Keeping Cool Tips! Let’s swap?

Nothing really - just the bedroom windows cracked an inch or two open. I admit I’m starting off sleeping on top of my duvet though, which is only a 2.5 coverless one, so I can hop under it after a toilet break if I’m a bit chilly. I think I’m more ‘laid back’ in this weather, although my hair and nails seem to be growing faster.

If it’s still 29 degrees upstairs I am going to take my pillow, duvet & sleep in the pergola tonight.

My neighbour put her hot water bottle in the freezer 🥶 she said it was brilliant to keep cool.

Been paddling in the sea for the last hour. Fabulous.

LtEve

Hot water bottles half filled with water and frozen. Cool feet make a huge difference at night.

I was just going to say that! It has been a lifesaver.

Also hang a wrung-out sheet from the curtain rail for the night. The evaporation will cool the bedroom.

I fill a (metal) plant spray bottle with just plain water and set it to a fine mist, squirt on face neck and arms frequently and dab with a small towel. Cold showers and cold drinks don't help me - I find they cause me to heat up more. Here in Germany we of course have shutters which darken every room so we have them down during the day and open everything up early in the morning for a bit. The house is a bearable 23° most of the time.

Funnily enough, I find I'm sleeping through because I don't have to wee so much.

If possible, I force myself to start any housework early - 6 or 7 - because there is no hope of getting anything done after 10:30.

I’ve just bought a ‘neck fan’ from John Lewis.
It’s very light, hangs round your neck and blows cool air round neck and face. Hands free!
£15 with USB charger

Rather obvious, but keep the windows shut and curtains closed on the sunny side of the house, and open those on the shady side. A wet sheet hung over the window opening cools incoming air. As the sun moves to cook other areas, adjust what is open, wht is closed. Hot air rises, so have a window open on an upper floor for the heat to go out of. Close bedroom windows during the (hot) day, and open them at (not quite as hot) night.

I read somewhere today that freezing hot water bottles can cause the rubber to perish, so bottles that have been frozen shouldn't then be used for hot water. I assume the degradation is slow, but could cause a nasty accident sometime over the Winter when the bottle is full of hot water. Someone said they have a 'cold' bottle and a 'hot' bottle.

If you are able to go out and about....

big supermarkets are actually nice and cool

I went to my gym just as I had a haircut booked in the little salon they have. 11am after an early tepid shower so hot. I did think for a moment I would do anything but....

I walked in a blast of aircon hit me ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

so I stayed there several hours - swim pool for some to cool, the cafe, lie down on the mats for a rest...yes and cool enough for exercise...

Hot water bottles half filled with water and frozen. Cool feet make a huge difference at night.

midgey

A little nap works wonders!

It does!

I had to go out in the heat this morning so I put a couple of ice packs into a small insulated lunch bag. Into the bag, between the ice packs, I also put two face flannels, soaked with cold water and wrung out, in a plastic bag. Every ten minutes or so I took a flannel out and wiped my face, neck and arms , it worked very well and stayed cold all morning.

I alao have the special cooling towels wet round my neck .

I wear an old cotton MS summer dress. Sleeveless and I go commando. And spray the dress with a plant mister.

I am drinking a cold Guinness.

A tepid bath before bed.

During the day I have pint mugs of cold milky tea or cold milkycoffee.

Egg mayo sandwiches or tuna mayo sandwiches with lots of cucumber, lettuce and cress. And crisps for the salt.

It has worked today.

A little nap works wonders!

Apols typos. It's the heat

Here is an obvious one but I realise some people dont seem to take it on.....but only sleep in 100% cotton shets and pillpw cases...not percale (or easy iron!) And only wear 100% cotton...it absolutely makes a difference. X

Have cubes of water melon handy in the fridge. They’re so refreshing at any time of the day.

Here's a tip from a gullible old fool so feel free to ignore it... I've been playing 'White Noise of River and Rain Sounds for Sleeping' on YouTube. All in the mind, I'm well aware but the sound of running water makes me feel a few degrees cooler. Probably best not to operate machinery if you play it, in case you drop off e.g. in the middle of hoovering

Just found something else - by trial and error.
Freeze Gel for arthritic joints - well watered down the dregs of an empty tube, covered myself neck to ankles (20 mins ago) - instant cooling all over, still tinglingly cold everywhere now.
This will be my go-to solution now.

Great suggestions! Keep ‘em coming.

I’m going to try putting the neck thing I have for the microwave in the fridge and see what happens!

I forgot to add get your feet up!

Mollygo

The button of my trouser legs got soaked by dew this morning when I walked the dog around 7:30am.
I’m not sure I’d recommend it but with cool ankles, I was beautifully cool until they dried out.

DH takes out spaniel out just before 6:00am every day, he wore shorts this morning and said how lovely it was!

grumppa cheers/slainte.

Put feet in a bowl of cool water (not fridge cold) and keep it cool ...sit for hours.

As others have said on other threads, fill hot water bottle a third with water, stick in freezer and take to bed.

Keep all curtsins and windows closed until its cooler outside than inside.

Don't move unnecessarily , it generates heat.

Have a bowl of ice cubes nearby to dip fingers into and dab onto wrists, behind neck and ears.

Buy a big bag of ice cubes and hug them.

If seiously overheating, open fridge and stick head inside. Or pull up chair and pop feet inside.

Have a tepid shower and stand in front if fan.

Plan for the next heatwave with everything you wish you'd done for this one! (Note to self) xx

I've put our table top fan on the floor, opposite the sofa.
It's moving the air very efficiently and is far more effective than when it's been positioned higher up.