Chilling out

After a long and (in some parts of the country) very wet winter, we are all looking forward to bright sunny days. But we sometimes forget just how swelteringly hot it can get until it happens, so here are a few tips for keeping cool when the summer heat hits.

By the end of winter, most of us can’t wait for summer and an end to feeling cold. But then again, by the end of summer, we tend to look forward to a bit of relief from the heat. We’ve rounded up a number of fairly simple and mostly inexpensive ways to keep your cool this summer.

Cool your bed down

Let’s start with the bedrooms. There are many ways you can cool your bed down to ensure a cooler night’s sleep. First, take any electric blankets off the beds, as they add a lot of unnecessary heat. Then make sure your linen is cool and perfect for summer. The trick is to avoid satin and silk and opt for light coloured bedding, made from natural fabric. Light fabrics (like Egyptian cotton) with a high thread count are breathable, and much cooler to sleep in. If you’re hot-headed, a buckwheat pillow is probably your best option for the summer months. Because buckwheat hulls have naturally occurring air space between them, pillows made from buckwheat don’t retain heat like conventional pillows. As your covering, choose either a very lightweight duvet, or sleep under a big cotton sheet. These simple changes to your bed can make a huge difference to your night’s sleep!

In bedrooms that you aren’t using during the day, keep the curtains and windows closed, to avoid letting in too much sunlight and humidity. As soon as the temperature cools down in the early evening, open them again to allow a breeze to flow through while you sleep. On really hot evenings, consider a pedestal fan with a remote and timer, so you can set it to run for 30 minutes or so after you turn your light out, or to cool the room just before bedtime. 

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Use a “cold water bottle”. Your hot water bottle can be used as a cold-water bottle too. Simply half fill it with water and freeze. With its cover on, it can be placed at your feet or under your pillow to keep you nice and cool.

Hot house?

Just a few months ago, we were turning on heaters and lighting fires to keep us snug and warm inside the house; pretty soon, we’re going to be looking for ways to cool down.

Installing an air-conditioning unit, proper insulation and block-out blinds are some of the most effective ways of combating intense heat. Of course, they are also quite expensive, so you may want to use a combination of methods, including a few inexpensive ones, to keep your home cool this summer.

One trick is to add more greenery to the home. Plants act as natural air conditioners and generate moisture into the atmosphere through transpiration. Aloe vera, ferns, peace lily, ficus, bamboo palm, azalea and rubber plant are all great choices for cooling and detoxifying the air.

There are a huge variety of floor fans, which are efficient in terms of cooling and energy use. Some have both fan and humidifier functions, which can be used together or separately. The mister function uses ultrasonic vibration to atomise water into 1-5-micron particles, which can then be blown through the room with the fan, creating a lovely cooling sensation.

If you want to create a similar effect with a normal floor fan, place the fan so that it faces the area you want to cool down, and put an oven tray of ice just in front of it. A make-shift mister!

Planting large, shade-bearing trees outside of the windows of the rooms in which you spend the most time, or installing awnings over these windows, will help to prevent direct sunlight from streaming into your home. Always consider that whatever you do in your garden to bring the temperature down in summer, is likely to bring it down in winter too.

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Two things that can quickly add heat to the home are the tumble dryer and the oven. On very hot days, rather hang your washing out and light a fire.

In the garden

At the braai, shade is vital. If your entertainment area gets hit by direct, hot sunlight right in the middle of the afternoon braai, consider a shade sail or gazebo. Both are great options because they can be moved as needed over the course of summer. Another solution to hot afternoon social gatherings is an outdoor misting system. It’s fairly inexpensive, easy-to-install and portable. When attached to a hose, it sends out a soft, cool mist that instantly refreshes and cools the air down.

Two final tips for cooling your outdoor entertainment area. If possible and not too anti-social, it helps to have your braai a little bit away from the socialising and eating area, as it will send out a lot of heat. And finally, as with indoors, outdoor plants will add to the coolness - whether trees, shrubs or climbing plants, in the ground or in pots.

Be prepared for summer and any potential heat waves by getting your supplies ready. Think about which areas get the hottest and where you spend most of your time, and plan to make those areas as cool as they can be, whenever you need to. Whether it’s ice and a small fan you need, new linen for a cooler night’s sleep, or misters for your often-used braai area, one adjustment can make the world of difference.