Keeping cool over summer
It's not yet desperately hot, but hot enough for me to be aware it's heading in that direction.
Another summer of potentially unprecedented fire danger, another summer of near-record temperatures, heatwaves like the 1930s (I think), another summer of water restrictions, possible blackouts and so on.
I'm trying to think of what I can do to stay cool at home that doesn't require electricity.
I'm planning to get a small paddling pool for the animals as last year I was tipping water over them regularly - if they can do that for themselves it will be better. You know it's hot when you put the cat under the tap and he just lies there soaking it up!
I have water spray bottles, a little neck bandanna that's filled with water-absorbing/evaporating gel crystal things (must find it!). I tend to wear short muslin skirts and singlets at home, and often wet a towel and wear it/drape it round my shoulders. Or just wet my clothes periodically...
I keep the house shut up and with blinds, curtains down etc, to avoid the hot winds, but mostly I am too tired and floppy to go open it up much when there are occasions like cool nights, random breezes etc.
We are on permanent water restrictions here and may move to a higher level of restriction, so spending ages in the shower 10 times a day is not a responsible or appropriate option.
So I would love input on anything else that's easy to do and doesn't require much use of electricity OR major financial outlay at any point. This would probably have the added benefit of being somewhat more environmentally responsible than running an air conditioner...
Another summer of potentially unprecedented fire danger, another summer of near-record temperatures, heatwaves like the 1930s (I think), another summer of water restrictions, possible blackouts and so on.
I'm trying to think of what I can do to stay cool at home that doesn't require electricity.
I'm planning to get a small paddling pool for the animals as last year I was tipping water over them regularly - if they can do that for themselves it will be better. You know it's hot when you put the cat under the tap and he just lies there soaking it up!
I have water spray bottles, a little neck bandanna that's filled with water-absorbing/evaporating gel crystal things (must find it!). I tend to wear short muslin skirts and singlets at home, and often wet a towel and wear it/drape it round my shoulders. Or just wet my clothes periodically...
I keep the house shut up and with blinds, curtains down etc, to avoid the hot winds, but mostly I am too tired and floppy to go open it up much when there are occasions like cool nights, random breezes etc.
We are on permanent water restrictions here and may move to a higher level of restriction, so spending ages in the shower 10 times a day is not a responsible or appropriate option.
So I would love input on anything else that's easy to do and doesn't require much use of electricity OR major financial outlay at any point. This would probably have the added benefit of being somewhat more environmentally responsible than running an air conditioner...