Keeping cool in the summer: tips and recommendations

[TheFirstOHN]

Every winter, there's a thread with tips and recommendations for how to keep warm and comfortable in the winter. I'd love to do a similar thing for how to keep cool and comfortable in the summer.

I can recommend the following:

A vacuum insulated water bottle (e.g. Chilly's, although mine is a nonbranded one that works perfectly). If filled with chilled water in the morning, it keeps the water cold all day.

Lush dusting powder for the underboob area or anywhere else that might get sweaty.

A gel cool pack in a fabric pouch, which I keep in the freezer and then take to bed to use on my feet (like the opposite of a hot water bottle). I've had this for 20 years and can't remember where I got it from.

Beconase nose spray for preventing inflammation from hayfever (I used to get this on prescription but now buy it over the counter from the pharmacy).

Sodium cromoglicate eye drops for relieving itchy eyes from hayfever (again, I used to get this on prescription and now buy it over the counter from pharmacy).

Does anyone else have any recommendations to share?

Bump

I heard other year to open up loft hatch to let heat rise up and keep downstairs cool? Maybe it's a load of bullshit 😁

I sleep on a cold wet towel and have one on top of me when it's super hot. Also try wet flannels in the freezer, then take to bed to cool down face, arms etc.

I cover up in warm weather. Natural fabric - linen, cotton, bamboo or silk as long as it's loose & floaty. A lot of the feeling of heat on the skin is the effect of the sun's radiation, so reducing that is helpful. Always wear a hat with a big brim in summer. TBH unless it's cold enough to need a warm hat, I wear a baseball type cap to protect my face a bit.

Lots of cold water.

A fan - folding type, better & cheaper than an electric one. Also, stylish. I have a massive Japanese style one in a case to protect it in my bag.

Walk on the shady side of the street.

Loose clothes, that cover a decent amount of skin.
Slow down.
Take breaks, ideally inside or in the shade.
Use early morning and late evening to do stuff where possible.

Source: desert living. Will expect to see 48C temperatures this summer. Get heat warnings above this point.

nutellanom that sounds very cooling - how do you stop the mattress getting all damp?

Don’t wear clothes that are clingy or too tight. Natural fabrics.

Magicool if you really suffer with the heat. It’s great to spray inside a hot car.

Keep curtains closed!
Other than that, I’m a hot creature and love the warm weather, can sleep okay in the heat etc but closing curtains/blinds does help keep the house cool.

We keep the upstairs blinds and curtains closed but the windows open, otherwise it's like a sauna at bed time. Freeze big bottles of water and stand them in front of a fan- otherwise the fan just tends to circulate hot air. I sometimes sleep with a wet flannel on my forehead or the back of my neck, and have been known to sleep under a damp towel too.

This summer will be tough, we have kittens that will climb out of an open window so they'll all need to be kept on the latches 😩

Having a cool shower before bed and leaving your hair wet.

My tip would be to run wrists under cold water to cool down.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep a tiny baby cool (but not too cool!) in the summer?

I keep damp muslins/flannels rolled up in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Great for putting on arms etc that have caught the sun, feet that are too hot, a cooling wipe down after a run etc.

Freeze bottles of water the night before so you have coolish water at work/ school as it melts during the day. Also keeps your lunch cold.

Keep curtains closed upstairs, but windows open if possible.

Makeshift aircon by putting a tub of ice in front of a desktop Dan. Ice can also be used at the same time to keep drinks cool.