On hot summer days, it’s not just the sun that makes you sweat – it can also get quite warm inside your own four walls. Here are our tips and tricks for cooling down rooms in just a few seconds – without air conditioning. Plus: What else helps against heat.

In the clip: Tips against heat in the apartment

A fresh breeze in the apartment

As soon as it’s hotter inside than outside, it quickly becomes unbearable in the apartment. No fan will help, as it only blows the warm air around. Air conditioning usually involves too much effort and expense and is highly controversial for environmental reasons. So, what can you do when it gets too hot in your apartment or house in the summer? And we suffer especially from the heat in the bedroom? Here are our 10 tips for a cool apartment in the summer.

  • Darken the apartment

To prevent the apartment from becoming a sweatbox, keep the sun out during the day – at least on the sunny sides. Shutters and blinds located outside the window are ideal for this. They form a kind of barrier and ensure that the heat stays outside. They can reduce solar gain by up to 75 percent. Interior blinds should have a reflective solar and thermal coating, otherwise they will heat the air in the room. Curtains on the inside of the home are not ideal for protecting against heat but are better than no sun protection at all. Ideally, curtains should be opaque. With a rod for shower curtains (telescopic rod, press rod) and an old towel, you can also make an improvised outdoor curtain on exterior windows and balcony doors. This does an amazing job on sunlit areas!

Other tips:

If the sun shines very hot into your apartment in the morning in summer, you should darken the windows on the east side of the apartment early. Since the sun is strongest at midday, it is essential to darken the windows on the south and west sides.

  • Ventilate properly

For a bit of fresh air in the apartment must be ventilated regularly. Whether it is better to leave the windows open or closed during the day is a central question. Only if we ventilate properly in summer, there is a healthy exchange of air and moisture can settle. It is best to ventilate early in the morning or in the evening hours in summer and at night when the air has cooled down a bit. Ensure draught with open windows and doors. To do this, open the windows and doors completely so that the air can circulate. If you cannot create a draft in a small apartment, it is best to open the front and back doors. Ventilate the apartment for 15-20 minutes a day, so that a healthy exchange of air can take place. During the day it is better not to ventilate, so as not to let hot air into the apartment unnecessarily.

  • Electrical appliances

Whether TV, laptop, lamps, power strips and other electronic devices: In summer, it’s best to leave them on only when you need them. During the charging process, the devices heat up and give off heat to the environment. Even when they are unused or switched to standby mode, they heat up the air in the room. Likewise, halogen and incandescent lamps and the television generate waste heat. Use should be kept to a minimum – this also saves energy costs!

  • Damp sheets

One trick to lower the temperature in the living room or bedroom is a damp sheet: simply dip it once in cold water, wring it out and place it either in front of the window, in the room or over the door. The evaporation of the water lowers the room temperature and provides a cooling effect in the room. A fan can complementarily help to cool the room even better.

  • Fans

Fans don’t cool, but they at least provide a draft of air on hot days. Fans do not cool the room, but the body temperature: they set the room air in motion and thus accelerate evaporation on the skin. The sweat dries faster, which in turn ensures a faster and more pleasant cooling of the skin. Important: Never run the fan when you are not at home!

  • Cool bedroom

Especially at night, the warm air quickly rises to your head. Circulatory problems or headaches the next morning can be the result. For a pleasant room climate, the relative humidity should be between 40 and 60 percent. In dry heat, it helps to put the clothes horse in the bedroom with wet clothes. Low-maintenance houseplants such as monstera deliciosa, rubber tree, palm and window leaf can have a favorable effect on the indoor climate and even have a cooling effect.

  • The right bedding

It is worth investing in a lightweight comforter for the hot summer months, as well as bedding made from lightweight materials. Linen and cotton are natural fabrics that absorb moisture well. Thanks to their structure, jersey or seersucker bedding is also perfect for hot summer nights. In addition, percale is a high-quality cotton fabric that is breathable and cool to the skin. Bedding made of cotton satin or silk has a temperature-balancing effect and can be used all year round. Do you know how often you should change your bedding? We have some good washing tips for you.

  • Lukewarm shower

Before going to bed, a lukewarm shower not only removes sweat, but also has a refreshing effect. You will definitely fall asleep better after it. You should avoid taking a cold shower, because it will make your body more tired and you won’t be able to rest.

  • Refreshment to spray

If you need a quick refreshment in the home office, thermal water sprays are a pleasant way to moisturize your skin. Foot sprays or refreshing wipes also have the same effect.

  • Take a bath

If it gets unbearably hot in your home office, grab a large bowl or a mini-inflatable children’s wading pool and fill it with cold water. Add a few ice cubes if needed, then submerge your feet or arms up to your elbows and relax briefly. Otherwise, drink plenty of fluids!