Post AvNeVzd5dCm8njKaky by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
(DIR) More posts by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
(DIR) Post #AvNeVuvh6bgcDyzsYq by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T17:50:52Z
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This heat wave is absolutely bone crushing, and I'm so glad that I installed central air two years ago. But if you are without central air, or you're dealing with a heat wave for the first time because it's reaching areas that don't historically get this hot, here are a few tips from my years of poverty in a desert:
(DIR) Post #AvNeVvXyoGJM8iuSEi by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T17:50:58Z
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1. Pay attention to what direction your residence faces, and where the windows are. Cover/close all east and north facing windows in the first half of the day, and south and west starting no later than 10am.
(DIR) Post #AvNeVwEWG6L4GeoQXg by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T17:53:45Z
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2. Keep air moving, even if you can't open any windows. Ceiling fans are better than nothing, but hot air rises, so I find that big box fans work better. If you are using ceiling fans, make sure they're rotating counter-clockwise (they should have a switch)
(DIR) Post #AvNeVwny8IhA2bOjnU by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T17:56:08Z
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3. This might seem obvious, but over-hydrate, especially if you're in a humid climate. Here in the desert, we have an easier time noticing when we're too dry. Drink water, tea, etc (not soda). You don't need sports drinks unless you've got POTS or you're exerting yourself.
(DIR) Post #AvNeVxMi38U5mLeTwm by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T17:58:20Z
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4. You know those flexible ice packs for sports injuries and for coolers?You can just carry those around. Take them to bed. Put them on the couch and put your feet on them to cool off. They freeze faster and stay cold longer than regular ice.
(DIR) Post #AvNeVyGMiD0IYxgvhI by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:00:51Z
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5. Most places are cooler at night, though it's much more dramatic in the desert. If you don't have central air, open the windows when the sun goes down, get fans in the windows, and get a cross-breeze going. Close the windows early in the morning to keep the inside cool as long as you can.
(DIR) Post #AvNeVyqWXlvYN6bo3c by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:03:42Z
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6. When it's really hot, I will soak a tshirt with cold water and sit in front of a fan (usually to wind down before bed).This horrifies all of my partners, historically, so YMMV. Not for the faint of torso.
(DIR) Post #AvNeVzd5dCm8njKaky by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:06:03Z
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7. White folks especially, because y'all never learned this shit:If you have to go outside in intense sun or heat, loose lightweight long sleeves, hat, and pants/skirts/whatever, are actually much cooler and safer than exposed skin.
(DIR) Post #AvOORaAUwuQ4ZGnC76 by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-22T15:02:29Z
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@DoomsdaysCW Mostly, same! But not barefoot in the "sandals are better than closed toe shoes" way, because grit under my feet is no thank you.
(DIR) Post #AvOOY366IwAY1koqQq by vandorb12@infosec.exchange
2025-06-21T19:04:02Z
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@Genderqueerwolf I learned this from all the day laborers I interacted with and my time doing volunteer work doing trail maintenance. It's like the most unintuitive hack. It's honestly better being a little warmer than burnt.
(DIR) Post #AvOOeI07o2KzzI02LY by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T19:10:14Z
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@vandorb12 It's really clear through the history fashion of cultures in hot climates, but colonialism sure tried to destroy all that.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhJcYExBfscPrhg by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:10:26Z
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8. Studies (and certain cultures) show that drinking hot beverages in the drier heat actually helps you cool down. Right back to the tea, here. Here's one link, there are several: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22574769/(Also my own anecdotal experience)
(DIR) Post #AvOOhKrTcwijjCPIbg by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:13:32Z
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9. Popsicles. Seriously. Even otter pops. Chill your watermelon. Freeze your grapes. Cold dill pickles. Get those snacks in ways that will cool you off and get something in you.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhLjiNI6cRPmc9A by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:15:48Z
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10. If you're struggling to keep a lot of heat from coming through your windows, you can: - Tack up thick blankets to cover the whole window pane, to block out sun and hot air- Cover cardboard with aluminum foil and tape that in the windows foil side out to reflect sun out
(DIR) Post #AvOOhMY3M8N6xXKobo by silhelm@craftgoblin.club
2025-06-21T18:20:27Z
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@Genderqueerwolf In addition to the ice packs you mentioned, I'd like to throw in a recommendation for pet cooling mats (mainly meant for dogs I believe). They have a gel that absorbs heat and will cool until they're compressed (3-4h), then they need to be left alone to release heat and expand. Comes in a bunch of sizes, fairly cheap. A large one slipped under the fitted sheet on a bed to lie on, or a small one in a pillow cover to sit on or lean against can absorb a lot of surplus body heat.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhQ2eMpd3nIfnDU by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:18:37Z
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11. If your fans aren't very good at cooling, you may need to clean them. But you can also make a fan shroud to focus their air power. This is easiest with a box fan and some cardboard. The CR box crew has directions! A CR box can filter smoke, too.https://cleanaircrew.org/box-fan-filters/
(DIR) Post #AvOOhUdJITKY29r7ui by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:20:43Z
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12. A lot of people recommend blowing fans over bowls of ice. I've had literally 0 luck with this recommendation, ever. But if you have a basement, you can chain fans to blow the naturally cooler air up. Just don't use ceiling fans at the same time for this.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhVbZgPXJ343Fqa by Gorfram@beige.party
2025-06-22T08:31:37Z
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@Genderqueerwolf I've had good luck with placing a tub of ice cubes center front of an oscillating fan*, tilted down a bit so that the air sort of "bounces" off the ice water before being blown over towards where I'm sitting.***might work just as well with a static fan, I just like the oscillator.**this in fairly dry 90 F weather in the PNW******yeah, I'm a wimp w/r/t hot weather- that's part of why I moved to the PNW
(DIR) Post #AvOOhYNrLrLdfOeqO0 by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:23:21Z
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13. A rolled-up wet dish towel, especially like a bar rag or other similar material, across the back of your neck and shoulders, will keep you cooler (unless you live in a swampy area).You can also get chilly pads (frogg toggs) which are spongy material made just for this, and they work great.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhceJUct0taO2aW by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:26:51Z
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14. There are *unhinged* conspiracies on the internet about your sheets molding. Please wash your sheets regularly. But the coolest sleeping material is always going to be a lightweight cotton, or linen if you can afford it. "Bamboo" cloth is just rayon. It works until washing wears it out.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhhRjeonPm1XZB2 by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:28:23Z
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15. This might also sound silly, but your oven and clothes dryer heat your house up. So does the shower. Run all those things early in the morning or after 6pm in a heat wave.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhlspA2qDXCFFxI by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:32:10Z
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16. Obviously you can't do this to solve *right now*But if you're living in a house (or an apartment with a balcony and only those windows), green living things help lower your localized heat vs concrete and bare materials. Grow tall stuff by your windows, in between your home and the sun.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhqT870G7kxGJ6G by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:36:41Z
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17. If your area doesn't have public pools, pour all your heat-addled frustration into yelling at your city council for being racist. I'm serious.
(DIR) Post #AvOOhvF8MT2CYzkhTk by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:37:01Z
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18. Sunscreen that actually works and is sweat/water resistant also makes it much harder for your body to cool via sweating. So it's VITAL you limit your time outside during the hottest (and most UV- intense) hours of the day. Not just 10-2 but generally 10-4. Clouds don't protect you from UV!
(DIR) Post #AvOOhzojM3swkYRBWC by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:41:32Z
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19. This might also seem weird, but use the restroom whenever you can. Your body uses a lot of extra energy storing waste and keeping it warm/cool, so this applies in all kinds of extreme temperatures.
(DIR) Post #AvOOi4dDSIe5gI5YlU by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:47:55Z
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20. Know the signs of different kinds of heat illness conditions, and how to recognize them in yourself. Heat exhaustion and sun sickness can do permanent damage, and if you've ever had them you'll be more susceptible in the future. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/heat-exhaustionNote that not sweating is A 🚩
(DIR) Post #AvOOi8xvLFaR7fo9b6 by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:51:21Z
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21. Cool (not cold) showers. Run cold water in a sink over your hands and/or feet. Take off the socks in the house (sorry, sock autists).Throwback to running through the sprinkler/hose.Don't do ice baths, they could impair your ability to monitor your own body responses.
(DIR) Post #AvOOiDaMAIhpS1ou3c by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:56:16Z
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22. Spicy food helps you sweat and will help keep you cool.
(DIR) Post #AvOOiIXLkuGuo9S4Z6 by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T18:59:45Z
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23. If you can afford it, Chill (or freeze l some bottled water and keep it on hand for any neighbors, housed or unhoused, you come across who may be in extra danger in the heat.
(DIR) Post #AvOOiMm20GONwqLr0K by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-21T19:00:16Z
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24. Finally (until I think of more) make sure you're listening to your body. Self regulating body temperature is exhausting, even if you don't have any health complications. Take things slow during extreme temperatures. Be gentle with this one life of yours.
(DIR) Post #AvOOisx8MWHrkXnAki by cwicseolfor@urbanists.social
2025-06-21T19:12:36Z
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@Genderqueerwolf (Also if it’s hot, doing laundry on your off day so you can dry the clothes outside on a line, rack, chairs or railings cuts down your electric consumption and indoor heat generation a huge amount. As does cooking outdoors! Or if indoors, in an insulated vessel like a stand-alone pressure cooker, because it’s not blasting as much heat out into the room as makes it into your food - this goes triple if you have a gas cooktop.)
(DIR) Post #AvOOjRhPAzVBVthbay by batshark@mstdn.plus
2025-06-22T03:38:50Z
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@Genderqueerwolf If you're further north than 53 degrees latitude, think 10-7 this time of year.
(DIR) Post #AvOOjSjZKQpKitiqbg by Genderqueerwolf@wandering.shop
2025-06-22T04:04:56Z
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@batshark Honestly, that far north, I would expect you to basically not venture outside for large portions of the year.
(DIR) Post #AvOOjTiBh3Jfku5G5o by batshark@mstdn.plus
2025-06-22T06:17:25Z
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@Genderqueerwolf We mostly stayed in during the heat dome in 2021.Also, unplug anything that generates heat when it isn't doing anything. Smart phones can play music or audiobooks without using much power.Some people like to freeze tinned fruit, just take it out of the tin first.
(DIR) Post #AvOOmjYxDRxHmlJjkG by Thebratdragon@mastodon.scot
2025-06-22T15:02:45Z
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@Genderqueerwolf cool water that is running to become cold (don't want cold shock, also a problem with ice baths) over the inside of your wrists, this works as your veins etc close to the surface so you cool your bloodflow just slightly .
(DIR) Post #AvOOnsPVo1abW2RhNw by laguiri@neopaquita.es
2025-06-22T14:47:11Z
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@Genderqueerwolf A couple suggestions. I live in the Mediterranean. If you have a porch or balcony that gets a lot of sun at the worst time of the day, get (or make) a rug and get it wet. it will absorb the heat while it dries. If you live in a dry place, hang clothes inside, next to a fan. Your comment about racist swimming pools applies to bans to hang clothes to dry outside. For windows or glass doors, there are blocks of scrapbooking paper, often with seasonal decoration, which work like cardboard and also protect from the cold when you have nothing else. They really are better as cold isolation (I have them in the kitchen).