If you have the lovely Olivia Newton John’s song stuck in your head now… sorry…or …you’re welcome ( wink). We are, like so many of you, experiencing crazy hot temps. It is hot, hot, Africa Hot! If you get this reference, high five yourself, you are awesome! Anywayyy…back to the hotness, we are fortunate to have air conditioning. I have to stay inside when it gets in the 90’s or above so I am sequestered, but I’m cool, so no complaints.
Our cucumbers love this temperature and they’re being picked daily now. I invite you to try my super simple cucumber salad recipe.
I started thinking about all the times when we didn’t have the luxury of air conditioning, and how uncomfortable it was to try to go to sleep on those hot summer nights.
Filling a roasting pan with ice cubes and putting it on a tray in front of the fan. I’d put the fan so it would direct the air over the ice cubes and towards the bed. I think I’ve shared that little tidbit in the past. But, it’s still a great trick for beating the heat at bedtime.
Here are some more ideas for keeping cool on those hot summer nights when air conditioning is not an option.
Ceiling fans are great! If you’ve been a reader of Katherines Corner for a while ( thank you) you may remember I gave away a Bellacore ceiling fan. I highly recommend their products. if you have one or can afford to get one I think you will be surprised at the results. Bellacore did not ask me for this promotion.
Cotton sheets are a plus and so is keeping your bed free of bedspreads, comforters, and duvets on hot summer nights. I read somewhere that putting your sheets in the freezer helps. I wondered why it wasn’t suggested to freeze your pillowcase. Our heads are hot 24 -7. So put your pillowcase in a plastic bag and toss it in the freezer for a couple of hours. I think it just might help long enough to fall asleep.
You all know I am always reminding you to drink water. Well on those hot summer nights, eating crushed ice and drinking cold water before climbing into bed (or while you are in bed) will help you rest a bit more comfortably. Fingers crossed you won’t need to get out of bed in the middle of the night to visit the bathroom. I like water with a bit of fresh mint and thinly sliced cucumber.
This is a clever idea, sorry I’m not sure where I found it. Hang a wet sheet in front of an open window. The breeze blowing in will quickly bring down the room’s temperature. I’m not sure if this works without a breeze though. Maybe you could put a box fan in the window to blow through it.
Fill a rubber “hot water bottle” with ice and cold water. Place it under your sheet down by your feet. Your feet are particularly sensitive to temperature, keeping your feet cool will work to cool your whole body too.
How are you staying cool on these hot summer nights?
I recently wrote a brain freeze post HERE you might like to try staying cool with some great treats. A tall glass of iced tea is always a welcome drink on those hot summer nights too. A glass before bedtime might be nice too ( decaf) try my peach ice tea HERE.
I look forward to seeing you back here on Thursday for the TFT ( Thursday Favorite Things) blog hop link party. Stay cool and drink plenty of water.
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Katherine, some great tips here. And the cucumber salad looks so inviting. As you might remember, I live on Vancouver Island, a five hr. north and west commute from Vancouver. The temperature today is 75 F. I don’t know how you manage the heat. I’ve never been good at it. I grew up in Winnipeg where the temps could get to 90 in the summer.
Rob and I are heading soon to Greenville, Mississippi to see our grandson, who’s there right now, and then we’ll go to New Orleans. I hope the extreme heat will be gone by then.
Wow, I wish I would have had those GREAT tips years ago!! We didn’t have air conditioning until I was about 11 years old. I can remember lying in bed near the window fan, feeling very very sweaty! Looking back, I don’t know why I didn’t just go sleep in the basement… Also, my daughter’s garden is bursting with cucumbers, and I know she’ll be sharing some, so I’m glad to see the recipe. Have a great day sweet friend.