Dealing with a Heatwave

[Jules]

Any hints?

- Wrap a frozen gel pack, the kind for keeping food cold, in towels and take to bed with you.

- Spray your sheets lightly with water, just before going to bed. Keep a spray bottle handy for the middle of the night.

- If you have a basement, close the windows and run your furnace fan. It really does help; we’ve been doing that in the middle of the day.

- Sleep in your RV, if it has AC

 

[Gaer]

I take several icy showers per day, when it's hot.
You know what? It's cold shower time, right now!
Oh, I do use a spray bottle with cold water when I sleep.

 

[hollydolly]

I was going to book a hotel room for the first 2 days of next week when we're predicted to have temps of 112 deg f ..all of them have AC.. but they're all booked up, or far too expensive

I'm fine during the day using fans.. going outside.. all windows open.. but night is horrible.. It's almost midnight here , and it's 92 in my bedroom...

 

[Tom52]

Do not know where you are located, or what you consider a heat wave but I assume you do not have air conditioning?

We utilize ceiling fans in most rooms, especially in the bedroom at night. If you do have a basement it is normally cooler, and a bit more comfortable if you run a dehumidifier down there.

 

[Patricia]

I was going to book a hotel room for the first 2 days of next week when we're predicted to have temps of 112 deg f ..all of them have AC.. but they're all booked up, or far too expensive

I'm fine during the day using fans.. going outside.. all windows open.. but night is horrible.. It's almost midnight here , and it's 92 in my bedroom...

I would buy a big box fan.

 

[RadishRose]

I was going to book a hotel room for the first 2 days of next week when we're predicted to have temps of 112 deg f ..all of them have AC.. but they're all booked up, or far too expensive

I'm fine during the day using fans.. going outside.. all windows open.. but night is horrible.. It's almost midnight here , and it's 92 in my bedroom...

If your bedroom is upstairs HD, try sleeping downstairs on the couch. Good luck.

 

[chic]

Stay hydrated. Drinks lots of nonalcoholic liquids. Sleep with the AC on. Use an ice bag for your head or an ice towel for your neck to keep cool.

 

[hollydolly]

If your bedroom is upstairs HD, try sleeping downstairs on the couch. Good luck.

yes I was thinking of doing that...

 

[Patricia]

I was going to book a hotel room for the first 2 days of next week when we're predicted to have temps of 112 deg f ..all of them have AC.. but they're all booked up, or far too expensive

I'm fine during the day using fans.. going outside.. all windows open.. but night is horrible.. It's almost midnight here , and it's 92 in my bedroom...

HD if you have a window that will open maybe there is a way to install a window air unit. Don't worry about thinking it's ugly if you can buy one for a reasonable price. To think of ugly is to compare if you would rather walk ten miles than drive it in an ugly car?

 

[hollydolly]

HD if you have a window that will open maybe there is a way to install a window air unit. Don't worry about thinking it's ugly, you can buy one for a reasonable price. To think of ugly is to compare if you would rather walk ten miles than drive it in an ugly car?

Patricia.. we cannot buy them here for a reasonable price...to fit the windows I have. AC is verrrry expensive to buy and have installed in private homes here

I don't have to have anything that looks ugly in my house just for the sake of a little bit of cooling.. when I already have very good fans... so if I was going to install AC..which is extortionately expensive here.. I would buy the reverse air system that I have at my other home in Spain.., and have it properly mounted in the ceiling and walls ..NOT in a window..

 

[MarkinPhx]

Drink plenty of water, even when you are not thirsty.

Consider wearing a long sleeved top when you do have to go outdoors. This may sound crazy but not only will it protect you from the sun but it will help keep you cooler with condensation. I never knew this until I once asked a landscaper why he was wearing a long sleeved cotton shirt in 105F heat.

 

[bingo]

spray bottle with green alcohol...mix with water...menthol cools....so does listerine mouthwash. ...mix with water

 

[MickaC]

I was going to book a hotel room for the first 2 days of next week when we're predicted to have temps of 112 deg f ..all of them have AC.. but they're all booked up, or far too expensive

I'm fine during the day using fans.. going outside.. all windows open.. but night is horrible.. It's almost midnight here , and it's 92 in my bedroom...

When it’s hot like this…..I never open the windows….you’re just letting hot air in…..windows shut, blinds pulled down.
This is the first place I’ve had central AC.
Even with AC, windows shut….obviously….blinds pulled.
If it cools off at nite, I will open the windows.
I’ve never had the AC going at nite….house is cool enough by bed time, and stays cool for the nite.

 

[Bella]

Strip down and wear as little clothing as possible, or just be naked. Put some water (no alcohol, it'll dry your skin) in a spray bottle and spray your face and body lightly while standing in front of the fan. Put some damp towels in your fridge or freezer. If you put them in the freezer, don't let them get stiff, and put them around your neck and across your body. Change them out when the coolness wears off.

Yes, RadishRose is right. Get out of the bedroom and go downstairs where there are more windows and air circulating.

Or...



Bella

 

[Blessed]

Are they opening any public spaces to cool of in? We have cooling stations here, some of the churches even set up cots for people to stay the night. Do you have any family or friends that have AC that you could stay with at night?

 

[hollydolly]

When it’s hot like this…..I never open the windows….you’re just letting hot air in…..windows shut, blinds pulled down.
This is the first place I’ve had central AC.
Even with AC, windows shut….obviously….blinds pulled.
If it cools off at nite, I will open the windows.
I’ve never had the AC going at nite….house is cool enough by bed time, and stays cool for the nite.

I have the blinds pulled down ( venetians).. and the windows open to let the cooler breeze in from the tree out front and rear... otherwise it would be stifling in here..

 

[hollydolly]

Strip down and wear as little clothing as possible, or just be naked. Put some water (no alcohol, it'll dry your skin) in a spray bottle and spray your face and body lightly while standing in front of the fan. Put some damp towels in your fridge or freezer. If you put them in the freezer, don't let them get stiff, and put them around your neck and across your body. Change them out when the coolness wears off.

Yes, RadishRose is right. Get out of the bedroom and go downstairs where there are more windows and air circulating.

Or...


Bella

there isn't any more windows downstairs than upstairs in my house.. .. but it wasn't me asking the question how to stay cool, ... the OP is @Jules

 

[Bella]

there isn't any more windows downstairs than upstairs in my house.. .. but it wasn't me asking the question how to stay cool, ... the OP is @Jules

My reply applies to anyone who's sweating it out, including you, you hot thing.

 

[RadishRose]

Downstairs is always a bit cooler than upstairs heat rises, coolness sinks.

 

[carouselsilver]

spray bottle with green alcohol...mix with water...menthol cools....so does listerine mouthwash. ...mix with water

Good idea! I use a bit of essential peppermint oil in a spritz bottle of water.

 

[carouselsilver]

Downstairs is always a bit cooler than upstairs heat rises, coolness sinks.

I am always amazed at how much cooler the house is on the first floor when I first get up. While the bedroom gets very warm; I am sweating even with the A/C at meat locker temps, lol.

 

[Capt Lightning]

The weather forecast for this area is rarely accurate, but if it was, the hottest we might see is around 75 to 80 F. on Tuesday.
We might get up to about 65 F today which is considered a warm day here.

 

[Patricia]

Patricia.. we cannot buy them here for a reasonable price...to fit the windows I have. AC is verrrry expensive to buy and have installed in private homes here

I don't have to have anything that looks ugly in my house just for the sake of a little bit of cooling.. when I already have very good fans... so if I was going to install AC..which is extortionately expensive here.. I would buy the reverse air system that I have at my other home in Spain.., and have it properly mounted in the ceiling and walls ..NOT in a window..

Patricia.. we cannot buy them here for a reasonable price...to fit the windows I have. AC is verrrry expensive to buy and have installed in private homes here

I don't have to have anything that looks ugly in my house just for the sake of a little bit of cooling.. when I already have very good fans... so if I was going to install AC..which is extortionately expensive here.. I would buy the reverse air system that I have at my other home in Spain.., and have it properly mounted in the ceiling and walls ..NOT in a window..

HollyDolly you and I agree that you know what is best for your house. In my area, most people have a central air unit, but many have an additional window unit. I don't have the best understanding of London weather, or air choices.

 

[Wren]

Strip down and wear as little clothing as possible, or just be naked. Put some water (no alcohol, it'll dry your skin) in a spray bottle and spray your face and body lightly while standing in front of the fan. Put some damp towels in your fridge or freezer. If you put them in the freezer, don't let them get stiff, and put them around your neck and across your body. Change them out when the coolness wears off.
Bella

Absolutely, I cannot believe the amount of clothes people are wearing, then with sweat dripping down their face complain about the heat !

How anybody can wear jeans and tee shirts is beyond me, I wear as little as possible, light cotton dresses if I’m going out, sarongs (or less) at home, get your kit off !!

 

[win231]

I have a fan pointed at the ceiling set on "oscillate." When it's hot, any moving air cools you, especially if you're perspiring.