The temperature is rising sharply again today, and more warm days are coming. On our reaction platform NUjij, readers shared tips to keep cool during sticky nights.
A frequently heard advice is air conditioning. “I hate heat above 25 degrees and that’s why we have installed three air conditioners in our house. To keep it all environmentally friendly, I also added a large set of solar panels,” says reader Nando ten Lohuis.
Users warn about the ‘deceptive’ fan. “It’s no use,” writes Wietze van der Laan. “It only moves warm air.”
Readers mention more technical gadgets. Joep van Haaster, for example, has been sleeping in a waterbed for years. “This means we don’t have sticky nights due to the heat in the summer. And we always step into a wonderfully warm bed in the winter.”
Raymond Kerkvliet comes up with a cheaper solution: “We bought cooling mats that are normally used for pets. Just order them at the discount store or an online store for a few euros. We put them in the fridge around dinner time and when the children go to bed, we put them under the sheet. This cools their bodies. They fall asleep nicely and calmly and we don’t hear them for the rest of the night.”
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How to keep your house cool during summer days
NUjij’er Emily_ shares a striking suggestion. “I once had a student room where it got more than 30 degrees inside and the heat couldn’t be removed. What I discovered then: sleeping with wet socks. It takes some getting used to and it sounds like something that can make you very sick, but that has never happened to me. Falling asleep and sleeping through suddenly went well. It saved many exams at the time.”
Tessa de Vries writes: “I myself slept in an attic, where it could get unbearably hot, especially in the summer. What helped a lot was taking a dip in natural water in the evening, before it gets dark. Or if you find that dirty, a cold shower. It also helped to take my duvet out of the duvet cover. I can’t sleep without a blanket, so I only slept under the duvet cover, which made it a lot cooler.”
For NUjij’er Patrick Ekkebus, a cold plunge also helped enormously. “I always work outside and therefore sit in the sun a lot. I used to always have trouble sleeping after a day’s work. Until someone once gave me the tip to jump in the shower and take a cold shower on days like this before going to sleep.”
But not everyone swears by a cold shower. DeHungarianDutch from Hungary, for example, who, in addition to a glass of warm milk, also takes a warm shower. “And really a warm shower, not lukewarm or cooling. Warmer than you normally do!” According to the NUjij’er, your body will cool itself as a result. “Dry yourself very quickly, get straight into bed, and then you can – helped by the warm milk – fall asleep.”
But who is right, DeHungarianDutch or everyone who tips the cold shower? In this case, what works for you is most important. But according to science, it is best to take a warm shower. “Although a cool shower feels nice at first, the cold water stimulates blood circulation, which makes you feel warm after showering,” explains sleep expert Winni Hofman. “Warm showering, on the other hand, opens your pores. The heat can then escape from your body.”
How a fan does work
After such a warm shower, according to Hofman, it is best to open all the windows – if it is colder outside than inside. Then place a fan in front of the open window, or place a bowl of ice in front of it. That helps to bring in cool air. So you don’t necessarily need air conditioning for that.
Drink a glass of cold water just before going to bed and wear light, cotton clothing. This way you are ready for a wonderful summer night.
There are also a number of things you shouldn’t do. Such as exercising just before going to sleep, eating too much and too late in the evening, or using equipment. Laptops not only get hot, they also emit light that keeps you awake.
NUjij’er Mark Brienen simply summarizes all the advice: “Live like they live in warm countries. Keep your bedroom cool. I do that with sun protection and a fan. Take it easy during the day. Distribute your household chores, don’t do everything at once. Don’t waste unnecessary energy. Keep your fluid and salt levels up. But above all: enjoy it.”
Tips for a cool tent
For those going to a festival this weekend: how do you keep your tent cool in full sun? Hofman: “Festival-goers can hang a wet towel in front of the tent entrance and sprinkle water over the floor of the tent, so that it evaporates and takes heat with it. I personally wouldn’t use a sleeping bag, but at most lie under a sheet. And drink lots of water! That’s the best you can do. But let’s face it: usually there isn’t much sleeping at a festival anyway.”