# Tips for staying cool with no A/C **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538 "2012-07-07T18:32:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/21 "2012-07-08T16:17:27Z")
Strip down as much as company will allow and cover all the furniture with thin soft sheets. We found after hurricane Charley that most furniture materials either tend to stick to sweaty skin or are rough enough to become uncomfortable over enough time, the sheets will prevent both of those things and will a little cooler. In fact maybe you could fold up the sheets and put them in a bag in the freezer, and alternate between two sets for extra coolness. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/22 "2012-07-08T16:19:38Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I could buy an A/C unit but I’m a bit leery of having one with the budgies. I would be concerned that I wouldn’t have it set up right and some fumes might leak in. > > Fortunately (?) it’s 90 degrees but dry so it’s not quite as horrible as it is with humidity. I don’t believe there are any fumes associated with an air conditioner - it’s a self-contained unit. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/23 "2012-07-08T16:23:40Z")
Go spend the day at your local movie theatre, bring pillow. ---
**Author:** ![Allthegood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Allthegood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allthegood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/24 "2012-07-09T02:30:10Z")
Always have a glass of ice water at hand. Drink from it often. Hold the glass against your wrists, inner elbows, and temples, often. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/25 "2012-07-09T03:01:54Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I could buy an A/C unit but I’m a bit leery of having one with the budgies. I would be concerned that I wouldn’t have it set up right and some fumes might leak in. The fumes associated with air conditioners are actually well tolerated by both birds and humans. The non-scientific name for the fumes emitted from window units is “cool air.” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/26 "2012-07-09T03:27:25Z")
Well, there’s [this](http://www.veskimo.com/), but really, if you can afford that, you can afford a reasonable window AC unit. It would also be a bit bizarre wearing that around the house. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/27 "2012-07-09T05:11:04Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Put aluminum foil on windows to reflect the infrared heat from the sun. Right now the sunshine is warming your curtains which warms your room. If you block out the windows with foil, you won’t need the curtains and you’ll be able to open the windows for the breeze. Yes. Foil is better than curtains at blocking heat, and it’s so cheap you can replace it every year. > [@wolfman](#): > > I always wanted to build a fan and radiator system that screws to the showerhead just to kick thermodynamics right back in the balls. Me too! ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/28 "2012-07-09T06:27:09Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > You need to block the light/heat that’s coming into the house. One year, when we didn’t have AC, we used [insulative sheeting](http://www.lowes.com/pd_15358-46086-451156_4294858106__?productId=3365576&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=) (with a shiny metallic side) that we cut to fit the windows. I have a few sheets left over from design jobs that I use for this purpose. It’s amazingly effective. Originally Posted by wolfman: _I always wanted to build a fan and radiator system that screws to the showerhead just to kick thermodynamics right back in the balls._ ~How would that work? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/29 "2012-07-09T09:02:49Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Well, there’s [this](http://www.veskimo.com/), but really, if you can afford that, you can afford a reasonable window AC unit. It would also be a bit bizarre wearing that around the house. Someone’s been reading Sky Mall . . . :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/30 "2012-07-09T09:19:46Z")
I live very close to the equator with no AC, it is very rarely even noticed. 1.Air flow, it is absolutely 100% essential to increase airflow any way you can. Most modern housing are basically airtight ovens that are unlivable without AC, if you can’t increase outside exposure and airflow do you have shaded outdoor area to lounge on? 2.Wear the minimum of clothing required, I’m usually only in boxers lounging at home. 3.Fans, fans, fans. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/31 "2012-07-09T09:32:23Z")
When it’s stinking hot, and you need to resort to the shower to cool down, make it a TEPID shower rather than a cold one. A cold shower shuts down your pores, whereas a lukewarm one opens them up and allows body heat to dissipate. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/32 "2012-07-09T09:38:24Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > And put your feet in that bucket of water with ice! Cold water might be more effective than icy water for this - as the latter will cause circulation to shut down in your feet - so you’ll just get cold feet. If you can cool your feet, but maintain circulation, you may sink more heat. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/33 "2012-07-09T11:06:25Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Someone’s been reading Sky Mall . . . :rolleyes: Actually, I found that by googling based on flatlined saying something about needing clothing with A/C. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/34 "2012-07-09T11:26:54Z")
Well . . . I still bet you “read” Sky Mall, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/35 "2012-07-09T11:52:59Z")
Have you tried putting sheets _outside_ of your windows? The trick is to stop the sun from entering your home. Once it has entered the glass, you have lost the battle. If you can open your windows wide enough to hang a sheet over them form the outside, (or to plaster them with foil on the outside, like said upthread) and close them again so the sheets are trapped between window and windowsill, you’ve made a low-budget version of window shutters. (window shutters are generally on the outside of the windows, just for this reason) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/36 "2012-07-09T12:31:31Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I don’t believe there are any fumes associated with an air conditioner - it’s a self-contained unit. If the evaporator coil develops a crack, it can leak refrigerant into the living space. However, the refrigerant of choice these days is [R-134, which is actually very safe.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-134#Safety) It’s even used in “canned air,” which involves squirting it directly into the air. Anyone who is concerned about the safety of R-134 in their living space should probably also get rid of their refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/37 "2012-07-09T13:18:00Z")
Yay for Monday! A/C at work! It’s not even 7:30 and it’s already 80 in here. Blech! ---
**Author:** ![CCYMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@CCYMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCYMan)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/38 "2012-07-09T13:27:45Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > On really hot days one thing I do is put my head over the shower and get my hair wet. \ Blackberry, just imagine how much water you’ll save if you put your head under the shower instead! \ ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/39 "2012-07-09T14:25:00Z")
Try eating hot peppers, they make you sweat, then you cool off when it evaporates… ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538/40 "2012-07-09T14:54:38Z")
When I was a kid and had trouble falling asleep at night, I would do the following. Run a bathtub full of cool water, get into it and keep the water running slowly, cold tap only. The water would gradually cool down to the temperature of the cold tap and my inner core would also gradually cool down (the pores might close, but there is actual heat conduction). After a half hour, drain the tub and go to bed wet. It worked for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-staying-cool-with-no-a-c/627538.md?page=3)