The weather’s getting warmer across much of Australia, and there’s no immediate change in sight. Ensure you stay cool with our comprehensive roundup of heat-beating tips, covering everything from how to use air conditioning more effectively to what to cook that won’t overheat you and how to make the most of your beach time.
Picture by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Cooling Tactics
Ask LH: How Can I Beat The Heat?
Dear Lifehacker, Since it is scorching hot here in Melbourne, I need some tips on how we can keep ourselves cool — particularly if you are currently renting and you are not allowed to install any air conditioning! Thanks, IHate40Degrees
[clear]
Why We Need To Rethink Air Conditioning
When the temperature rises, we turn the air conditioner on straight away — and drive our electricity bills up in the process. Four Australian academics explain why our addiction to home cooling is causing a major problem.
[clear]
Five DIY Alternatives To Running An Air Conditioner
Don’t have an air conditioner and can’t take the heat? Don’t want the huge electricity bill that might result from using AC all-day long? Whatever your motivation, here are five DIY ideas to stay cool this summer.
[clear]
Ask LH: How Can I Get Over The Summer Productivity Slump?
Dear Lifehacker, The hot summer weather is really dragging me down at work. I’m finding it harder to get things done and stay motivated, when all I really feel like doing is leaving work early and relaxing at the pool. Is there any cure for the summertime slump?
[clear]
Cool Your Laptop With Bottle Caps
Old laptops running hot become a particular problem in summer. If you need a quick fix for an overheating machine, you can increase the airflow by propping the laptop up on four plastic bottle caps from larger soft drink bottles.
[clear]
DIY Desk Fan
This neat little cube not only cools you on a hot summer day, it will stream you warm breezes when the weather turns cold. The desk fan also looks really nice and is built with ambient LED lights.
[clear]
In The Kitchen
What To Cook When It’s Too Hot To Cook
It’s hard to muster up the willpower to walk into the kitchen on a hot summer day. Just preheating an oven can feel like torture. Few of us can afford to eat at an air-conditioned restaurant seven nights a week, but there are plenty of cooking options that will keep the heat down and still let you fill yourself with tasty grub.
[clear]
How To Make Your Own Slurpees
We usually think of 7-Eleven when we think of slurpees, but there is an easy way to make one out of any cold drink. Teaching blog Charlie Brown’s Teacher has a recipe that only requires a freezer bag, salt and water.
[clear]
Make A No-Bake Fridge Cake To Stay Cool
In hot summer weather, the last thing you want to do is bake. For a no-heat sweet treat, a fridge cake is a great solution.
[clear]
Make Stovetop Biscuits To Beat The Heat
Biscuit cravings can strike at any time, even if the temperatures outside are topping 40 degrees. If you have the urge for something freshly-baked and sweet but don’t like the idea of firing up the oven, reach for your non-stick pan. Biscuits (or cookies as our US cousins have it) are surprisingly easy to make on the stove, and they take a fraction of the time.
[clear]
Beach & Backyard
How To Get All Your Gadgets Ready For The Beach This Summer
You’ve received a shiny selection of gadget gifts, and with summer upon us chances are you’ll be hitting the beach soon. If you’ve started doing all your reading on a tablet or ereader, there’s a few adjustments you need to make before you take them on your surfin’ safari. Here’s what you need to know, and what to do when sand and sea threaten your shiny toys.
[clear]
Keep Cool During Hot Weather Exercise
Working out in the summer heat is tough. Not only is it already roasting hot outside, but your body is heating up because of the workout you’re doing. To counter overheating, The New York Times shares a few ways to cool yourself down, including precooling. Guess what? There’s evidence that the irresistible urge to dump water on your head really works.
[clear]
Why Waiting To Swim After Eating Is A Myth
The old saying that you should wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you swim is based on the idea that after a big meal, blood will be diverted away from your arms and legs, towards your stomach’s digestive tract. And if your limbs don’t get enough blood flow to function, you’re at risk of drowning. But is it sound advice, or is it just parents wanting a 30-minute break to relax after a big lunch?
[clear]
Place Your Thongs Face Down Outdoors To Avoid Burning Your Feet
When you’re at the beach and you leave your thongs (or sandals) while swimming, the sun can quickly heat them up and burn your feet when you put them back on. Redditor shawbin suggests turn them upside down so they don’t absorb the sun’s excessive warmth and are comfortable to wear later on.
[clear]
Make A Cheap Floating Tabletop For Your Pool
Fancy playing cards in the pool, or just need somewhere to rest your drink? You can make a cheap floating tabletop from a styrofoam pool noodle and a cutting board.
[clear]
DIY Shade Sail
Shade sails are partial canopies designed to keep your favourite outdoor chair shaded on hot sunny days. Here’s a simple DIY plan to make your own shade sail using fabric, a sewing machine, and attachment hooks.
[clear]
Doggy Ice Lick Keeps Summer Heat At Bay
Keep your canine friends cool this summer by making an ice lick that will pique your dog’s interest: freeze chew toys inside a bucket filled with a mix of water and chicken broth.
[clear]
If You Can’t Beat The Heat Outside, Turn Off The Air-Conditioner
You’re not going to like this, but your air-conditioner is actually making it harder for your body to handle the heat outside. If you want to feel more comfortable outdoors during the hot summer months, you need to cut back on your AC use.
[clear]
This article has been updated since it’s original publication.
Comments
10 responses to “Heatwave: How To Cope With Australia’s Extreme Summer Temperatures”
On a semi-related topic….and potential future article in its own right….how do you remove water-proof sunscreen from your hands after application?
Serious question, too. I apply sun screen to my toddlers every day in the Summer….sometimes twice a day….and I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to wash off the sunscreen from my hands…
🙁
Turn the question on it’s head: how can you apply waterproof sunscreen in a way that you don’t get it on your hands in the first place? Gloves 🙂
Hand towel, hanky, trousers (yours or theirs) 🙂
Also, depending on how long they’re in the sun for, twice a day isn’t that much.
I felt the heat once….but then I decided to be awesome instead.
True Story.
Dip a tea-towel in ice water and whack it round yer neck! Recool it with fan sporadically til dry. Repeat 🙂
global warming
Whats with the sudden revelation that Australia gets hot in summer?
Come on!!! You must have had your head under a rock. At the rate of alarming news regarding heat over time (plotted on an XY axis), we will all start melting in Australia by 2020 and that’s a fact! In other news, I touched the super moon last month… true story.
The other day I bought a little 15cm desk fan that sits in front of my monitor and blows a wonderfully cooling, gentle breeze directly in my face. My working day has become much more bearable (as, no doubt, have I – I’m a grumpy bugger if I’m hot).
Meanwhile in Melbourne we are struggling to get past 20 most days.
many years ago i grew up in a house without air conditioning that was back in 1970’s i live in the u.s. i was 15 one summer it was hot i go naked i felt cooler i actually went outside naked i went streaking it was fun no one didn’t see me about 5 years ago it was 87 degrees at night i go outside naked ran back and forth in my vack yard streaking