21 Simple Ways To Prepare For A Heat Wave Without The Stress

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1. Close Curtains And Blinds Before The Sun Hits Windows

Sunlight turns rooms into ovens fast, especially around noon when the heat hits the hardest through glass.

Do It Like This: Close every curtain early in the morning before the sun gets strong to block heat from building up.

It will feel less stressful if you try blackout curtains to keep rooms cooler without extra work.

2. Freeze Wet Washcloths For Quick Cool Downs

A cold cloth on the neck or face can drop body heat in seconds, which helps kids calm down faster.

Try This Way: Wet a few washcloths, twist them, and place them in the freezer for later.

3. Set A Bowl Of Ice In Front Of A Fan

Hot air blowing around just feels like a hair dryer, but adding ice makes a real difference.

Consider This: Place a bowl of ice right in front of a fan so the air blowing out feels cooler.

It will be way faster if you use small portable fan to push that cool air right where it’s needed.

4. Fill Water Bottles And Keep Them In Every Room

Running back and forth for water gets annoying fast when everyone is already hot and tired.

Start This Way: Fill bottles and place one in each room so drinks are always within reach.

5. Move Sleeping Spaces To The Coolest Room In The House

Heat rises, so bedrooms upstairs can feel like a sauna at night.

Here’s What To Do: Set up a simple sleep spot in the coolest room, even if it’s the living room floor.

6. Switch To Light Cotton Sheets And Clothing

Heavy fabrics trap heat and make sweating worse without even noticing it.

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Begin With This: Swap out thick sheets and clothes for light cotton ones that breathe better.

7. Cook Meals Early In The Morning Or Skip Cooking

Turning on the stove during the day adds more heat when it’s already unbearable.

Use This Simple Trick: Cook meals early or switch to no-cook foods like sandwiches and fruit.

8. Keep Lights Off During The Day To Reduce Heat

Even light bulbs give off heat, which adds up in small rooms.

Give This A Try: Turn off unnecessary lights during the day and use natural light instead.

9. Run Bathroom Fan To Pull Hot Air Out

Hot air gets trapped and makes the whole house feel stuffy.

Start Small With This: Turn on the bathroom fan to help pull warm air out of the house.

10. Block Sunlight With Towels On Bright Windows

Some windows get hit harder by the sun and heat up fast.

Here’s A Quick Way: Hang a towel over the brightest windows to block that extra heat.

11. Set Up A Small Cooling Station With Fans And Water

Having one cool spot feels like a reset during a long hot day.

One Thing That Helps Is: Create a small area with fans, water, and cold towels for everyone to gather.

12. Freeze Snacks Like Grapes And Yogurt For Easy Cooling

Cold snacks help cool the body from the inside, especially for kids who won’t sit still.

Here’s A Low-Stress Way: Freeze simple snacks so grabbing something cold is quick and easy.

13. Keep A Spray Bottle Of Cold Water For Skin

A quick mist on the skin helps cool down faster than just sitting in the heat.

The Less Stressful Way Is: Fill a spray bottle with cold water and keep it nearby for quick refreshes.

It will be so convenient if you use fine mist spray bottle to cool off fast without a mess.

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14. Keep Doors Closed To Trap Cooler Air In One Room

Cool air spreads thin when doors are open everywhere.

If You Want To Keep It Easy: Close doors to keep one room cooler instead of trying to cool the whole house.

15. Shower With Lukewarm Water To Lower Body Heat

Cold showers can shock the body, but lukewarm water helps cool down gently.

Start By Doing This Instead: Take a quick lukewarm shower to bring body temperature down.

16. Charge All Fans And Backup Batteries Ahead Of Time

Power flickers happen more during heavy heat use.

Instead, Try This: Charge every fan and battery before the hottest part of the day hits.

This gets easier if you use portable phone charger power bank to keep fans running longer.

17. Lay Damp Sheets Over Open Windows At Night

Night air can cool down, and damp fabric helps pull heat out of incoming air.

The Easy First Step Is: Hang a slightly damp sheet over the window to cool the air coming in.

18. Place A Damp Towel Around Neck During Hot Hours

Cooling the neck area helps the whole body feel cooler faster.

If You’re Not Sure Where To Start: Wrap a damp towel around the neck during peak heat hours.

19. Keep A Cooler Ready With Drinks And Ice Packs

Opening the fridge over and over lets cold air escape quickly.

Here’s The Shortcut Version: Store drinks in a cooler so cold items stay cold longer without opening the fridge.

It will take less time if you use insulated cooler box to keep drinks cold and easy to grab.

20. Plan Quiet Activities To Reduce Movement And Heat

Running around adds body heat and makes everyone feel worse.

To Make This Feel More Doable: Pick calm activities like coloring or reading during the hottest hours.

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21. Check Room Temperatures And Stay In The Coolest Spot

Not every room heats up the same way during the day.

The Easier Approach Is: Move to the coolest room once the heat starts rising instead of staying in one place.


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Lily Thompson

Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: making life easier and sharing what works. I created ''Like Mom Said'' after one too many moments of realizing: "My mom was right about this." Turns out, a lot of that old-school wisdom still holds up... it just needs a modern spin. Think of me as your friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand.)