The Heat is On
I recently moved back to my parents’ house, where I’ll be for another month until I move to Alabama. In all three places, summer can be brutal. As my home is not air conditioned, there is little respite from the humidity.
I’ve taken to finding some easy ways to stay cool. I often give myself “sponge baths” — a quick wipe-down of my arms and legs and face with a cool, wet towel. It works wonders. I’ve been staying in front of a fan pretty much at all times, drinking a lot of water, and sleeping under light sheets. I’m sure there are lots of other tricks, though, and I’d love to hear yours. After all, I’ll be moving to southern Alabama in the middle of August — I’ll need all the help I can get to stay cool!
A home-made AC:
1: Fill a 1 L bottle with water
2: Freeze
3: Fut it in a plate in front of a fan
4: Turn on the fan
In summer I like to keep my room very dark during the day. I never open the blinds when its hot.
I find corn starch under the breasts helps A LOT more than talc. If you legs rub together when you walk (for those of us who are not model size), A&D diaper ointment helps a lot.
Jane, you’ve gotten some great suggestions. Until recently I worked in a non-air conditioned building, which could get very hot in the summer. I kept a stock of baby powder, alcohol wipes, and paper towels in my desk. Throughout the day I would take my supply down to the bathroom and apply to any part of my body that felt overheated. It definitely helped.
I also agree with Missie, on the hottest days, skirts and sun dresses are definitely cooler than shorts.
I’ve been battling heat and humidity for a good portion of my life. What I’ve found that works includes the following:
Of course, dress as coolly as you can, in natural fibers as much as you can. Loose skirts and dresses are cooler than pants — even shorts!
As Kathy mentioned, be a wet head! It will make you feel so much more comfortable — until it dries; that’s when you dunk you head back under the faucet ;-)
Keep yourself hydrated with cool, preferably iced beverages (I think I’d curl up and die in the summer if i didn’t have a steady supply of iced tea with a twist of lemon).
Applying an ice pack or cold gel pack to pulse points — inside of the elbow, carotid (sp?) artery in the neck, bend in the knee — can help cool you down, but be careful — place a damp wash cloth between the ice pack and your skin to prevent harming your skin or chilling yourself down too fast.
Keep your favorite light body spray in the ‘fridge and spritz yourself down with the cool spray.
Dabbing yourself down with some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or witch hazel can help keep you cool, as well.
Baby powder is a Godsend in helping prevent heat rash.
If it’s really bad, you can keep yourself feeling cooled off with a long soak in a cool bath (presuming you don’t have access to a pool or other body of water).
During the hottest part of the day, hang out in a free but air-conditioned space, such as the mall (bring a book to keep yourself entertained!) or the library.
Gail- I didn’t even know those existed! i’ll have to look into those towels.
Kathy- that is definitely true. I feel way better after taking a shower and letting my hair air dry.
I cannot personally vouch for this but if the heat does get bad where I am this summer it’s what I’ll be trying http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-09-how-to-stay-cool-for-next-to-nothing
When it gets really bad I get my hair and shirt wet. That really helps.