20 Summer Life Hacks to Impress Your Friends
If you are looking for some sweet summer hacks to stay cool, check out our list of twenty awesome tricks we're sure you haven't heard of before! Beat the heat.
1. Wet towel to cool drinks in the freezer.
Didn't have a chance to cool down your drinks before the BBQ? Grab a damp paper towel and wrap glasses or bottles in the towel before putting them in the fridge or freezer to enjoy ice-cold drinks in half the time. Why does this trick cool the bottle more quickly? The water evaporates like sweat, cooling it down faster.
2. Aloe vera ice cubes for burns
If you're looking to cool yourself off instead of your drinks, you've got to try these. The perfect natural alternative to aftersun with plenty of health benefits for your skin. Get some aloe vera juice from your local shop or squeeze the gel out of some leaves and pour it into ice molds. Once it's frozen, you can rub these on sunburns. It's also just a fun and healthy way to keep cool.
3. Keep plants watered on vacation with an upside-down wine bottle.
Speaking of plants, if you're going away and are worried about your green friends getting thirsty, try using an upside-down bottle of wine. Simply fill the bottle with water and stuff it into the ground at the base of the plant. This is a simple solution to keep your plant pots self-watering while away.
4. Doritos chips for firelighters.
Can't get your barbecue started, looking for a way to light it more quickly? Try using Doritos chips as kindling. Doritos are very flammable (don't ask us how we found out...), so you'll have a roaring fire in no time. If you don't have any Doritos nearby or have already guzzled all of them down, an alternative is to use your tumble dryer's lint stuffed into an empty toilet paper roll.
5. Ice cold water for days.
There's nothing worse than drinking lukewarm water on a hot summer's day. And the taps seem to run permanently hot from June to August. Try filling your water bottles halfway, then lay them on their side in the freezer. This way, you can top it up with tap water when you need them so you can enjoy ice-cold water all day as the ice slowly melts.
6. Did you know chips come with their own bowl?
No more picking and choosing which dishes get their own bowl or seasoning up to your elbows. To turn your chip bags into a bowl, open the top of the packet and fold the edges down. Then push the bottom of the bag up inside itself until the crisps reach the top of the packet. And voilá! Easy access chips in 30 seconds without the mess or the dishwashing.
7. Nothing worse than rock-hard ice cream.
If you can avoid eating that new ice cream bucket in one sitting and decide to save the calories for later, say NO to the dreaded freezer burn for the next time around. Put your ice cream in a plastic bag before putting it in the freezer. We just discovered this hack, and it's a godsend. This trick keeps the ice cream soft, creamy, and delicious when it's time to serve.
8. Fitted sheet hack for beach days
Try this hack if you're like us and love the beach but hate getting covered in sand when sunbathing. Grab an old fitted sheet and turn it upside down, so you’re sitting in it like a paddling pool. Prop up the sides by putting a bag or clothes in each of the four corners. There you have it, your own sand-free zone. This hack should help to keep sand off you at the beach.
9. Chemical-free bug repellent
Sick of being eaten every time you go outside? Go for a DIY bug repellent. All you need is some limes. Halve them and stuff the halves with cloves. This creates a natural bug repellent so you can enjoy some alfresco dining in peace.
10. DIY bug rub
If the bugs have gotten to you despite your best efforts, try this home remedy for bug bites that will stop itching and swelling. Just rub a bit of toothpaste onto where they gotcha, and this should reduce the pain and soothe any swelling.
11. Repel ants with...
If ants, rather than mosquitoes, are your archnemesis, try sprinkling used coffee grounds as a natural ant repellent. Pour these around your dining or seating area outside to create a safe space for your food and drinks. The nitrogen-rich coffee grounds repel the ants and other pests like slugs.
12. Crumpled tin foil to clean the grill
Struggling to clean all the gunk and grease from your grill after winter? Try crumpling up tin foil instead of using a scourer. This works like a treat! The bonus is that you can throw it away when you're done, so you don't have to worry about cleaning another tool once you've got your grill sparkling clean.
13. Luggage deodorant
It's that time of year again. The night before your flight, you pull out your suitcase to pack and get hit by a wave of that musty smell. To avoid this, try stuffing a bit of newspaper into your bags for a few days when you're not using them. This should help keep luggage smelling fresh in storage.
14. DIY AC
Try our handy troubleshooting guide to fix it in a flash if your AC breaks down. You should take many steps to help stop it from getting to this stage as there can be a long wait. But while you're waiting for a repairman, give this a try as an easy stop-gap. Just fill a styrofoam cooler box with ice and water, then cut a couple of holes in the top to let the cool air out. Simply position your fan, blowing over the holes in the box, and voila, you've got a DIY air conditioner. A quick and easy way to keep cool while waiting for a repair.
15. Add salt to your cooler bucket.
If your cooler bucket isn't chilling drinks as fast as possible, try adding salt. This lowers the freezing point of the water so it can get much colder and cool your drinks in double time.
16. DIY hair dye
Do you want to get some cool blonde highlights without an expensive trip to the hairstylist? Just juice a couple of lemons and spray or dab the juice onto your hair until damp. Then sit out in the sun for at least an hour, and after a few applications, you should see your hair lighten from the lemon juice.
17. Beach safe
If you want to enjoy the beach but you're worried about your valuables, you can create covert storage by cutting the bottom of a suntan lotion bottle. Clean out the contents and fill with your valuables before sticking the base back on for a DIY safe. Perfect for when you're down the beach and can't keep an eye on your things. Now just hope that there aren't any lotion thieves out there!
18. Save $$$ on AC bills
Did you know that if you plant a tree or shade near your outdoor AC unit, it can save you up to 15% on your energy bills? We've made a handy guide for you to follow for even more great tips on how to slash energy bills this summer.
19. Continued...
You should be swapping your filters out every ninety days. If you aren't, you could be breathing dirty air and losing money by making your AC unit work harder than it has to. It also increases your risk of a costly breakdown which is the last thing you want in the summer.
20. Get smart
If you don't already have a smart thermostat, it's time. Your system might be running when you don't need it, costing you hundreds of dollars in bills. We've discussed this in other blogs, but the takeaway is that it saves owners on average $180 a year, so it's an excellent investment.
With these summer life hacks, you should be all set for whatever the season throws at you. But these hacks won't fix everything. There's nothing worse than an unexpected summer breakdown when it comes to your AC. But if you can't fix it yourself, we can. Get in touch for a free consultation and 24-hour service you can count on.