We may earn revenue from the mathematical product available on this Thomas Nelson Page and participate in affiliate program . Learn More ›

When temperatures really arise , summer merriment can start to fizzle , especially indoors . It ’s a good thing that great mind have figured out slipway to help you cool ( literally ) , using items you probably already have on hand . Take a look at these clever ways for keeping comfy at home , including summertime sleep aids , the right room to work your window , and even a homemade breeze conditioner . These bare “ aha ! ” hacker will save you money and keep you nerveless . If you ca n’t put up the heating plant , give one of these tricks a effort .

1. Freeze Your Pillow

When sky - gamy temperature do n’t abate at dark , the warmth can intervene with sleep . One quick remedy is to bunch up yourpillow , put it in a plastic traveling bag , and stick it in the freezer for 10 minutes . If your freezer is already full of meth emollient , deliver space by freezing just yourpillowcase . The warm freeze creates a temporary cooling gist that may help you doze off . For backup , keep an extra pillow slip in the freezer so you could make a quick switch if you come alive up in the middle of the sweltry dark . Another pillow pointer : Consider swapping your froth pillow for one filled with buckwheat hulls . The buckwheat stuffing allows line to circulate throughout the pillow , which means it concur less body heat than froth pillow , keeping you ice chest .

2. Make Your Own Air Conditioner

A Styrofoam cooler is unspoiled for more than keeping brewskies cold . Transform it into arealcoolerby adding two dryer vent and asmall fan , fundamentally creating aDIY ACfor less than $ 10 . Carefully draw the circumference of the fan on the center of the cooler ’s cover , then trace the dryer vent openings on either side . Cut along the lines , vacuum-clean up any isolated bits of froth , and put in the vent and sports fan ( blower side down ) into the openings . Next , fill credit card feeding bottle with water , stop dead them until solid , and then rank them in the cooler . at long last , replace the cover , plug in the devotee , and enjoy the breeze .

3. Dip Your Sheets

The so - called Egyptian method promise to keep you cool on hot summer nights . Wet abed sheetor large bathing tub towel with coolheaded water and distort it out or run it through your washer ’s tailspin cycle until it ’s damp but not dripping . This will be your raw beat - the - hotness blanket . Keep a spray bottle fill with water and a small amount ofrubbing alcoholat your bedside : If you arouse up warm , give the sheet an extra spritz . Another estimate in the same vein is to wet and deform out a sheet , then hang it in front of the open window nearest your bed to make any zephyr even more delightful .

4. Chill Beverages in a Snap

speak about tragic ! That six - face pack warmed up by the time you got it home . Quick , run apaper towelunder the frigid tap , twine it around a can or bottle , and place it in thefreezer . In 15 minute of arc or less , your drinking will be chilled to paragon . Why ? Numerous scientists have librate in , but one soft account is that the piss on the towel disappear , drawing rut from the bottle and making it cool faster . For scads of more technological explanation , get your geek on online !

5. Run a Fan with the AC On

Using aceiling fanwhile run theair conditionercan double the chill effect . The AC lower the zephyr temperature , and the fan circulates the cool air throughout the room . The boost in air circulation creates a wind thrill that allow you to launch the AC at a higher temperature while still prevent nerveless .

6. Break the Ice

ready a bowlful full of shabu in front of a table lover . As the ice thaw , the fan will blow cooler air toward you . Of of course , you ’ve drive to be passably closelipped by to love the benefits . Your best bet is to try this hack while you ’re work at your desk , or place the sports fan - bowl jazz band near the stove on your kitchen counter while you ’re cook .

7. Scale Back on Appliance Use

Home appliance , electronics , and even received light bulb heat up your theatre , so turn them on as small as potential . Run thewashing machineonly when you have a full encumbrance , and hang your laundry on aclothesline . Skip the dish washer if it ’s not at mental ability . alternatively , wash dishesin the cesspool and let them air - dry . Steer percipient of the oven and stove top , and choose for themicrowaveor grill instead . Keep even more heat out of the house by dining alfresco and taking your laptop computer onto the terrace .

8. Learn How to Cross Ventilate

Cross ventilationis all about regulating airflow . You may have no control over the positioning of the room access and window in your home , but you may practice overbold buff placement to incite air to your advantage . Place one largebox fanin front of a window , blower side in , and another fan at the window on the opposite side of the space , brag outward , to push away warm midland airwave . Settable fansin between , if necessary , to keep the nerveless air flowing .

9. Keep Closed to Keep Cool

well-nigh 30 percent of undesirable heat come in your household throughwindows(especially south- and west - face ones ) , so keep them closed when you ’re not habitation . Puttingshades , curtains , blinds , andshuttersto work can reduce indoor room temperatures by as much as 20 degrees . In room with a windowpane whole or portable air conditioner , keep the room access close when the AC is running , and practice doorstops to keep four - legged family member from poking their heads into close - off dominion .

10. Run Your Ceiling Fan Counterclockwise

For optimal coolingduring the summer , melody should bollocks straight down rather than up toward the ceiling . Running yourceiling lover in a counterclockwise directionwill do the joke . The flow of air grow creates a wind - tingle effect that make you feel coolheaded . Be trusted to adjust the lover speed as the weather heat up : The warm the weather , the high the upper . And remember that you could set your AC thermostat a little higher when you ’re running ceiling sports fan .

11. Harness the Power of Double-Hung Windows

Double - hung windowswere design to help direct airflow through the home . If you launch the bottom plane section of windows on the upwind side of your house ( where air pressure is higher ) and the upper subdivision on the downwind side ( where air pressure is lower ) , the low pressure will wet-nurse the aviation through your house , creating a pleasant — and cooling — breeze .

12. Circulate Cooler Basement Air

you’re able to enjoy coolbasementair in the upper stories of your house by the strategic location of sports fan . Get started by shutting all windows except for one windowpane on the top floor in the utmost potential southward - facing corner . view abox fanin the opened windowpane , facing out . Next , open a windowin the farthermost north - face corner of the basement . The open cellar window allow cool air in while the upper unresolved window commit ardent melodic line out . Do n’t blank out to keep theinterior doorto your cellar open . To boost the effect , consider installing a ceiling fan near your basement entrance to promote circulation of cellar zephyr into the rest of the house .

13. Close the Curtains

While you may be loath to blank out off the view of the beautiful outdoors , closingshadesandcurtainscan really help keep the inside of your home ice chest . Even twice - pan off , energy - efficientwindowsstruggle when pitted against treble - digit temperature ; give them an assist by come together your window coverings to further jam the heat from enter your space . open up the curtain back up in the even so you’re able to appreciate Mother Nature , and the cooler temps .

14. Make Some Menthol Tea

The constitutive chemical compound menthol spark off protein sensory receptors in our mouths that make us feel dusty . So food that contain menthol , such as mint , estragon , St. Basil the Great , and oregano , offer a cool sensation . Oregano tea leaf might not be particularly palatable , but a chilly glass of mint frost afternoon tea on a live day can be quite tasty and refreshful . It ’s the perfect accompaniment to an enjoyable afternoon on the back pack of cards , watch the nestling frolic in the chiliad . Garnish with a sprig of crushedtarragonfor even more cool deliciousness .

15. Ice Those Veins

If you ’re in need of an prompt cooldown , deal applying ice-skating rink to pulse period on your trunk . Wrap an ice-skating rink pack ( or shabu in a sandwich - size vv   ) in a cloth , and hold the chilly compress against the rachis of your knee , under your arms , or against the position of your neck . you could even attach the coolheaded parcel to your wrist joint .

Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn

keep your grass gullible and your plants thriving does n’t just take a fleeceable pollex — it begin with the right pecker and supplies .

Three people in front of fans trying to keep cool

Photo: istockphoto.com

Woman prepping a pillow

Photo: istockphoto.com

Styrofoam cooler and small red fan

Photo: istockphoto.com

close up of hands opening curtains

Photo: istockphoto.com

wet paper towel wrapped around champagne bottle in freezer

Photo:cupcakesandcashmere.com

Person turning on ductless cooling unit

Photo: istockphoto.com

Fan on table with bowl of ice on the table

Photo:envirobond.com

Clothes drying on an outdoor clothesline

Photo: istockphoto.com

White Box fan in window

Photo: istockphoto.com

hand closing door in house

Photo: istockphoto.com

A ceiling fan shows motion blur as its blades rotate.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Double hung windows on gray house with white flower boxes

Photo: istockphoto.com

View of basement with washer dryer

Photo: istockphoto.com

Woman closing blackout curtain over lighter curtain

Photo: istockphoto.com

Clear mug of mint tea with mint leaf on top

Photo: istockphoto.com

Black Woman applying ice pack to arm

Photo: istockphoto.com

Article image