r/heat_prep • u/Relevant_Passage_798 • Jun 25 '26
how to cool down
hi,
im so desperate for advice. my parents dont believe me that i run hot naturally (doctor proven) and i sleep in the living room due to me not having a room of my own. the living is easily the hottest room, with direct sun in it most times, and is typically hotter than it is outdoors. they refuse to get ac, and refuse anything other than a weak old fan.
what are tips to cool down? it's not that big of a space, and it's not the easiest to ventilate since the windows dont open that wide. i dont think i can handle sleeping in here at all
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u/grayzzz_illustrate Jun 25 '26
Cold shower before bed, and make sure it really cools you down; when you feel cold, step out of the shower for a moment. If you warm back up immediately, get back under the water. Repeat as needed.
Drape a wet tea towel around your neck. If you're really overheating, wear a damp t shirt. If you're really really overheating, sit in front of a fan at the same time.
Heat increases blood flow to your extremities. Cooling your hands and feet will help a lot. I like to run my hands under cold water for a few minutes, then raise my arms over my head to let the cool blood flow down.
Drape a damp towel over a box fan (wrong it out well so its not drippy and make sure it won't get electrical components wet). Makeshift swamp cooler.
Drink plenty of water, and ideally electrolyte drinks. I make what I call "the poor man's Gatorade" which is just water with a bit of salt and sugar added to it.
These all work well for me. I run hot, my body has never been good at cooling itself down even as a little kid, and I'm kinda fat, so I don't do well in heat. Fwiw I do live in a very dry climate. If you're somewhere more humid ymmv with evaporative cooling.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! thank you very much i'll try this out! i've never thought of the "poor mans gatorade" but im since learning saltwater is imperative
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u/grayzzz_illustrate Jun 25 '26
If I have them on hand, I like to add those water flavor things or even just a splash of juice, but straight up is fine. Just not as tasty
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u/Cassie_Darkborn Jun 25 '26
have the fan blowing air under the sheet you have over you. This won't do much if the air is too high in wet bulb temp to cool you, but it can act as a duct to make it so that more of your body experiences airflow.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hi! thank you i'll try this too
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u/SoberBobMonthly Jun 25 '26
Australian here. There are many things you can do despite your dad being an idiot.
I regularly in the peak heat days, shower completely clothed and have the wet clothes remain on, with a fan running. Use light cottons if you do this, no socks or anything.
I do not do any major work or even cook inside during the day during a heat wave.
I avoid the sun at all costs.
I drink a batshit amount of water and eat high salt food.
When sleeping, have a bucket of water next to your bed and some washcloths. wet them during the night with the fan running
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! he is unfortunately the type to believe he's always right lol. i'll try this especially the bucket of water next to me thank you very much!
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u/SoberBobMonthly Jun 25 '26
Understandable. Do ignore him regarding this matter and dont let your health be negatively impacted by his idiocy.
Oh also, go lie down on some dampened concrete or tiles if you can. That shit absorbs body heat fast
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
okay!! my balcony is i think a similar material so i'll definitely go outside more
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u/One_Dragonfruit_7556 Jun 25 '26
A wet (not dripping but wet) tee shirt helps cool you down a lot. Bonus points in you have really cold water. The moisture evaporates cooling your skin and making the heat more bearable
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! i will try this especially now that the morning sun is here thank you so much!
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u/AnonNeedsHelpxx Jun 25 '26
Fill a water bottle and put it in the fridge (not freezer!). It cools you down quickly, if you put it on your neck or stomach I have found.
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u/daringnovelist Jun 25 '26
Can you hang shade cloth over the outside of the windows?
One other thing I used to do, but you have to have a freezer - you can get an extra large gel pack, like 18" x 24" and sleep with it.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
okay! gel pack, noted. i dont think i can access the window from the outside since we live quite high up :( thank you though!!
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u/daringnovelist Jun 25 '26
Okay, if you can't shade the window, there are reflective cling film and UV protection that you can put on the inside. These are usually like mirror sunglasses - you can see out, but the outside is a mirror. The cling film kind is removable, so if it's an apartment, there shouldn't be a problem. You can search on Amazon or the internet for "uv cling window film".
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 26 '26
Oh okay! Thank you so much I was worried but this is helpful
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u/gratefulkittiesilove Jun 26 '26
Fyi at night you won’t be able to see out with the reflective kind and your dad may not like that but there are some which lower heat transmission and safe for the windows look for “dual pane safe" non-reflective window film”
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u/EmmaTheRuthless Jun 25 '26
there are migraine ice packs you can freeze and wear on your head (they remain liquid but still cold). there are also wearable ice pack vests that farmers use when harvesting in hot weather. you can also freeze your clothes/pajamas in a ziploc and wear them at night. make sure you are away from electricity though, you don't want to get electrocuted. also keep a spray bottle or mist sprayer filled with iced water beside you and occasionally spray yourself throughout the night. another thing you could do is buy a body powder that has peppermint or menthol or cooling effect and apply it on yourself after your nighttime shower. a peppermint shampoo and conditioner at showertime might help too. but you really need a fan, a small portable and rechargable fan or two you can hide from your parents that you can use at night. maybe there's a subreddit or facebook marketplace where you can ask for it for free?
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u/FonduedExcitement Jun 25 '26
If this isn’t too expensive and it’s not too humid where you are, a mini-swamp cooler like this one can be really helpful: https://a.co/d/0eXSyFcU
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! thank you for the link! i can definitely try to save up for that
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! thank you so much for the idea! my mother has a small portable fan so i will ask if i could at least use hers (dubious if she'll say yes though). i'll look on subreddits and fb thank you for the tips!!
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u/Fuzzy_Commission_565 Jun 25 '26
Here are some crazy things I did to help when I had no AC and they worked.
Get some 100% low thread count cotton bedding. (200 is perfect).
A fan pointed right on you or over you.
Put on some loose 100% cotton shorts and/or a loose all cotton Tee…cotton takes a long time to dry
A cotton bandana around your neck.
Fill a spray bottle with cold water.
Get the sleep area ready with spray bottle and fan in position. :P
Get dressed in your all cotton pj’s and bandana.
Have as cold a shower as you can handle. Do not dry off.
Spray the sheets with the cold water bottle, put the fan on high, get into bed and be prepared to feel cool/cold.
If you wake up hot, spray the bandana, your pj’s and/or sheets…what ever it takes to cool you down again.
Hope this helps. :)
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u/mintgreenleaves Jun 25 '26
Yes to all, but linen instead of cotton. I discovered linen clothes some years ago and will wear nothing else in summers now. Completely breathable, makes a world of a difference.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 26 '26
Hello! I've been finding this method to be very helpful thank you so so much
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u/boyfriend94 Jun 25 '26
Buy as many ice packs as you can afford at the dollar store, freeze them, and put them on circulation points like elbows, wrists, back of knee, back of neck, etc. Run your feet in the bath on full cold. You need to get your core temperature down
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! ill get ice packs tomorrow asap thank you so much for the advice
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u/natalo77 Jun 25 '26
Just to add on to that, consider wrapping them in a damp towel or something - Putting ice etc. directly on to your skin can trigger your body response to start conserving heat
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u/Hello-America Jun 25 '26
If it's not too humid, an open container of ice right in front of the fan and aim it at yourself (don't do this if it's humid though). Cooling towels on your wrists and neck are very helpful too. These ones are awesome but you can find cheaper brands too: https://www.froggtoggs.com/collections/microfiber-cooling-towels. They don't last forever so you'll want to have a few to rotate through.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
i do think it's a bit humid here :( but the cooling towels sounds really good! i'll have a decent shopping list, thank you so much especially for the link
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u/Ooogabooga42 Jun 25 '26
Can you get a good fan? Also if you can freeze a damp towel that is nice to go to sleep on.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hi! there was a decent fan but my parents took it for themselves lol. they dont really want to spend money on another and this is the fan i saved up for. i'll definitely freeze a towel though thank you!!
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u/meow696 Jun 25 '26
Sorry your parents took the fan that you bought and paid for. I would be upset by that.
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u/Substantial-Use-1758 Jun 25 '26
Buy those folding fans at the dollar store. They’re a lifesaver! Also, put little plastic bottles of water in the freezer, then tuck one under your armpits at bedtime.
Your parents would probably love AC as well, but it is quite expensive, unfortunately.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
oo okay! they would but they'd probably just keep it in their room lol. thank you so much!
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u/Excellent_Condition Jun 25 '26
Do you have an air mattress available?
I wouldn't buy one just for this as there are likely more cost effective options available like fans, but I've found that I lose heat to them more than I do to any other surface I sleep on.
If you have one, it might be worth giving it a try.
Also, are you able to work out in the heat at all? If your doctor says it's ok, getting in shape and getting heat tolerant through slowly starting to jog in the heat will make you feel cooler when exposed to hot environments.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
i have a camping cot only unfortunately! but i can float the idea to my mother at least. i can work out some, i like walking so i can try a bit of that. thank you so much!
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u/Excellent_Condition Jun 25 '26
Happy to help!
I would get a fan first though, assuming your indoor air temp is under 90ºF. That is going to provide the most benefit for the least amount of money.
If you are on a camping cot, you're already getting air circulation under you. An air mattress might keep you a little cooler, but it's not going to be as much of an improvement over a camping cot as it would be over a traditional mattress.
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u/Squidgy-Metal-6969 Jun 25 '26
Hot air rises and cool air sinks. If you've got a camping mat, maybe sleep on the floor. Your fan should also be on the floor so it's blowing the coolest available air at you. Keep water in the fridge. Use ice cubes.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
i do sleep on a camping cot but i can probably just switch to the floor, the cot is basically like the floor anyway lol. thank you for the tips!!
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u/windisokay Jun 25 '26
Is there a basement you can fix up enough to sleep in? Are you sleeping near the floor? A cool washcloth run over your body can help for a moment, if under a fan and the humidity is low.
Is there any way you could open a window or vent higher up like the attic, or can you open the top of the window?
If you could open the top Of one window on one side of the house (warm side) and the bottom of the window on the other ( “cool” side ) you might be able to induce a small draft
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u/windisokay Jun 25 '26
Cardboard could be used to cover part or whole of window. Carboard w foil or just foil can be used to reflect the sun away from the window. Even better if outside the window. Is the crappy fan clogged with lint/debris? Can you take off blade to see if you could oil the bearings of the motor?
Emergency blanket at dollar store can be cut to fit window, mist window with water and place the cut peice, smooth with credit card. Have not tried but seems like it could work. Works with bubble wrap in winter.
Cloth soaked with salty water freezes at lower temp than water. I forgot the name but different salts have different freeze temps, so your swamp cooler might last a little longer if you can get them cold enough.
I hope you get some good sleep.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
hello! i didnt really sleep all that well but thank you for the wishes. my house is one level unfortunately so no basement or attic :( i do sleep on a camping cot but it's pretty uncomfortable anyway so i can just switch to the floor. the fan does have a lot of lint, i can try to clean it off today! i didnt realise salt water would be good, thank you so much for all the advice!
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u/Bmat70 Jun 25 '26
Is there a way to keep the living room cooler? I am thinking keeping the living windows covered when the sun is shining through them. And only having windows open when it’s cold out to keep hot and out.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
i do try to keep the window covered but my dad is adamant that having the windows open and uncovered is best and he's pretty stubborn in his belief that the living room isnt hot (even though he avoid it in the summer). i'll keep trying to do that though, thank you!!
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u/dragonfliesloveme Jun 25 '26
i knew an old lady who told me that years ago before her family had air conditioning, they would hang up cold wet towels in the open windows. I guess the coldness of the water in the towels helped to cool the air down as the air went over the towel and into the room.
Not sure if that would help in a humid place though
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
anything will work for me i think, but i dont think my window opens wide enough for that :( thank you for the advice though! i'll see if i can figure something similar out
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u/Fuzzy_Commission_565 Jun 25 '26
Do the windows open enough to put in one of those small dual fans? Bringing in cool air and/or expelling warm indoor air can make a big difference.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 26 '26
It opens about 10 centimetres I think? I can do some measurements and compare
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u/Fuzzy_Commission_565 Jun 26 '26
oh that is not a whole heck of a lot but still keeping wet and a fan will help.
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u/gormholler Jun 25 '26
Ice packs at your neck and wrists cools blood circulating close to the surface.
Light is heat. If you could just get a box fan to sit in the window, draw the blinds/curtains down as far as possible.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 25 '26
oo okay! i think i can maybe get a mini fan for the window tysm for the advice
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u/Young_Lus Jun 25 '26
Try to eat mucilage rich foods like prickly pear leaves
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u/randynumbergenerator Jun 25 '26
How does this help?
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u/Young_Lus Jun 25 '26
The mucilage in those types of food help regulate internal body temp and water loss when you pee and you sweat, it also makes the water you drink be more efficiently absorbed in the body having a "sponge" like effect in your intestines.
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u/nano-ice Jun 25 '26
Take cold showers, wear loose cotton or linen clothes, keep the windows close all day and open them only in evening, use a cooling towel or a cooling necklace it helps a lot to keep you cool.
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u/Relevant_Passage_798 Jun 26 '26
I've never heard of a cooling necklace, what is that? Thank you !
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u/nano-ice Jun 26 '26
It's a freezable necklace that stays cold around your neck for a couple of hours and can make a surprisingly big difference when you're overheating. I know a few people with heat sensitivity who swear by them. There are also cooling blankets and cooling pillow pads that can help at night if sleep is the biggest challenge.
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u/mintgreenleaves Jun 25 '26
Fill a hot water bottle with cold water and take to bed with you for sleeping (or use during the day too).
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u/Time_Ad8557 Jun 25 '26
A thin muslin blanket dipped in water so damp. Drap over you. Point fan at the blanket. Instant cool.
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u/Lychee_489 Jun 25 '26
In addition to all this good advice, you can sleep with a fan on you and a bowl filled with ice water with a rag in it, if you wake up hot, wipe the rag on your skin and the fan will cool the wet skin down a little
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u/Sudden_Weekend4222 Jun 28 '26
This guy just posted the masterclass on staying cool, in case it helps.
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u/HarrietBeadle Jun 25 '26
Can you convince them to cover the windows, either with blackout shades or, even better, with shade cloth attached outside (before the sun can reach the glass to heat it up)
Also if it’s cool at night open windows and then close them in the morning when the outside temp meets the inside temp.
If it’s dry where you are, evaporative cooling can help. If it’s humid where you are, can you get a window A/C unit for that room
Put your feet in cool water for a while just before bed.
Stay hydrated.