozen north! It is very rarely too warm and certainly never uncomfortable even in the sunshine outside. Inside our house (which is an old 1850's police station with thick walls) it is positively freezing all the time! I have to have some form of heating on at night even when it has been nice during the day as otherwise I am uncomfortably chilled. I am jealous to death of all of you with south facing rooms with patio doors which get so hot during the day! Our kitchen is made from two old cells which are dark and cold - it makes you feel sorry for any criminals which were held in them, although I believe the most that were held were farmers etc. sleeping off too much booze!!

Sorry this is of no practical help to you all but I just had to tell you. I crave warmth and sunshine, though, and spend a lot of time in sunny warm Portugal where I do have trouble getting cool enough to sleep sometimes. I think we made a mistake buying this house as I find it uncomfortably cool and I need to look for one which has a south facing garden and is very light and warm!

Margot_Malinow

Take a COLD water bottle or two to bed in hot weather. If you keep it in the fridge for a couple of hours beforehand it keeps you cool even longer.

Eff

My young son and I have taken ice packs to bed (wrapped in tea towell). First thought of this on holiday in Menorca 2 years ago.

happyheart72

Surviving the summer heat - here's how I do it (and I'm aware some of it has already been said so sorry if I'm repeating stuff!):
1. Cleansing wipes - very refreshing and less drying for the skin than usual wet wipes, especially if you use the ones that are also moisturising.
2. An old-fashioned fan, can be picked up in charity shops for as little as 50p, and adds a bit of old style glamour to any occasion!
3. Ice, loads of it! For drinks, wrapping in towels and putting it on your head, for footbaths etc.
4. Not cooking (indoors at least) and not eating hot food - stick to salads and yoghurts, that kind of thing.
5. Putting pillow covers in the freezer.
6. Being near the sea and go for frequent dips! If that's not possible, get a paddling pool - did a lot of revision in a swimsuit in a paddling pool!

And that's all I can think of, now anyway!

Happy summer everyone!

M :smileyhea

koppite

Soak a lace curtain/bed sheet/any material really, in cold water and tack it up or hang it over an open door or window. Any moving air that comes in is instantly cooled.

pegginout

Im loving these ideas...keep em coming!
I have a cool shower before bed, then sleep with slightly damp sheet over me!
It works coz i used to do this while working abroad!

Tiger_greeneyes

berkshirebird wrote: »

I know this one sounds TOTALLY nuts, but it worked in the really hot weather last year...

I made a window sized covering out of tin foil, sellotaping it all together, then taping it to the window. I Know, nuts. It went up in the morning, and kept the light/heat out. It also works as a cheap and easy blackout now the evenings are really light. I was trying to recreate the metal shutter effect they have in France... and it really works. And I can't stand sewing!

The only problem is, last summer when I was taping it up on my daughters window, my neighbours looked up quizzically, and I jokingly said, "the aliens are coming" and they have avoided us ever since. I don't know why...

I do this too, although I tape the foil to a piece of cardboard the same size as the window - it lives down the side of the wardrobe when I don't need it. It works out cheaper than using foil on it's own - I found the foil rips too easily - and my last one lasted for about 4 years - although it won't fit my new windows (we moved in January) so I'll have to make another one.

Thank you for the idea about the chillow, I've just ordered one from ebay - £24.95 with free p&p

nobbyharder

Water is the key. A (clean) water sprayer filled with tap water, which doesn't need to be cooled. Lightly spray your bedclothes with it 20 minutes before beditme, and the evaporation will cool the sheets. If the night is so hot you only have a sheet on, then lightly spray the sheet (don't soak it!). This truly is effective, especially if you have a fan on in the room. It's called the 'wet handkerchief effect'. Try it with a damp cloth on your arm - blow on it, it feels cool. Trust me, this one really works.

ejsmith

Cacran wrote: »

Put your wrists in a bowl of freezing cold water, something to do with pulse points I think. Oh you don't have to have them immersed for more than a few minutes but the cooling effect lasts for a while.

I think this works because the wrists are one of the places where the blood is nearest to the surface - far more practical then running cold water on your neck!

I invested in a child's paddling pool, I was going to sit in it until the dog commandeered it, but sitting reading with your feet in it is good. Plus the added advantage is the free 'shower' of water you get once the dog gets out and shakes!

In those halcyon days when I had enough time to sit and veg watching Neighbours I noticed that they have wrought iron doors as well as the normal wood ones, so they could securely leave the front door open. If I'm pottering around I improvise with a stairgate which, again, suits the dog as she can sit and watch everyone go by, whilst I get a through draught from front to back door. Needless to say, this is a security risk so you do have to be careful.

Elizabeth