Temperatures are rising! Here’s how to deal with them effectively

The weather forecast predicts high temperatures? Do not panic ! We tell you how to get through this period as comfortably, healthily and freshly as possible.

PLEASANTLY WARM VS. SCORCHING

You won’t hear anyone complaining about a hot and sunny summer. But in recent years it has often been too hot for many people and it looks like we’re going to sweat a lot again. It is unpleasant and can also have unfortunate consequences for your health , your diet and your home. The summer heat wave also means high humidity. So even if the feeling is still pleasant for you while the rest of the family is suffocating, a heat wave is not to be overlooked!

LOOK BELOW

Hot air rises. This can vary by several degrees per floor, certainly in interiors with an open staircase. The bedrooms are traditionally on the upper floors and therefore the warmest. This is why, during a heat wave, it may be wise to sleep downstairs during the hottest nights. Scientists set the ideal bedroom temperature between 17 and 20 degrees. This sofa bed downstairs will therefore perhaps be a little less comfortable, but a more bearable temperature will compensate more and more easily for this lack of comfort.

WINDOWS OPEN OR CLOSED?

It depends. Is it warmer inside than outside? What about humidity? Is a light breeze blowing? In some cases, it is better to keep curtains, shutters or other window protection closed during the day. Definitely on the side where the sun enters the rooms. This will prevent the interior from heating up. Early in the morning, the temperature is usually the lowest, so it’s time to open the windows a little. If you open your windows when it gets dark, also consider – possibly temporarily – fly curtains. Or rather mosquito nets, because you won’t want to trade one cause of irritation and sleepless nights for another.

IT’S ALREADY HOT ENOUGH WITHOUT…

There’s no point in trying so hard to cool rooms if incandescent lights, computers, old TV screens and other appliances continue to happily raise the temperature in your home. For the same reasons, you may opt for meals that do not require baking or a stove/gas stove. And speaking of food: avoid caffeine and alcohol because they have dehydrating properties and preferably do not eat too many proteins whose digestion will increase your body temperature.

AIRCO… OF COURSE!

Air conditioning is today in the majority of households the obvious solution to deal with a heat wave and this annually increasing number of hot days. The air conditioning also does more than cool. In most cases, these devices also remove moisture from the air. This way you tackle two problems at once and not only create a delightfully cool but also pleasantly healthy climate in your home. When considering the purchase of an airco, this humidity extraction function is definitely an option to consider.

AIRCO FIXED… NOT AN OPTION?

Are you planning to move, a fixed airco installation is not in your budget this year or are you renting an apartment without airco? A mobile airco is then a good alternative in the event of a heat wave. These devices may not have the capacity to cool an entire home, but they are generally easy to transport to the places where you need them most. In the living room at night, in the bedroom at night. Keep in mind, however, that the most efficient appliances all require evacuation to the outside.

FANS FOR EXPERTS

With a handful of exceptions, fans are only used to move air, not to cool it. Such a draft, however, allows body perspiration to evaporate, giving you a cooler feeling. This is always welcome, even if the ambient temperature remains the same. The way you install a fan can therefore make a big difference: blowing hot air out and cooler air towards you, inside or upstairs if you work or sleep there. On this article , we teach you how to easily make an airco system yourself with a fan.

AND THIS WILL ALSO HELP YOU

• Drink enough.
• Lower the temperature of the refrigerator and freezer by a few degrees.
• If you live under the same roof and don’t have to skimp on water, douse that roof with cold water during a heat wave.
• Fill your bath, your sinks and possibly a basin with cold water.
• Wear light, loose clothing.
• Use wet wipes to apply to the wrists and neck (THE cooling points of your body).
• And, if you have pets, be aware that they may suffer even more from the heat than we do and therefore keep an eye on their health.