— Seven Tricks for Staying Cool WITHOUT Air Conditioning —
Are things a little too hot in the bedroom? No, not like that. We’re talking about stifling air, sticky sheets, and sweat-soaked nights spent tossing and turning when summer temperatures start to soar. It’s impossible to relax or get the restful sleep you need when your bedroom feels like a sauna. But run your air conditioning around the clock, and you’ll send your electricity bill soaring. And what if you don’t have access to AC at all?
Don’t worry. It’s possible to save money and stay comfortable without AC, we promise! After all, our grandparents did it all the time. Check out these tried-and-true strategies for cooling down a room without air-conditioning and put a few into practice. You’ll sleep easier, make your grandparents proud, and save money while you’re at it.
Make the most of your fans
Fans are a lifesaver in the summer, but you may not be using them to their full potential. Make sure you’re maximizing your fan’s abilities with proper placement:
- Tower fans should be positioned within three feet of your bed for optimum cooling.
- If hot air has become trapped in your home and the indoors feels hotter than outdoors, you can situate a box fan in an open window. Be sure the fan is blowing OUTWARD to properly draw the warm air out of the room.
- Ceiling fans should be set to rotate counter-clockwise (when looking up), which creates a super cooling down-draft. Remember to set them clockwise in the winter to circulate the warm air that rises to the ceiling back down.
- A powerful circulator fan can really keep things breezy. The WOOZOO is a favorite because of its small size and quiet operation. Yet it’s fully capable of circulating up to 275 square feet of air!
- Need to cool a larger space? Position two circulator fans in adjacent corners and prepare to be amazed at the difference you feel.
Close off unused spaces
Don’t make those fans work overtime to cool spaces that aren’t being used. Shut closet and bathroom doors, and always remember to run your bathroom fan after a shower too, so that warm, damp air doesn’t linger.
Shut your blinds tight
Shut down the sun like you would a nosey neighbor. Keep your blinds closed tight to lessen the sun’s chance of creeping in and heating up your room. Add another layer of protection with thermal curtains designed to seriously block out light and heat.
Crack a window at night
Sure, we’ve just spent the last few paragraphs telling you to keep everything you can possibly close closed, but hear us out! When outdoor temperatures drop in the evening, crack a window, position a fan in or near the window, and drift off to sleep under the delicious cross breeze you’ve created.
Ice, ice baby
Here’s a surprisingly effective trick. Place a bowl of ice or frozen water bottles in front of a fan for the ultimate fan-hack. Be sure to aim the airflow at yourself to enjoy every second of your DIY air conditioning. Simple, effective, and economical! Tip: Mimic the same technique with a small fan on your nightstand and a spray bottle of cold water. Mist the air every so often and enjoy!
Turn off unnecessary electronics
Electronics give off heat, so unplug them when no one is around, and that includes fans. Fans can’t cool people who aren’t there! Try to keep computers and televisions off during the day and turn them on only when you need them. Don’t forget that lights produce heat too, so keep them off during daylight hours. You’ll cut down on your electricity bill in the process.
Freeze your sheets
Yes, you read that right. Pop your sheets in the freezer for a few minutes before bedtime and enjoy an extra cool snooze sesh. Of course, the frigid feeling won’t last all night, but you’ll lower your body temperature just before you fall asleep, giving you an extra refreshing rest. Just be sure to put the sheets inside a plastic bag first. You definitely don’t want them getting damp or picking up any freezer odors. No one wants a bed that smells like eau de frozen pizza.
Skip the Shower
Stay out of the shower and try a cool bath instead. Showers increase the humidity in your home, (yes, even cold showers), but a dip in a tub filled with chilly water will still get you clean while cooling you to the core. If baths just aren’t your cup of tea, try to shorten your showers at the very least.
Try a few (or all!) of these tips and tricks for cooling a bedroom without air conditioning and never suffer through a sweltering summer night again.
If you’re looking for the perfect fan for your space, check out our entire line of WOOZOO fans here.
