I lived in tropical South Florida without AC – my tips will keep you & your room cool all summer, even on balmy nights
LIVING without an air conditioning can be a brutal undertaking, especially in the humidity of South Florida.
One homeowner revealed the simple hacks she uses to keep cool during the summer.
Commenting under a Reddit post, user Grattytood shared the trick that helped her survive hot humid summers in South Florida.
“I spent my first 28 years in tropical South Florida, [I] suffered and learned,” she explained.
The Redditor said she had no air conditioning in her home and was forced to get creative to cool off.
“When you wash your clothes, sheets, and towels, hang them around the room,” she advised.
She explained that evaporation caused by the slow drying cools the room.
The poster also suggested creating your own cooling condensation throughout your space.
“Freeze gallon jugs, old milk or juice jugs full of water, set one in a tray, put a towel under the tray for condensation, set the tray with the frozen jug either behind an electric fan,” she said.
She recommended setting the fan on low and refreezing the jug once it thaws.
The social media user offered an additional suggestion for keeping your home cool without an AC.
“Get a lightweight cotton bed sheet, sprinkle water on it, and put it over your body,” she said.
She pointed out how particularly useful her hacks are when trying to sleep at night.
“Evaporation will cool you, [it] especially helps you get to sleep at night,” she said.
She also advised blocking sunlight out of your home wherever possible.
“Cover windows that get full sun, [you] can use cardboard,” the Redditor said.
You can also introduce a natural cool breeze into your home if needed.
“Leave windows open at night and [in] morning when it’s cooler, close them in the heat of the day.”
The poster also emphasized the importance of drinking lots of fluids to stay cool.
Finally, she revealed her “personal favorite” hack, which involves applying a cool compress directly to your body.
“Get a thin kitchen or dish towel wet, and hang it around your neck,” she recommended.
“[It] cools your carotid arteries which send the cooled blood through your body.”