Cooling your house

As the hottest months of the year approach, we can look ahead to lots of upcoming warmth.

But that’s not to say that the heat doesn’t present some challenges. When it comes to winding down in the evenings, it can be difficult to relax when the temperature doesn’t feel like it’s dropping. So here are some of our best ways to cool your home this Summer.

REPURPOSE APPLIANCES

When it comes to appliances designed for cooling someone down, a fan can prove to be man’s best friend. But often, when the weather becomes too hot, fans can be counter-productive, and end up recycling hot air. To avoid this, try strategically pointing your fan towards open windows, so that hot air can be pushed out of a room. And if you have a ceiling fan, setting it to anti-clockwise can also help to remove the hot air. Another idea is to place a dish with ice in front of a fan. This DIY air-conditioning trick will create a cool mist as the ice evaporates, resulting in lower temperatures, and is ideal for any time of the day.

Another inventive DIY trick is to repurpose a hot water bottle. It is widely known that hot water bottles are the perfect way to warm your bed up on a cold winter’s night. So surely the same method can be applied to summer, when the process is reversed? So fill your bottle with cold water, and place it in the freezer before you go to bed. Or if you haven’t got a hot water bottle, you can grab any bottle that can hold a liquid and give this a go. This will give you a homemade ice-pack, which will keep you cool all night long.

ADJUST YOUR BEDDING

If you fancy getting some new bed sheets in the coming months, then summer is the perfect excuse to replace your heavier, winter sheets, with lightweight cotton ones. And opting for cotton sheets which are also of a light colour, results in a more breathable fabric, and will help to give you a better night’s sleep. And if this still isn’t working for you, then try to bring the temperature of the sheets down.

THE COOL-PROOF GUIDE TO BRINGING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN IN YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER

Another inventive DIY trick is to repurpose a hot water bottle. So fill your bottle with cold water, and place it in the freezer before you go to bed.

Many people will recommend lying on a damp towel, or sprinkling water over your sheets, in order to cool your bed down. This may work, but will also result in a long-lasting wetness, which no one wants. Instead, pop your sheets in the freezer for a few minutes before bedtime. As well as giving them an icy freshness before you sleep, it won’t make your bedding as wet as applying water would. Just make sure to put your sheets in a bag first, so that they don’t come out smelling of frozen food!

AVOID STEAM

One thing that few people think about is focussing on avoiding activities which increase the heat around a home. In particular, there are two key areas which you can address in order to reduce heat. Firstly, think about your cooking. One of the biggest sources of heat in any home is from preparing food in a kitchen. So why not try your hand at some dishes that don’t require the oven and hobs to be turned on, like salads. And if you do want to cook, consider utilising barbecues outside, to avoid excess steam hanging around. Secondly, reduce the temperature of your shower. By using warm, rather than hot water, this will not only reduce the amount of steam which is able to travel around your house, but will also leave you feeling much cooler, and therefore more relaxed in the hot weather.

GRAB A GADGET (AIR CON/COLD BLANKET)

If none of these DIY tricks are working for you, then there is always the option of buying some tech, which is guaranteed to keep you cool. If you’re on the hunt for a new air conditioner, then take a look at an air purifier. For example, the Dyson Pure Cool Tower Advanced Technology Air Purifier Fan will help to keep you cool day and night. The great thing about this fan is its quietness, even when on a powerful setting, so this is ideal for anyone who struggles to sleep during hot nights. Or, if you fancy a cheaper option, then get yourself a cooling blanket. These blankets absorb sweat from your body, to keep you cool all night long. They’re also machine washable, meaning that you can use it throughout the summer, and it won’t lose its freshness.