It is important to stay cool if you want to be comfortable during the scorching hot weather the UK is experiencing, but there is a simple way to get colder air out of your fan. Fans cannot actually lower the air temperature as they simply push air around, so this handy device will not cool you down if you are already sitting in a hot room.
However, Amy, a mum and founder of Everything Mummy, has shared that there is an easy way to make your fan more effective, as all you need is some ice and cold water. She said: “Fill a bowl with cold water and ice and position the bowl in front of the fan. Switch the fan, leaving it in the oscillating position (i.e. so that it passes through a 180° arc) and enjoy the sudden and welcome blast of a cold breeze.”
Putting very cold water near a fan will increase the cooling effect as the air moves through the fan, which will make you feel much more refreshed.
It works best during dry weather, like a heatwave, and is a handy way to stay cool in the UK when most people do not have air conditioning.
All you need is a wide bowl or tray of water, as the larger surface area helps more cold transfer into the air.
Then, simply place the bowl of water in front of a fan, making sure no electronic devices are nearby.
Switch on the fan, and you should start to feel the air turn lighter and feel more refreshed.
If you want a fan so you can stay comfortably chilled for much longer, you can also place a wet sheet near a window, which will have the same effect of moistening and cooling the air.
Amy said: “Place a fan at one window to push the hot air out with a wet sheet hanging over a window too. It moistens and cools the air as it comes into your home.”
This takes a little more effort, but the sheet will naturally absorb the heat as it enters your home to keep a steady cold airflow into a room.
It works the exact same way as placing cool water near a fan, but tends to last much longer, so you can stay safe and comfortable despite the roasting hot weather.