When we think of summer, we always think first of picnics, days at the beach, vacations, lying in a hammock, chilled drinks and ice cream. But the summer heat also has a nasty side. We are talking about the dog days, when extreme heat and humidity make it impossible for us to enjoy them, let alone get quality sleep at night. That is why we have collected simple tricks that will help you survive hot summer nights without air conditioning.
The obvious answer to the heat that eats up our sleep is today air conditioning. It creates a pleasant temperature in the room and white noise that lulls us to sleep like the pattering of rain on the roof. But on the other hand, it eats heavily into our budget, and it's not on top of it either an environmentally friendly solution.
Spending the summer without air conditioning seems impossible these days, but if our grandmothers and grandfathers managed to do it every summer, there's no way we can't either. Before the appearance of the climate, they learned quite a few tricks with which they made their lives easier hot summer days and when the nights were also hellishly hot. Some of the best tricks to help us survive the hot summer nights without air conditioning, find out below.
What's the easiest way to spend hot summer nights if you don't have air conditioning?
Choose cotton bedding.
Save satin, silk and synthetic bedding for colder days. Rather, choose cotton, which breathes and, like bamboo, is sufficiently breathable.
Put the sheets in the refrigerator.
Before going to bed, put the sheets in the fridge for a few minutes, but we recommend wrapping them in some kind of plastic beforehand, unless you want them to smell like the fridge.
Be creative.
If you think that fans only create circulation of warm air, you are wrong. Point them towards the window to push it out. If you also have ceiling fans, they should rotate counter-clockwise to draw warm air up and send it out so it doesn't just circulate around the room.
Sleep like the Egyptians.
The Egyptian method of sleeping involves moistening a sheet or towel and using it as a blanket.
Wear as little as possible.
Less is more. In this case, more cold. Or is it? If you have to wear something, it should not be anything tight and should be made of cotton. But if you think nudity is the best solution, you might have to bite your tongue. In nudist sleep, sweat remains on the body instead of being absorbed by the fabric. Now judge for yourself which is better.
Don't sleep with two people.
We apologize to all lovers of snuggling, but on hot summer nights it is better to sleep alone or separately. Compression raises body temperature, and the sheet quickly becomes sticky.
Go back in time to when there was no air conditioning.
Make an improvised air conditioner. You need a room fan and ice cubes. Place these on a shallow plate or dish and place them in front of the fan. The melting will create a coolness that the fan will spread around, cooling you with a cool breeze.
Unleash your inner Tarzan.
Instead of a bed, spend the night in a sleeping net, which is much more breathable.
Hydrate yourself.
Drink a glass of water before going to bed. Tossing and turning and sweating in bed can cause dehydration, so stay hydrated in the interim. One deciliter will do, unless you don't want night trips to the bathroom.
Take a shower.
Take a shower before going to bed, as this will drastically lower your body temperature, and you will go to bed pleasantly chilled.
Sleep as close to the floor as possible.
Due to its lower density, warm air rises towards the ceiling, so choose a bed that is as close to the floor as possible. In a one-story apartment, this means that you move the yoga mat to the floor, and in a multi-story apartment, you sleep on the ground floor or even in the basement.
Cool your feet.
Before going to bed, soak your feet in a basin of cold water. Better yet, keep a basin near your bed and dip your feet in it whenever you get too hot.
