Previously on Beat the Summer Heat:
That’s one way Fido
Summer brought a swift hand down to strike, hoping to catch you off guard. But you were ready; with your newly constructed AC apparatus you were able to parry off the blows like newspaper in the wind. Days have passed now without incident, but you know that Summer is plotting for revenge, seething its way for its next attack. What will it do next? Will you be prepared? And will this show ever air? This time on Beat the Summer Heat.
1. Put up sheets over the windows: Blocking the sun with blinds can reduce the amount of heat that passes into your home by up to 45 percent. It has been Death Valley tested and proven that if the air outside is dry and cooler than the air inside, hang a damp sheet in an open window to cool the incoming breeze with the evaporating water.
2. Set up around small fans around the house: Instead of having the AC on full blast where everyone and their mother isn’t, invest in a few small fans and set them up in places you usually are like your desk, bed, or under the table.
3. Shut your fireplace damper: According to Tommy Spoto, a master chimney sweep at Chimney Chap, in Copiague, New York, an open one “pulls hot air into your house instead of sucking it out.” This is known as flow reversal.
4. Chill a few spray bottles and place them strategically around the house: If you’re not worried about ruining your makeup, squirt yourself a few times every now and then. If you place the spray bottles in the same place as your fan, you can keep doubly cool.
5. Direct a fan out an open window when the temperature drops below 77 degrees Fahrenheit: This is particularly effective at night when the temperature is usually cooler outside than inside. It also gives you a relaxing noise to fall asleep to. For added affect, open windows throughout the house for circulation.
6. Invest in a USB fan so you can wick while you work: For those of us who are attached to their computer like myself, check out this desktop USB powered fan. It can come in handy outside of summer as well for those of us who really get into online gaming.
7. Lose the shoes: As much as we hate to admit it, we all have sweaty feet. But that’s a good thing! As the sweat on the foot evaporates, it cools the skin blood in your feet, which is transferred to other parts of your body.
8. Kick it up a notch: Sometimes you have to get hot to get cold. Those who live in scorching hot climates such as Mexico and India know that eating spicy food can actually cool you down, at the price of your tongue. Most hot peppers release chemicals that helps us perspire and cool down a bit. Or it just averts the pain to your mouth.
9. Eat lightly: Fruits and vegetables are your best bet in the summer because they are mainly composed of water. There’s also something refreshing about digging your teeth into a crisp peach.
10. Go fluorescent: Long-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs produce about 70 percent less heat than standard incandescent.
11. Take a late-night swim or cold shower before sleeping: By lowering your body’s core temperature you can stay cooler all through the night.
12. Check out the Chillow: The Chillow is a cooling pad that can be slipped into most standard-sized pillows. Be the envy of all fellow sleepers.
13. Invest in a natural latex mattress: Natural latex mattresses are designed to pull away heat from the skin, keeping you cool throughout the night.
14. STAY HYDRATED: To replace the moisture that you lose as you perspire (and perspire you will), be sure to drink. As you lose water to dehydration, your body temperature rises, so replacing fluids is essential to keeping cool. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine, or lots of sugar, which are dehydrating.Credits to realsimple.com and Amber Merton
There's a better way 