How to survive heatwaves without air conditioning?

During summer heatwaves, living in a big city can quickly become a torment. Hot streets are one thing — the biggest problem is the stuffy interiors of our flats, with no flow of cool air! Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to buy air conditioning; however, there are several cheaper ways to cool down our homes. Here is how to do it — effectively and cheaply!

White curtains or blinds — cover the windows!

An old, proven way of fighting hot air is to cover our windows with white curtains. Such fabrics, unlike dark ones, do not absorb the sun's rays — and in summer we want as few of them as possible in our flat! It is also worth making sure that the curtains are relatively thick; this way we will shut out the stuffy, hot air even more effectively.

During the day we can also cover the windows with blinds. True, they will not stop the interior from heating up (the glass will "pass on" the heat to the flat anyway), but they will still be an excellent barrier against the harsh rays of the sun. Unless we invest in special heat-insulating blinds — which are very effective at keeping a genuine "room" temperature!

Air the flat

There is probably no need to tell anyone that the best way to get rid of the stuffiness in a flat is… to let a little fresh air in. Airing the rooms helps both to maintain a temperature that suits us and to humidify the air — provided, of course, that we do not open the window at midday; that could even do us more harm than good! It is best to do it when the air is coolest — that is, at night. Or in the early morning, while the air is still moist.

Whether we are talking about a cottage in the countryside or a flat in the centre of Katowice, an open window is an invitation not only to pleasant breezes, but also to annoying insects. Our advice? Buy an insect screen! It is a small expense, and it can make our lives much easier.

And instead of air conditioning — a fan!

Although traditional ways of fighting the heat are really effective, many of us still dream of air conditioning in summer. Being able to change the temperature in the flat at the press of a button to whatever suits us best — sounds wonderful. However, a good air conditioner is a considerable expense; and on top of that, in the case of many properties in Katowice we may not be able (or permitted) to install such a unit. So perhaps it is worth considering buying a simple fan? In Polish shops you will find a wide variety of models — from classic ceiling fans, through pedestal fans, to modern, lightweight tower fans. We know from experience that a blast of cool air can be a godsend on hot July afternoons!