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Reply to: How to survive this nasty heat wave of 110+ degrees Posted July 14, 2021

Hi All! I’ve lived in Ls Vegas/Mojave Desert for over 30 years. (YUK) From the Bay Area and Colorado, the desert heat and I no longer get along. So I have a few tricks that might help others deal with the heat…  In addition to solar power & solar screens on all windows, I have added clear plastic wrap lining inside windows (as to not look like a ghetto crackhead with aluminum foil windows), and I have “honeycomb style” window shades indoors for ALL windows (which are super insulating, not too expensive, and avail in multiple colors at Lowes and Home Depot). I added large pull down solar screens on the outside of my back patio to reduce heat off my kitchen slider, and make it a shady cooler area which the big outdoor fan can cool easier.  I bought a small (like 8″ x 10″) $30. cooling fan that has a small water tank; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SM757HG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I keep it near the head of my bed and fill it with COLD fridge water before sleep every night. It helps cool the head area of my bedroom alot! I’m am SO happy with the moist cool air! I also ALWAYS have 3-8 frozen water bottles, a couple I use in pillowcases at night to cool me more (post menopause trick), and a couple to take in the 160+ degree car. Super nice to put one behind my neck when driving. Usually takes the AC in my not-to-old car 10-15 minutes to cool down. It’s been 110 to 120 at my home (I’m in the hotter part of town on the edge of the desert). I always use them when I neen an icechest to keep the ice from melting too fast. In the heat of the summertime, about once or twice a month, I buy otterpops (80 in a box) and generic electrolyte drinks (24 in a Costco case) and I freeze them solid. Then I get a friend to go with me to give them to the homeless – we don’t get out of the car (they will bum-rush you and grab all of it). I drive carefully (I know the routes and their jump in front of, or onto your car tricks), and my co-pilot hands them or tosses them (carefully) out the passenger window. We keep the doors locked (yes, they’ve tried to open the car doors and pull us or everything we have out). So be careful, but share a cool smile!  I keep a good quality spray bottle full of H20 in my fridge, and use it if I overheat outside. I maintain my own yard and it gets VERY hot. West sideyard was 136 in the shade 2 weeks ago… There is no airflow on that side of my house.  I also keep my suntan lotion in the fridge in the summertime. So nice to have cool skin, even if just for a few minutes.  I only use my big oven to cook a turkey and all the fixens once a year. My counter top convection/air fry/toaster oven combo works great for many things and does not heat the house nearly as much.  Everything else you recommend is great too! Stay cool! 

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Reply to: How to survive this nasty heat wave of 110+ degrees Posted July 14, 2021

Hi All! I’ve lived in Ls Vegas/Mojave Desert for over 30 years. (YUK) From the Bay Area and Colorado, the desert heat and I no longer get along. So I have a few tricks that might help others deal with the heat…  In addition to solar power & solar screens on all windows, I have added clear plastic wrap lining inside windows (as to not look like a ghetto crackhead with aluminum foil windows), and I have “honeycomb style” window shades indoors for ALL windows (which are super insulating, not too expensive, and avail in multiple colors at Lowes and Home Depot). I added large pull down solar screens on the outside of my back patio to reduce heat off my kitchen slider, and make it a shady cooler area which the big outdoor fan can cool easier.  I bought a small (like 8″ x 10″) $30. cooling fan that has a small water tank; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SM757HG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I keep it near the head of my bed and fill it with COLD fridge water before sleep every night. It helps cool the head area of my bedroom alot! I’m am SO happy with the moist cool air! I also ALWAYS have 3-8 frozen water bottles, a couple I use in pillowcases at night to cool me more (post menopause trick), and a couple to take in the 160+ degree car. Super nice to put one behind my neck when driving. Usually takes the AC in my not-to-old car 10-15 minutes to cool down. It’s been 110 to 120 at my home (I’m in the hotter part of town on the edge of the desert). I always use them when I neen an icechest to keep the ice from melting too fast. In the heat of the summertime, about once or twice a month, I buy otterpops (80 in a box) and generic electrolyte drinks (24 in a Costco case) and I freeze them solid. Then I get a friend to go with me to give them to the homeless – we don’t get out of the car (they will bum-rush you and grab all of it). I drive carefully (I know the routes and their jump in front of, or onto your car tricks), and my co-pilot hands them or tosses them (carefully) out the passenger window. We keep the doors locked (yes, they’ve tried to open the car doors and pull us or everything we have out). So be careful, but share a cool smile!  I keep a good quality spray bottle full of H20 in my fridge, and use it if I overheat outside. I maintain my own yard and it gets VERY hot. West sideyard was 136 in the shade 2 weeks ago… There is no airflow on that side of my house.  I also keep my suntan lotion in the fridge in the summertime. So nice to have cool skin, even if just for a few minutes.  I only use my big oven to cook a turkey and all the fixens once a year. My counter top convection/air fry/toaster oven combo works great for many things and does not heat the house nearly as much.  Everything else you recommend is great too! Stay cool!