Hot Summer Days Inside: 7 Tips for Parents
Summer is right around the corner, and so are the hot, humid days that come along with it. While these conditions make being outside incredibly uncomfortable, they may also make outdoor activities unsafe.
An increasing amount of air pollution, paired with summer heat, can cause dangerous levels of ground-level ozone. Even low levels of exposure to ozone can cause some serious health problems. Plus, the heat itself can cause hydration, burns and sun allergies.
Therefore, if it’s too hot to safely play outside, you’ll have to spend the day inside. Here are a few ways you can stay cool indoors while you wait for outside temperatures to decrease.
1. Run Ceiling Fans Counterclockwise
If your air conditioning isn’t working or you’re simply trying to save money by turning off your system, running your ceiling fans can help keep your house cool.
Be sure to set yours to spin counterclockwise to create a wind current that moves down and out. This way, the blades will redistribute the cooler air near the floor up to a level where you can feel it cooling you.
2. Wear Cotton
Heat-proofing your wardrobe can also help you stay cool indoors. Opt to wear breathable, lightweight fabrics like cotton and linen.
These materials offer premium air circulation so your skin can appreciate that fan blowing on you. Cotton is also great if you or your kids have sunburns as the fabric is soft and gentle on irritated skin.
3. Take a Cold Shower
If you’re unable to cool off with clothes on, take them off! Strip down and hop in the shower. Turn the water temperature all the way down and let the cold water wash over you for as long as you can stand it.
Taking a cold bath or shower will help lower your body temperature for a while, preventing you from sweating and overheating.
4. Cook Outside
Using your oven or stovetop during the summer will only make your home hotter. Therefore, it’s best to take your cooking outside to the grill.
While it may be hot outside, cooking on the patio or deck will prevent indoor temperatures from rising, allowing you to eat in more comfortable temperatures, even if you do break a sweat making the food.
5. Snack on Chilly Foods
Moreover, eating hot foods can cause you to feel physically warm, which is why you enjoy soups and hot cocoa in the winter. Thus, you might skip cooking altogether and prepare some simple, chilled dishes during the hottest days of summer.
Think fruits, salads, deli sandwiches and popsicles or smoothies. Additionally, continue to sip on ice water to stay hydrated and cool off throughout the day.
6. Draw the Blinds
You may have heard that drawing blinds during the winter can help your home stay warm. However, blinds and curtains are even more effective in keeping your home cool in the summer.
Close them completely to block out the sun’s hot rays or leave them slightly open for a bit of ambient light in rooms you frequent throughout the day. A light-colored ceiling will also help reflect light when blinds are closed.
7. Play in the Basement
Your basement is the coolest area of your home. The dirt surrounding the lower level of your home is a great insulator, keeping it cold even during the hottest months and heat rises, leaving the coolest air to settle in your basement.
If you can’t beat the heat on your home’s main level, head to the basement. Bring your kids, too and spend the day playing board games, dress-up and pirates.
If you simply can’t stand staying inside all day and the kids are driving you crazy, try to get outside in the mornings and evenings when the temperature is lower. Get up to watch the sunrise, spend an hour or so in the garden or take an early morning walk at the park with your kids. In the evenings, build a campfire and roast smores or go for a jog as a family.
Just a few hours outside each day can make your time indoors more bearable. Plus, it’ll help your kids release all that pent-up energy and hopefully make your days inside a bit less chaotic.
About The Author
Dylan Bartlett writes about a variety of topics on his site, Just a Regular Guide. Check it out for more info on home improvement, DIY projects and remodeling apps. Follow him on Twitter @theregularguide for frequent updates!