The Great 'Ways to keep cool' Hunt

Frith

I spent the afternoon in the river Teme, paddling around while my son did some swimming. Coolest I've been in days!

Chesterman

A quick tip for dog owners. I purchased a cool coat for my last dog which cost around £60.00 a few years ago, when I checked it out properly I realised it was just dyed chamois leather, so now I have bought a new chamois off cut and run it under a cold tap then wring it out and place it over my new rescued dog and hold it in place with a safety pin. Keeps them cool for ages. you can also place the cloth in a plastic bag and keep it in the fridge to cool until next time. hope this helps some distressed pooches.

Anne_Marie_2

Living in the southern med, these are all great tips.

Keeping a through draught and curtains closed is the best method for keeping house cool, but know that it's not always possible. It's also better to have a white or very light coloured curtain lining to reflect any sunlight.

If you normally sleep upstairs, but have a spare bedroom downstairs, use that, as heat rises.

Put some wet flannels in the freezer, and put in ziplock bags if you are out and about. Better if you can place in a cool bag, to keep cold as long as possible. Great for cooling down a hot forehead, or wherever else it's needed. Doesn't need to be a flannel, strips of cotton from an old pillow case or whatever you can have at hand, would be fine.

Use frozen small bottles of water or cartons of juice to keep cool box/bag and contents chilled, rather than freezer packs. They will thaw, in time, and at least you still have something to drink. Do pack non frozen drinks too.
Make up a cooling mist to spray on your face, pulse points, feet. Not difficult...few drops of peppermint essential oil and some bottled water into a small spray bottle that you can carry around in your handbag. Amazing cooling effect right away, and much cheaper than shop bought sprays.
I feel that I have to say this....only because I witnessed it. Take off specs if you wear them first, and also close your eyes, before spraying on your face.

Electric fans are good, until that point that they just move the warm air about when it gets so hot and humid. Bowls of ice placed in front of the fans will help to a degree. Ceiling fans are good too.
Unfortunately the best method is an air conditioner, and although more expensive to buy, an inverter unit is best, as it's cheaper to run.
I've got the lot. I start off with ceiling fans, then use a standing or desk top fan, for individual coolness, then, when a fan won't do the job, the air conditioning gets switched on.

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid housework will just have to wait until its cooler as its been far too hot to do any cooking or cleaning today Its won't worry me if its a bit dusty as there is only me to see it anyway, and its my house and I see no point in making myself ill with heat exhaustion just for a bit of dust. luckily the weather will soon change as we live in a country where warm weather doesn't last that long So my hoover is staying in the cupboard and I am quite happy to eat what I feel like as long as I don't have to cook anything

VfM4meplse

Anne_Marie I have no idea how you manage!

JackieO wrote: »

luckily the weather will soon change as we live in a country where warm weather doesn't last that long

Basildon is under a weather warning (flooding) yet it looks like we won't see any rain just a few miles west

The temperature is set to drop today but 24 degrees still seems suffocatingly hot.

MandM90

I went and got a cool flannel to lay upon OH last night and he really appreciated it, so thanks to whoever gave that tip!

Remembered to close all curtains yesterday and kept upstairs windows opened...I daresay it made a difference.

I think my main 'keeping cool' tip is to sod the housework and enjoy the English summer while it lasts! We spent all evening outside, last night, and just came in to sleep. The house is a bit unkempt, but I can sort it when the gloomy weather inevitably returns

Anne_Marie_2

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Anne_Marie I have no idea how you manage!

It can be a bit tough going July/August. For the past few years I've gone back to Scotland to stay with my parents for around 6 weeks, to avoid the worst of it. Unfortunately, can't do that any more, as I now have a dog, and not willing to put her in kennels for that length of time. Also have family coming out mid July this year. I usually dissuade people from coming then, but it's my daughter, and I can't wait to see her, grandchild and SIL. (Bet they won't ever come again at that time of year, once they've suffered it.)

Any housework gets done before 8 a.m. If not done by then, it gets left. Curtains are closed all day and opened when the sun goes down. Unfortunately all my big windows have sun all afternoon. Am thinking of trying some of that solar vinyl which is said to cut down on a lot of heat, on my bedroom window, to see if that helps. It's quite costly, so will just do one window first to try it out.

I am fortunate enough to have a pool which helps a lot. Always wear a hat when outdoors in the sun, even in the pool. Never thought I'd ever wear a baseball cap....well, I do now. Floppy hats for walking around, baseball cap and big sunglasses in the pool. Minimal clothing worn in the house, but I keep a loose cotton dress on coat rack near the front door to slip on, should anyone pop round. I must look a right sight, comfort is all that matters.

Anne_Marie_2

Meant to add that keeping curtains closed and allowing a through draught, really does work. Yesterday temp was in excess of 30C in the shade, 48C in the sun, house temp downstairs was 20C in the morning and only went up to 21C later on. Think it helps that all of my curtains have a white or cream lining. Kitchen has a pale bamboo blind which I can still see out of during the day.

elona

The hot weather is making me breathless so I am trying to pace myself.

Just about to make up a bed upstairs as dd and sil are staying over tomorrow night and loading the dishwasher and washing machine.

Have found someone to come and help me do some cleaning and hoovering this afternoon and want to do some clearing up before she arrives and then have a quick shower and shampoo and get changed into something clean and comfortable.

Have not watered the back garden plants yet but we are forecast showers and a thunderstorm later so it seemed a bit pointless.

Have had a charity bag waiting at the front door for three days awaiting collection and decided to add the old curtains from upstairs bedroom to it only to find it had gone so used one which should be collected tomorrow.

Enjoyed volunteering at the library yesterday and even learned how to do something new :j It has been so hot at night my nightie was sticking to me and I could hardly remove it so I have managed to find a nice cotton one that does not look too frumpy or old ladyish.

Decided to make sure I drink plenty of water today and not get into a rush even if it does seem a bit lazy. Hospital appointment on Tuesday suggested I have a heart scan so don't want to rush around too much.

Hugs to all

Primrose

Definitely comfort before elegance in this hot weather, and comfortable open flat sandals to prevent swelling feet if you have to walk anywhere.
Fortunately once one reaches a "mature" age a certain amount of common sense kicks in and being in fashion becomes a lower priority.

How people can walk around on hot city streets in pinching high heels mystifies me (until I remember that decades ago I did it for a while too :rotfl:)