I’m a home expert – unexpected ways to keep your house cool during a heatwave & why you need to use WOOL
WHEN a heatwave is in the forecast, do you instinctively reach for the wool blanket? Probably not – but you should, experts say.
Some of the best ways to stay cool during the summer are completely counterintuitive.
The experts at Homes and Gardens shared ways to keep cool during sweaty summer months, from changing your lightbulbs to swapping your bedding.
For example, as tempting as an ice-cold shower might sound in the middle of July, you should opt for a warm one instead.
"A warm (not hot) shower will initially feel worse than a cold shower," the experts explained.
"But, because a freezing cold shower shrinks the appearance of pores, within a few minutes of taking the shower you will end up feeling warmer than you did beforehand as your initial core temperature releases."
That's why when you make your morning coffee, you should skip the cold brew and – yep – reach for the French press, kettle, or percolator.
"The hot drink will raise your core temperature which causes your blood to head towards your skin, causing you to sweat and ultimately cooling you off," the experts wrote.
Surprisingly, wool blankets don't work on exactly the same principles, but can cool you down thanks to a property inherent to the material itself.
The outlet consulted Chris Tattersall, Woolroom's clean sleep environment expert, to learn why.
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"A little-known fact about wool is that it can actually help regulate body temperature, as unlike other bedding fibers such as feather, down, or polyester, wool has the ability to absorb (and desorb) moisture," Tattersall explained.
The fibers also facilitate quicker evaporation of moisture you sweat out.
According to the sleep pro, that can improve sleep quality by 25 percent.
You can invite more cooling moisture into your living space by bringing houseplants home.
Rubber plants, for example, thrive in humid conditions: as they absorb and process water and nutrients, a process called transpiration adds moisture back into the air.
Finally, the same energy-saving methods that keep your energy use low can keep your temperatures down, too.
When appliances aren't in use, unplug them. When lights aren't needed, keep them off. Both actions will lower the interior temperature of your home.
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"Unsurprisingly, light bulbs are source of heat in homes and should be kept off when trying to cool your home down during a heatwave," the experts explained.
Upgrading to energy-efficient bulbs can help, too, since they stay cooler than their traditional incandescent counterparts.
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