14 Ways To Keep Cool Without Air Conditioning

Summers in the Pacific Northwest are becoming increasingly warmer than in the past. Don't have central air conditioning? Our friends from the Housing Service Center have tips for keeping yourself cooler even while the temperatures climb.

  1. Keep your blinds closed
  2. Be smart about your doors. Close off unused rooms during the hottest part of the day
  3. Hack a fan. Fill a mixing bowl with ice and position it at an angle in front of a large fan
  4. Swap your sheets. Get rid of the flannel and fleece and move to cotton
  5. Turn on your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans
  6. Create a cross-breeze with strategically placed fans
  7. Say NO to running electronics
  8. Keep the lights off during the day
  9. Keep the stove off - get the barbecue going instead
  10. Eat smaller, lighter meals which take less energy for your body to burn
  11. Sleep low. Heat rises, so hit the downstairs couch or basement Even an air mattress on the floor
  12. Heat-proof your bed. Put an ice pack in your pillow case and/or a frozen water bottle under your feet. You can even put your sheets in the fridge or freezer before bed!
  13. Keep the critters in their own beds
  14. Focus on keeping your body temp cooler with iced drinks and cold cloths or ice pack to strong pulse-points like your neck and wrists. Wear loose, breathable, cotton clothing 

Contact your Housing Service Center for more great home tips and resources. 

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