Keep your home cool this summer
We look forward to summer all year round. Family barbecues. Beach days. Backyard cricket. But keeping the house cool during the warmer months can be a challenge. Here are five ways to make your home that little bit cooler this summer:
Open windows in the evening and early morning
When it’s 30-odd degrees outside, your first instinct may be to open every window and door in the house. On extremely hot days, opening windows may not provide the desired cooling effect. Open your windows in the early morning and evening to cool down your home, then shut that cooler air in for the heat of the day.
Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day
Close your curtains and blinds during the day, when the heat is at its peak. Closing your curtains before the sun gets a chance to enter keeps the interior cool by reflecting the heat and light away from your home.
Close doors
Close off doors to unused rooms to keep the cool air where you need it most. This prevents the cooler air from leaking to parts of the house where you don’t need it.
Bring out your fan
Using a fan can help you feel cooler during the day, or during the hot hours of the night. Try placing a bowl of iced water in front of your fan to circulate cooler air.
Switch off your appliances
Household appliances generate more heat than you would expect, so switch them off when they’re not in use. Better yet, avoid using them by hanging your clothes outside to dry or hand-washing your dishes.
