How to Avoid the Summer Heat Without Air Conditioning

Are you suffering from the heat? How to feel comfortable or sleep while sweating and hot is not easy. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, don’t despair! There are a few tips that can help you stay cool outdoors or indoors without air conditioning. Maybe you want to buy some fans, but you can try most of the following tips without spending a dime.

Table of Contents

Put a wet towel on your neck

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Wet a handkerchief, pandana towel, or clean cloth with cool water. Wrap a wet towel around your neck for instant relief from the heat. When the towel is dry, simply re-wet it and continue applying as needed! ^{[1] X Research Source}

Note that the towel can drip water down the back and wet the shirt a bit.

Splash cold water on your wrists

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Run cold water on both wrists for 1 minute. This will help cool the pulse points when you feel unbearably hot. Of course, you can’t let cool water run down your wrist all day, but you can get back to the faucet whenever you need to cool off the heat! ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you’re outdoors and there’s no running water around, try dipping your wrists in running water or pouring water over your wrists.

Wet your hair

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Dip your head into a stream of cool water to wet your hair. This will help you lower your body temperature. Repeat as often as needed to stay cool on a hot day without air conditioning! ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If you’re outdoors and happen to have a clean lake nearby, you can dip your head in water to wet your hair.

Spray cool water on your body

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Pour water into a spray bottle and spray it on your skin to quickly soothe the heat. Can’t go to the pool and need to cool down quickly? Fill a spray bottle with water and spray on exposed skin. If you want to be even cooler, you can stand in front of the fan. ^{[4] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

You can also use a misting fan. This handheld device runs on batteries, so you can take it anywhere. When you spray mist while fanning, the water on your skin will evaporate and give you an instant cooling sensation.

Make your own improvised air conditioner with a fan and ice

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Place a metal bowl of ice in front of the fan and face the room. Place the fan to blow directly into the bowl of ice water. This is a very easy way to create a cool breeze that cools your whole space. When the ice melts, you just need to change the bowl of ice water. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The glass bowl of ice also produces the same result. Plastic bowls will be less effective.
A less messy way is to fill the bottle ¾ full with water and put it in the freezer. Place a frozen water bottle in front of a fan instead of using an ice bowl. When the ice in the bottle melts, simply put the water bottle back in the freezer. Keep in mind that this may not be as effective as using a metal or glass ice bowl.

Cold shower

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Cold water helps lower the body’s internal temperature. If you’ve ever gone swimming on a hot summer day, you know how refreshing it feels to be in a pool. If you need to cool down at home, you can jump into the bathroom under the shower or take a cool bath. ^{[6] X Research Source} If the heat makes it hard to sleep, take a shower right before bed.

You do not have access to a shower or bath? Does not matter! Dip a clean washcloth in cold water, then place it on your face, arms, and nape for instant cooling.

Close windows and blinds during the day

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Blocks the sun’s rays so your home doesn’t absorb extra heat. As soon as the outside temperature rises, close the windows and lower the blinds. If there are curtains, you should also close them. The room is dark but still cool! ^{[7] X Research Sources}

For even better protection, you can buy insulating film and stick it on the window glass. The film will reflect the sun’s rays and help keep the room cooler.

Open windows at night

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Let the cool air in to dispel the stuffy air in the house. Take advantage of cooler night air by opening windows as soon as the outside temperature drops. Open all openable windows for better air circulation. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If you don’t want to open the window while sleeping, you can close it right before bed and open it early the next morning when the outdoor temperature has not yet risen.

Use cool bed sheets

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Use bed sheets made of materials such as silk, satin or cotton. It’s hard to sleep when it’s hot! If you’re using felt or ppyester bed sheets, switch to a more breathable fabric. Remove sheets or thick blankets from the bed and just lie on the sheets to cool off. ^{[9] X Research Source}

You’ve probably heard somewhere that wetting your sheets with cold water before bed is not a good idea, as sheets will also warm up quickly, and moisture can cause mold. .

Move the mattress to the floor

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Sleeping on the floor will be cooler. Because hot air rises, you should consider placing the mattress on the floor, where the temperature is slightly cooler. If your home has a basement, you can also sleep down there in a sleeping bag on particularly hot nights. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If you have a hammock in your house, try lying in a hammock! The air will circulate better through the hammock and you will also fall asleep easier.

Use a box fan or a ceiling fan

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Bring cool air into the room and push hot air out. If you have a ceiling fan, turn the fan counterclockwise to bring cool air up from the floor. Want to use a box fan? Open a window and place a fan on an outside window. This will draw out the hot air in the room instead of just helping the air to circulate. ^{[11] X Research Source}

If you have a fireplace chimney in your home, open the chimney at night to let hot air out and cool air in.
If there is a fan in the attic, you should open the window and turn on the fan so that it sucks hot air out of the house.

Wear light, loose-fitting clothes

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Light-colored clothing made of natural fibers will help evaporate perspiration and keep you cool. Now is the time to swap synthetic fabrics like ppyester for lightweight and breathable fabrics with natural materials like cotton, linen or silk. Natural fibers are breathable so you won’t feel suffocated as heat is trapped close to your skin. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If you do go outside, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and don’t forget to apply sunscreen!
You should also avoid wearing dark colored clothing. Dark fabrics will absorb heat from the sun making you hotter than wearing white clothes.
Don’t wear shoes and socks. Instead, choose sandals or go barefoot.

Drink water throughout the day

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Keep water or sports water handy to drink to replace lost fluids. When it’s hot, our bodies have to work harder to cool down – you’ll probably notice you’re sweating more, too. You can prevent dehydration by sipping water throughout the day – not just waiting until thirsty to drink. ^{[13] X Research Source} Cold drinks also help you feel cooler.

If you have a job that requires a lot of movement or exercise in the heat, you should drink sports drinks to replace the sodium, chloride and potassium lost through sweat.
Cocktails may seem cool at first glance, but you need to avoid alcohol. It actually makes you more dehydrated. Have an iced tea, flavored marinade or a non-alcoholic beverage like a mocktail!

Stock up on cool snacks

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Choose popsicles, chilled fruit, smoothies or ice cream to cool off. The food in the fridge or freezer will keep you cool but also delicious! Try to choose something light and cool like ice cream or chilled watermelon. These are also fluids that hydrate the body. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If you want an interesting snack, wash fresh grapes and put them in the freezer. Pop a frozen grape in your mouth every time you need something cool. You can also enjoy other frozen berries, but they can get your hands dirty.
If you want to make your own popsicles, freeze your favorite juice or smoothie in small cups with popsicles attached.

Advice

Don’t forget to turn off all heat-generating appliances such as lights, ovens or stoves, as well as energy-sucking electronics.
Find out if there are cooling centers open to the public in the community during the heat wave. You can go to public places like the library, school or community center to cool off.
If your garage is located under an indoor area, leave your car outside to cool before you park it.
Turn off the fan when leaving the room, as the heat generated by the motor can heat the air in the room.

Warning

Babies, young children, pregnant women, and the elderly are prone to overheating. Remember to keep an eye out for high-risk family members, co-workers, and neighbors.
If you have a high fever, confusion, nausea or vomiting, a fast pulse or breathing, a headache, or fainting, call 911 right away. All of the above symptoms are signs of heat stroke. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Steps