If you’re looking for ways to cool off when the weather heats up that won’t end up adding to the problem of global warming, then keep reading for 5 eco-friendly ways to stay cool during a heatwave.
1. Keep your windows closed
When the weather heats up it feels like the obvious thing to do is open up all the windows in the house to let air blow through. But actually what we should be doing is keeping the windows and curtains closed in the heat of the day.
In a heatwave the air outside is generally warmer than the air inside. And the last thing you want to do is bring that warmer air into the house.
So keep things closed until after the sun has gone down and the air temperature has dropped a bit, then open up your windows to pull that breeze through the house.
2. Choose your clothes carefully
The clothes you wear can make a big difference to how you feel during a heatwave.
Try and stick to light weight, loose fitting clothes – ideally in a light colour. And fabrics made with natural fibres like cotton and linen are better than man-made fabrics.
If the hot weather makes you sweat a lot and you’re worried about how to stop armpit sweat marks on your clothes, then stick to loose fitting tops and patterned fabrics, or try tops that are specifically designed to absorb sweat.
3. Stay hydrated
Drinking enough fluids is essential for coping with the hot weather in the summer.
So keep things eco-friendly and carry a reusable water bottle with you when you go out so you can stay hydrated without having to buy single use plastic bottles.
Lots of businesses will refill water bottles for you for free. You can search for places near you that will do it on the Refill website and app. Or you can just pop into your local cafe and ask!
Another great tip for keeping cool and hydrated is to half-fill your bottle with water the night before and freeze it so it stays cool the next day.
Related – 7 eco-friendly items that are perfect for busy families
4. Adjust your routine
If you can, change your routine around to avoid doing anything strenuous or outside in the heat of the day.
Think about how places like Spain and France structure their days with siestas and later dinner times and see how you can do something similar during a heatwave.
5. Cool your pulse points
If you don’t want to use lots of water having a cool bath or shower, try cooling off by putting cool compresses on your body’s pulse points.
These are parts of your body where your blood runs close to the skin, like your wrists, inner thighs, insides of elbows, and neck.
You could try putting a damp tea towel in the fridge for a bit and then draping it round your neck to cool off during the day.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post
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