How to Cool Down a Room – and Yourself

Ultra-hot summer weather is definitely not for the faint of heart. It can turn even the most level-headed person into an unreasonable grump and the most inviting home into an unwelcoming sauna! Hot weather can also be dangerous, both for humans and our four-legged friends. In either case, it can really pay to know a few tips and tricks for cooling off quickly. And it just so happens that that’s exactly what I plan on sharing with you today!

These tips cover a wide variety of scenarios where you might want to cool something down quickly. From warm drinks to hot cars, and stuffy beds to sweaty faces, there’s sure to be a tip here that will help you “find your chill!” And if you have any brilliant tips for cooling off that aren’t listed here, I’d love to hear about them! Share your tip in a comment at the bottom of this post, and we can keep the conversation going there. :-)

12 Genius Ways To Cool Down Quickly

1. Ice-Cold Drinks In A Flash

Put your bottles or cans into a tub or container, leaving a little extra room between each drink. Pack the gaps and the area around the bottles and cans with ice. Next, sprinkle one or two cups of salt over the ice, then fill the remaining room in the container with water. (I usually use rock salt for this, but you can also use table salt.)

Salt interferes with water’s ability to freeze, so the water around your drinks will quickly turn colder than normal. It’s definitely the best method to use if you want to cool drinks down really fast! When I’ve tried it, it has only taken about 10-20 minutes to get drinks down to a deliciously frosty and drinkable temperature.

2. Cool Down A Hot Car

I can’t stand sliding into my hot car during the summertime. Ugh! It’s like sitting in an oven. But I recently learned a trick that cools my car off much faster than simply cranking the A/C!

When you get into your hot car, start by rolling all the windows down. Crank the A/C up, but adjust your settings so that it’s coming out of the floor vents only. This creates an airflow that forces hot air up and out of the open windows. Your car will cool off in record time!

3. Cool Down Your Bed & Bedding

I don’t know about you, but I personally find it much harder to fall asleep when it’s hot out. I just can’t seem to relax when I feel all hot and sweaty! If you feel the same way, here are a few tips that might help.

Some people swear by putting their pillowcases and top sheet in the freezer before getting into bed. They say that slipping into chilled sheets is downright heavenly, especially if it’s hot and humid! Another way to cool down at bedtime is to freeze a hot water bottle and place it down by your feet. It won’t keep you cool all night, but it will definitely last long enough for you to fall asleep!

4. Cool Off Overheated Pets

Many pets are sensitive to heat, and they can quickly overheat on very hot days. Keep an eye out for signs that your pet is feeling overheated, including excessive panting, excessive drooling, tongue hanging out, or very red gums. If your pet is showing these signs, make sure they have access to water first. Then soak a couple of towels in cool water (not ice water) and apply them to your pet’s armpit area and groin area. These areas have major blood vessels, so it should help your pet cool off quickly. If your pet’s symptoms haven’t improved after 10 minutes, take your pet to your vet or a pet urgent care clinic.

5. Make A Cooling Body Spray

If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer heat, make a simple cooling spray for quick relief! Add one part aloe vera gel and three parts cold water to a small spray bottle. Aloe cools skin by up to five degrees on contact, and it penetrates into the skin which can help keep you cool for a while. Put the mixture into a metal spray bottle to help keep the spray cooler, longer.

6. Put Your Lotions In The Fridge

During the hottest part of the summer, I like to keep my moisturizers and lotions in the fridge. It feels very refreshing to put on cold lotion, and it has a very soothing effect on skin too. Cold moisturizers and lotions can help reduce redness and soothe sunburns too.

7. Drink Up!

When summer temperatures get really high, you sweat more (whether you feel sweaty or not!) So it’s really important to drink lots of water to stay hydrated! Avoid drinking too many caffeinated drinks as well, because their diuretic effect will make it harder to stay hydrated.

8. Run Your Wrists Under Cold Water

If you’re in a rush and want to cool down fast, try running your wrists under cold water. Your blood vessels in your wrists are very close to the surface, so the cold water can actually cool off your blood a little bit. The cooler blood will circulate through your body and you’ll feel cooler in no time.

9. Snack On Frozen Fruit

Hot weather can have us reaching for frozen treats like ice cream sandwiches and popsicles to cool off. Instead, reach for frozen fruit to help you cool down! It’s a healthier choice but you’ll still get the same relief from the heat.

10. Use Fans to Create a Cross Breeze

If hot weather has you sweating yourself silly, use that sweat to cool yourself down by creating a breeze inside your house. Just open windows on opposite sides of the house (or a room, if you’re only cooling down a single room) and place a fan in front of each window, one pointed inward and the other outward. One of the fans will draw the air into the room while the other fan pushes air out the other window. It’s not quite the same as having a functioning air conditioning unit, but it’s a pretty decent solution in a pinch! You may also want to place a bucket filled with ice in front of the fan pointing inward to cool down the warm daytime air.

Creating a breeze like this is even more effective at night when air temperatures are cooler, so be sure to use this trick overnight to get a head start on cooling your house for the day!

11. Sleep Like An Egyptian

I can’t verify the truth of this origin story, but apparently it’s believed that the ancient Egyptians had a method for keeping themselves cool while they slept. And you can use it too! Just dampen a sheet or towel and use it as a blanket. The water will evaporate overnight, keeping you cool. (If a damp towel doesn’t sound like a great blanket to you, try misting your top sheet with a spray bottle before climbing in bed!)

12. Make Your Own Cooling Pillow

The cool side of the pillow is a magical thing, but it only lasts for so long. But you can make your own pillow that will stay cool for hours! I like to call it the “chillow!” Get all the details and instructions on how to make one at the link below.