Heat hacks: 12 tips and tricks to keep your house cool

The Boston Globe has a timely article about ways to keep your house cool.

1. Chill out at night.
If you’re tossing and turning in bed and having trouble falling asleep in the blistering heat, Consumer Reports offers this interesting trick: Put your sheets and pillowcases in a sealable plastic bag and stash them in the freezer so they’ll be nice and cold when you hit the hay.

2. Makeshift AC.
You’ve probably heard about the trick of putting a bowl of ice in front of a fan. Well, the New York State Office for the Aging suggests using bottles of water instead. “Fill three plastic soda bottles full of water, freeze them but in a manner to not damage them (liquid expands on freezing), then place them in a large bowl,” the agency’s website states. “Position a fan to blow on them.. … The water in the bottles can be refrozen and used repeatedly.”

3. Creative use of your fridge.
Seattle City Light suggests putting lotion and moisturizers in your fridge to cool down your skin. (more…)