I’m somewhat bemused at the moment by the constant media fuss over our heatwave weather.
I mean, it’s summer … what else do you expect?! Of course it’s going to be hot!
Life in the Middle Aged Mama household is never dull. Just as I was smugly gloating about how I love our air conditioning and how I can’t cope without it during heatwave weather and … yup, you guessed it. Not only has the split-system air conditioner which cools our family room, kitchen and dining areas packed it in – but also the air conditioning in my car!
So my next job is to sort out getting both air conditioners fixed. What fun (not!).
Fortunately I still have air con in the office and bedroom but surviving the heatwave is a lot more challenging than usual.
10 Tips for Surviving the Heatwave
Here are a few of my tried and tested ideas to help you cope this summer …
1 – Wear your hair up – invest in some pretty combs or a large clip to pin it up and off your neck.
2 – Keep a spray bottle in the fridge filled with water. When you’re feeling the heat, a quick spritz on your face and body can do wonders!
3 – There is nothing worse than trying to go to sleep when you’re feeling hot and sticky. You have a cold shower before bed and by the time you’ve dried off, you’re hot and sticky again.
Instead, wet a sarong or sheet and wring it out until it’s just damp (or spritz it generously with your chilled water spray), and use that as a top sheet. Make sure you’ve got the fan on. Ah, bliss! (This tip is especially useful for those who like a sheet on even in the hottest weather, to protect them from the monsters that are hiding under the bed 😉 .)
4 – Another trick is to pop your pillow in the freezer for half an hour before you go to bed so that it’s cool and refreshing. I’m told this tip will also kill dust mites!
5 –When hanging out at home, wear your swimmers in the shower or bath (or pool if you’re lucky enough to have one); then wear them around the house, perhaps with a sarong over the top so you don’t scare any unexpected visitors. Or just wear damp clothes! You’ll be amazed how much more comfortable it is in heatwave weather.
6 – Cooking heats up the whole house. Go for simple salads or fire up the barbie and keep the heat outside!
7 – At the risk of sounding like an old granny, keep a clean handkerchief in your pocket and handbag, to pat your face dry when you’re feeling sweaty and shiny.
8 – Ditch your cuppa. Instead of tea or coffee which will only bring you out in a sweat, sip iced tea or order a frappe or iced coffee.
9 – Seek out cool, air conditioned spaces. Head to the shops, the cinema, the library, a museum, restaurant or art gallery, or go ice skating – heck, even going to work can be a pleasure at this time of year if you have an air conditioned workplace!
10 – When relaxing in front of the TV, soak your feet in a bucket of cool water. If you’re feeling really energetic you can get stuck into them with a pumice stone, and kill two birds with the one stone!
Now it’s over to you – what are your favourite tricks for coping in this heatwave weather?
Joining up with some of my fave bloggers for:
Great tips Min! I love my airconditioning but… it really only cools my big open living space and not the study at one end and my bedroom at the other. I have however discovered that if I keep my heavy curtains closed in the bedroom it stops the heat from getting in which has helped.
I like the ‘pillow in the freezer’ idea though not sure mine would fit!
Oh I love the water spray bottle idea – I’ve never thought of that. And soaking your feet sounds just like bliss. We need to take heed of these tips in the heat. Most people take many things for granted when they could be surviving the heat. Drinking water and keeping hydrated is a must. #teamlovinlinky
My freezer isn’t big enough to fit in my food as well as my pillow!!!
I like putting my face masks in the fridge before using them and then applying them! So lovely and refreshing and cooling!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
Great tips Janet. I think I need to employ some of these. I have really been feeling the heat and yes I have been hanging around in my bathers and dipping in and out of our pool. We just purchased an air conditioning unit last week which is being installed next week. It will be pure bliss! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
It’s been a bit cooler in WA lately and I haven’t missed those 30+ degree days at all! Being home on holidays in really hot weather is not great. Your tips made me smile – especially the cool bedsheet – I’m one of those “scared of the monsters” gals who needs a sheet even in a heat wave!
I would be not a happy girl if our air con stopped working. Your hints are awesome and remind of the good old (reallY?) days of no air con and living in western NSW. I hope your air con systems in the house and the car are fixed soon!
Love you tips Janet! Might try the damp sarong one under the ceiling fan – sounds great! I’m so thankful we have ducted aircon and a pool or otherwise I wouldn’t survive. I’m not good in the heat at all!! It zaps all my energy and makes me miserable. I hope you get your aircon’s fixed real soon! #TeamLovinLife
What some great tips – and why am I not sensible enough to think up more of the same when I wake at 2am in the morning in a sweat with a headache. I’m going to try the damp sarong tip, and putting my pillow in the freezer (squash squash!) and sitting with my feet in a bucket of cold water! Loved this post 🙂
Ducted air is my saving grace…..even though I thought mine was going into meltdown the other day, it was just a temporary glitch by the looks of things.
I forgot that I had 3 Frosty mugs in the freezer, these are now working on high rotation to chill all the drinkable things!
Ha…that’s so not fair about talking about a heat wave, when we have cold & snow.
But we could switch for awhile—I love the heat!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
What great tips!
I love the idea of having a damp sarong as a top sheet.
I’m going to save this post.
#TeamLovinLife
The pillow idea is fab, though I don’t relish the thought of dust mites in my freezer food! Living in the UK, we’re not too familiar with heat waves but cool showers and fans work for me. The fridge spray is a good one though. #LovinLifeLinky
I agree with you Janet, there’s a heatwave because it’s summer – duh! Sorry to hear your air con has packed it in! I do love have ice cold water or mineral water with a slice of lemon or lime ice cubes during the hot weather. Love the spray bottle too! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Well my first tactic was harassing the #$%^ out of my real estate and their tech to get them to show up to our house to fix the air con haha. But lots of water (well, I prefer sugar free cordial, but you know) is my big thing. It’s a lot more manageable to deal with peaks of heat if you’re not at risk of heatstroke.
Oh I love our air con, but still remember those hot summer nights when we were kids and would go to be with cold, wet flannels. I also love how the front pages are full of headlines when the weather turns, wait for it, cold in the winter time. Antarctic vortex my foot- just a good old-fashioned cool change.
Wally still wants cuddles and insists on sleeping close to me. I hope his sister has a bit more common sense than he does?
We had all our plam trees removed last week. Since then the heat has been worse. Although it feels better here than in Sydney last Friday where the thermometer hit 45 where my son lives.
My step mum chose to turn the ducted air con off at middnight. Didn’t want us to all catch a cold……grrrrr