How to Cool Down a Room
Sweltering in the summer heat but don't have air-con? Here are 15 quick tricks to keep you cool
When the mercury rises, homes without air-conditioning can get stuffy and uncomfortable, making it difficult to settle, eat or sleep. Try these heat hacks to stay cool and calm all summer long.
Make your own air-con
If you have a table-top fan, you can turn it into a DIY air-con unit by placing a bowl of iced water in front of it so the air skims over the ice and gets super cooled.
This is a good solution if children are struggling to sleep, or if you need to sit at a desk or table to work, as it can provide a concentrated stream of ‘iced’ air.
If you have a table-top fan, you can turn it into a DIY air-con unit by placing a bowl of iced water in front of it so the air skims over the ice and gets super cooled.
This is a good solution if children are struggling to sleep, or if you need to sit at a desk or table to work, as it can provide a concentrated stream of ‘iced’ air.
Freeze your pillowcase
A cool pillow is a real luxury on a hot summer’s evening. Super-chill yours by wrapping the pillow slip in clingfilm and putting it in the freezer before bed, then pop it back on just before you turn in for the night.
Sounds a bit odd, but it’ll provide icy relief on a muggy evening and the soothing effect should last long enough for you to drift off comfortably.
A cool pillow is a real luxury on a hot summer’s evening. Super-chill yours by wrapping the pillow slip in clingfilm and putting it in the freezer before bed, then pop it back on just before you turn in for the night.
Sounds a bit odd, but it’ll provide icy relief on a muggy evening and the soothing effect should last long enough for you to drift off comfortably.
Choose natural materials
Avoid synthetic materials, particularly in a bedroom, as they won’t allow your skin to breathe properly, so can increase body temperature, particularly in a warm bedroom.
Switch your bedding to cotton or linen instead, as natural materials can help regulate body heat and also wick away moisture from overheated skin.
Avoid synthetic materials, particularly in a bedroom, as they won’t allow your skin to breathe properly, so can increase body temperature, particularly in a warm bedroom.
Switch your bedding to cotton or linen instead, as natural materials can help regulate body heat and also wick away moisture from overheated skin.
Make an ice-water bottle
Take your hot-water bottle out of hibernation and give it a second lease of life by turning it into an ice pack to cool down a bed. Fill it with cold water, place it in the freezer, then pop it between the sheets just before you head to bed.
You can also freeze wheat or rice bags to create a portable ice pack to place on the back of the neck while working or relaxing.
Take your hot-water bottle out of hibernation and give it a second lease of life by turning it into an ice pack to cool down a bed. Fill it with cold water, place it in the freezer, then pop it between the sheets just before you head to bed.
You can also freeze wheat or rice bags to create a portable ice pack to place on the back of the neck while working or relaxing.
Turn off the lights
All lights emit heat, and some more than others. To avoid overheating a room in summer, make sure you keep all lights switched off whenever possible and install energy efficient lightbulbs to reduce the amount of energy given off as heat.
All lights emit heat, and some more than others. To avoid overheating a room in summer, make sure you keep all lights switched off whenever possible and install energy efficient lightbulbs to reduce the amount of energy given off as heat.
Limit shower times
Running even a moderately warm shower will immediately heat up a small bathroom, so keep showers short and cool on scorching days.
You can also fill the bath or sink with just a little bit of cool water, then add ice to create an ice bucket that’s handy for soaking cloths and towels to place on hot heads to bring down body temperature.
Read 10 quick ways to be more eco-friendly with water
Running even a moderately warm shower will immediately heat up a small bathroom, so keep showers short and cool on scorching days.
You can also fill the bath or sink with just a little bit of cool water, then add ice to create an ice bucket that’s handy for soaking cloths and towels to place on hot heads to bring down body temperature.
Read 10 quick ways to be more eco-friendly with water
Screen south-facing windows
Again, this might seem obvious but make sure all south-facing windows are screened during the day, with blinds or shutters tightly closed to filter out as much of the direct sunlight as possible.
If it’s a still day, keep the windows closed, too, but if there’s a breeze, then open the windows or doors behind to keep the air circulating.
Again, this might seem obvious but make sure all south-facing windows are screened during the day, with blinds or shutters tightly closed to filter out as much of the direct sunlight as possible.
If it’s a still day, keep the windows closed, too, but if there’s a breeze, then open the windows or doors behind to keep the air circulating.
Keep the air moving
The key to cooling down a stuffy interior is to increase the flow of air, so as soon as the temperature starts to drop in the evening, open doors and windows to encourage a cooling breeze to sweep through from the front to the back of the house. If the evening is very still, fans can help with this.
The key to cooling down a stuffy interior is to increase the flow of air, so as soon as the temperature starts to drop in the evening, open doors and windows to encourage a cooling breeze to sweep through from the front to the back of the house. If the evening is very still, fans can help with this.
Spritz clothes and linens with cold water
If you need to cool down fast, spritzing cotton clothes with cool water is one way to lower temperature at the hottest point of the day.
You can also bring the temperature of a room down by soaking a cotton sheet or lightweight towel in cold water and hanging it in a window to cool down the air as it flows through a room. Bear in mind, this will only work in dry heat.
If you need to cool down fast, spritzing cotton clothes with cool water is one way to lower temperature at the hottest point of the day.
You can also bring the temperature of a room down by soaking a cotton sheet or lightweight towel in cold water and hanging it in a window to cool down the air as it flows through a room. Bear in mind, this will only work in dry heat.
Don’t use the oven
And if you need an excuse to step away from the kitchen, this is it! It sounds obvious, but using your oven, grill or hob will increase the temperature of your home, and if you have an open-plan living and cooking area then the hot air from kitchen appliances will heat the entire space.
Use the hot weather as an excuse to light the barbecue instead or stick to salads on the hottest days.
And if you need an excuse to step away from the kitchen, this is it! It sounds obvious, but using your oven, grill or hob will increase the temperature of your home, and if you have an open-plan living and cooking area then the hot air from kitchen appliances will heat the entire space.
Use the hot weather as an excuse to light the barbecue instead or stick to salads on the hottest days.
Impose a tumble dryer ban
Running the washing machine and tumble dryer on a hot day is a sure-fire way to raise the temperature indoors.
Limit the number of times you use your washing machine on really hot days to prevent the temperature rising, and dry clothes on an airer or outdoor clothesline instead of using the dryer. The planet will thank you, too.
Running the washing machine and tumble dryer on a hot day is a sure-fire way to raise the temperature indoors.
Limit the number of times you use your washing machine on really hot days to prevent the temperature rising, and dry clothes on an airer or outdoor clothesline instead of using the dryer. The planet will thank you, too.
Screen a city balcony
If you live in a flat that gets uncomfortably hot in summer, try creating a sun screen using leafy bamboo. This will have the double benefit of cooling down the balcony and rooms beyond by blocking direct sunlight, as well as providing a privacy screen if you are overlooked.
Bamboo is a great choice for an urban space as it’s quick to grow, relatively easy to maintain and has a pleasing tendency to gently sway in the breeze and rustle reassuringly on a summer’s evening.
If you live in a flat that gets uncomfortably hot in summer, try creating a sun screen using leafy bamboo. This will have the double benefit of cooling down the balcony and rooms beyond by blocking direct sunlight, as well as providing a privacy screen if you are overlooked.
Bamboo is a great choice for an urban space as it’s quick to grow, relatively easy to maintain and has a pleasing tendency to gently sway in the breeze and rustle reassuringly on a summer’s evening.
Create a cool canopy
If you have a large glazed extension or living area that gets super heated in summer, an effective, stylish and eco-friendly way to cool it down is to plant a leafy green canopy outside. This will absorb the direct sunlight and gently filter it so you get soft, dappled light rather than glaring direct sun. Not only will this help to keep your living space cool, it will also help to clean the air and create a soothing vista to gaze upon from the comfort of your cool and shady living room.
This falls into the long-term category rather than a quick fix, but if you start to plant a green screen this summer, your future self will thank you.
Take a tour of this glass box extension surrounded by luscious ferns
If you have a large glazed extension or living area that gets super heated in summer, an effective, stylish and eco-friendly way to cool it down is to plant a leafy green canopy outside. This will absorb the direct sunlight and gently filter it so you get soft, dappled light rather than glaring direct sun. Not only will this help to keep your living space cool, it will also help to clean the air and create a soothing vista to gaze upon from the comfort of your cool and shady living room.
This falls into the long-term category rather than a quick fix, but if you start to plant a green screen this summer, your future self will thank you.
Take a tour of this glass box extension surrounded by luscious ferns
Deflect direct sunlight with a canopy
Another way to block the midday sun from beaming into your home, and prevent a room from overheating, is to place a canvas canopy or sail over any doors or windows that are in direct sunlight at the hottest part of the day. This will also double up as a shady outdoor spot to enjoy on a beautiful summer’s day.
Have you cooled down your home this summer? Let us know how in the Comments below.
Another way to block the midday sun from beaming into your home, and prevent a room from overheating, is to place a canvas canopy or sail over any doors or windows that are in direct sunlight at the hottest part of the day. This will also double up as a shady outdoor spot to enjoy on a beautiful summer’s day.
Have you cooled down your home this summer? Let us know how in the Comments below.
All electrical appliances emit heat, so switch off everything that you’re not using and make sure it’s unplugged at the wall, too. TVs and computers are the worst offenders, so ensure they’re all closed down.
Even if an appliance is on standby it can still emit heat, so unplug everything you can at the wall, including phone chargers, and use it as an opportunity to give yourself a tech break.