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#keeping cool
wastelesscrafts · 2 years
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Fabric types and summer heat
The world is seeing record temperatures again. A lot of people find little comfort in their summer wardrobe these days, so it's important to be aware of how fabric types can influence your well-being in hot weather.
The following list of fabrics is by no means exhaustive, but it covers the basics.
Some of the fabrics mentioned below are expensive when bought new. You'll often find them for cheap in second-hand shops and on thrifting platforms though. I'm literally wearing a €5 linen underskirt, a €1 silk top, and a €7 silk summer dress right now, just to give an example.
General notes:
If you don't know where to start, try to stick to light-weight fabrics made of natural fibres. Look for light colours and open weaves.
You might be tempted to cover as little skin as possible in order to keep cool, but this leaves your skin vulnerable to sunburn. A thin layer of linen will often be more efficient at keeping you cool than leaving your skin bare.
Don't forget to wear sunscreen! Even if your skin type doesn't burn easily, it will still lower your chances of skin cancer. Look into sunscreens for children if you have sensory issues: they tend to be more sensory-friendly.
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(Image source 1) [ID 1: a gray linen fabric with a tight weave.] / (Image source 2) [ID 2: a gray linen fabric with a loose weave.]
Polyester (to avoid):
Are your summer clothes making you ridiculously sweaty? Check the tag: you're probably wearing polyester.
Polyester is a synthetic fabric derived from petroleum: it's basically a plastic. It's strong, cheap, and stain resistant, which makes it a popular fabric. Even though a lot of summer clothes are made out of polyester, it's one of the worst fabrics to wear in summer.
Polyester is neither absorbent nor breathable, and captures heat. It traps sweat between your skin and your clothes, and it won't let you cool down. This leaves you feeling sticky and overheated. It can also cause static cling, which can be uncomfortable.
Not all synthetic fabrics are bad in summer: a lot of UV-blocking clothes are made of synthetics for example and can be a real life saver if you're sensitive to the sun. Try to avoid polyester if you can, though.
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(Image source) [ID: close-up on a blue tightly woven polyester fabric that folds into a swirl at its centre.]
Cotton:
Cotton is a natural fibre that makes for a soft, durable, and breathable fabric. It allows air to circulate around your body which helps to keep you cool and get rid of sweat. It's a good basic choice.
Cotton has one downside: it's very absorbent, but takes a while to dry. If the weather's making you sweat excessively, the sweat can pool into the fabric of your cotton clothes. This will make them wet, resulting in visible sweat stains that can feel uncomfortable and will take a long time to dry.
If you can't stand how cotton feels, check out chambray weaves or bamboo textiles. They have similar properties to plain-weave cotton, but tend to be more sensory-friendly.
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(Image source) [ID: close-up on a faded yellow tightly woven cotton fabric that folds into a swirl at its centre.]
Linen:
Linen is the absolute king of hot weather fabrics. It's strong, absorbent, dries quickly, and is very breathable. It cools you down, but won't make you feel sticky because any sweat it absorbs will evaporate fast.
I frequently layer multiple thin loose-fitting linen garments when it's hot. Loose layers allow for air to circulate between your clothes while protecting your skin from the sun. It almost functions as a wearable air-conditioner.
Note that linen is prone to wrinkling. If this bothers you, know that linen requires extra effort during laundry to avoid this.
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(Image source) [ID: close-up on a gray woven linen fabric that folds into a swirl at its centre.]
Silk:
Silk is yet another natural fibre that makes for a strong, quick-drying, and pretty breathable fabric. It's soft and cool to the touch, which makes it a great sensory choice.
Silk is not as breathable as cotton or linen, but dries very quickly. This means it might make you sweat more than cotton or linen does, but once the fabric's moist it will dry faster.
Note that sweat stains on silk tend to be pretty visible. Silk's also prone to static cling.
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(Image source) [ID: close-up on a light brown tightly woven silk fabric that folds into a swirl at its centre.]
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alpaca-clouds · 8 months
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How to survive the heat
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Okay, let me talk about something else.
The climate is changing and it is getting hotter. The summers especially are getting hotter and hotter by the year and a lot of people are struggling with it.
As my American friends keep reminding me: The US - at least those areas, that have always been kinda hot - has usually ACs for most buildings. But someone sitting in Germany I can guarantee you: Most of us do not. At least not outside of commercial buildings like shopping malls and office buildings.
And still, we have temperatures over 30°C - at times going up to 40°C (that is like 86° - 104° in freedom units) - and somehow have to survive in here. So, as someone sitting in an attic flat with no AC in sight, let me talk survival.
Why heat is dangerous
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Let me quickly talk about heat and why it is dangerous to us. And let me make it clear: Yes, heat is dangerous. Heat usually kills more people than any other type of extreme weather. Because while you can protect against most other weather, the heat is not that easy.
Our human fleshbags usually function best around 37°C (which is like 98.7°F) and to keep itself at around that temperature. When we are cold, our body burns energy to warm itself up. When we are hot, we produce sweat so that our bodies can cool of via evaporation.
The issue is, that our bodies are only able to do that in certain temperatures effectively.
And if we cannot cool off, our body will slowly fail. Additionally we might sweat so much, that we loose too much water through sweat, our bodies might shut off, too.
Just a quick graphic here. Just to make you aware. Because heat is dangerous.
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So, let us talk about something.
How to survive the heat without an AC?
Let me talk about my best friend during the summer heat: The fan. With that I mean the nice electric fan that keeps the air moving. Yes, it burns energy and that sucks, but with the air moving, our sweat can better evaporate, hence cooling us down.
Another thing that might help as well, is a device removing air humidity - because this, too, helps with sweating.
Then, of course, there is the good one: Air out your apartments early in the morning or throughout the night. When it is still cool. Then close up the windows during the day and close and curtains and blinds. If you do not have blinds, you might consider putting something against the windows from the outside. I personally use medical foil blankets, that are made to keep temperatures regulated. But please, please, if you do that: Put them up outside. Because otherwise it might harm the glass of the window. (And yes, sadly I have to remind you, too that you need to check with your landlord if this is okay.)
Another thing that might help you: Fill bottles with water and freeze them. Then put them up in the highest place in your room. This can lower the temperature in your room for a couple degrees. It is a very easy hack that works quite well.
Now, you might have heard about that drinking cold drinks is bad and that instead you actually should drink hot drinks. The science behind it is basically, that cold drinks do kinda cancel themselves out. Yes, cold drinks and ice cream cool down the inside of the body, but with it, it will also tell the body not to sweat. Because of that, you win nothing, but you also loose nothing. The natural temperature regulation gets stopped for a while, but for the same while your body gets cooled by the cold drink. So... It's alright. Do it the way you like. And yes, even though sweating is a good and healthy thing in the heat... It also kinda sucks.
Most importantly though: Drink. And drink something non-alcoholic. (Because alcohol dehydrates the body.) Other than that, it really does not matter what you drink. If it is hot or cold. Just make sure you drink about 2-3 liters a day. To make up for the loss of water through sweating.
The last tip I have is not good for the introverted. But... You might wanna consider spend your days in a place that is climatized. I usually sit in the office even on my off days, because it has a passive cooling system (yes, fancy sustainable stuff even!) and during the weekends I often go to the university library, because it is nice and climate controlled there.
Would I love to lounge around at home instead? Yes. Yes, I would. But... Beggers can't be choosers. And even my autistic ass prefers sitting in the library to having a heat stroke. Because yes, I had a heat stroke once. I cannot recommend it.
So, that said: Stay chilly.
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richs-pics · 10 months
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In the shade
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asteroidgalore · 6 months
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Anubis (1912) is of above-average temperament. The Book of the Dead tells of a mishap that Anubis got into where his wife lies about being intimate with his brother Bata (translates to ‘soul giver.’). Anubis confronts his brother and learns the truth from his brother rather than mindlessly reacting.
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disabilityhorizons · 9 months
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Extract: "Be aware that using air conditioning units is very expensive at home! It is much cheaper to use fans.
Other tips for keeping your home cool:
Keep Curtains and Windows Closed: During the hottest parts of the day, keep your curtains and windows closed. Use light-coloured blinds and curtains made of weighty fabric for the best heat-blocking potential.
Improvise Air Conditioning: Hang a wet sheet in front of an open window to cool the warm air as it enters your home. If you’re using a fan, place a deep dish of ice in front of it to create a chilled breeze. Point a box fan out of an open window in the evenings to push hot air out.
Manage Doors: Keep unused rooms closed during the day to focus your cooling efforts. Open your doors in the evening to facilitate air flow and prevent your home from feeling stuffy.
Install Reflective Window Film: This is an effective tool for keeping your house cool in summer by keeping the sun’s rays at bay.
Use Extractor Fans Cleverly: Use your extractor fans to rid your home of excess heat. Leave your internal doors open and let the fans run for a while.
Switch to Bamboo Bedding: Bamboo doesn’t absorb heat like traditional mattresses, making it a cooler option for summer.
Cover Leather Sofas: If you have leather sofas, cover them with a lightweight throw or sheet made of natural fibres to prevent sticking.
Use a Dehumidifier: A dehumidifier can pull the moisture out of the air and let your skin breathe better, helping to keep you cool."
Click link for full post
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angoragoats · 7 months
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I got my bottle
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nickv47 · 7 months
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FACT: Sharks like to put the hurt on a big box of ice cream sandwiches during hot Summer days!
Links to my shops on nickvolkert.com!
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athenepromachos · 2 years
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I.m tired and very, very hot.... so let's have some pics of Mr C in his swim trunks and by the pool.... Happy Friday!!! Xxxxx 💋
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karihighman · 2 years
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Eric Winter and Tru Valentino BTS on set for s5 of The Rookie aka: Bradsen content! Yay! 😄
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^ them making the same expressions is sending me 😂👏
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prettybluedress · 10 months
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Feel compelled to share this tip for any others who share the creeping dread I feel as the days lengthen and the days get hotter. Especially for those unfortunate enough as to live in a similarly humid climate.
I got a cheap pet cooling mat in Aldi (got a medium, should have got a large) for €5.99 hoping that it would work (a) on humans and (b) to just sit my back against rather than only when I lie on it. Well, fellow sufferers, it does work and it works really well! The only thing is you need to move about a bit fairly regularly in order to retrigger the chemical reaction that results in the cooling effect.
It’s going to be a lifesaver when I feel that panicky, claustraphobic feeling in the summer, or when I can’t sleep because my room is a sauna. Highly recommend.
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lovelyelbowleech · 2 years
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hi!!! okay here’s a list of tips based on a mixture of scientific expertise and my own personal experiences as someone who grew up in the desert and now lives in an area that traditionally has a cool climate (and therefore is not equipped to handle heat) but has had some extreme heat waves the past few years due to global warming, lol. some of this stuff is pretty basic/common sense and i expect you probably know most of it already, but i included it just to be safe. sending this as an ask on anon so that way you can share it and there’s a possibility someone else who might need to read this can see it. please stay safe and i’m wishing you all the best <3 - hair anon
- first of all, during the hottest parts of the day, if it’s at all possible, go to public places with ac. if this is going to be anywhere nearby you, it’s usually going to be more modern buildings, including and especially things like indoor shopping centers and movie theaters. this may be more or less doable because a million other people will have the same idea and those places may be completely packed, but if it’s at all possible, i recommend it.
- when you’re at home: keep your windows closed and blinds drawn as long as the temperature inside your apartment is cooler than it is outside. putting tin foil on the outside of windows can help improve insulation, if that’s possible. if it gets hotter inside, though, open your windows and keep them open. keep your blinds or curtains shut, but only so far as they don’t block the air flowing through the open window. you need to keep open airflow through the building once its internal temperature gets hotter than the temperature outside so the heat doesn’t get trapped. it *will* turn into an oven otherwise. if there’s any overhead fans on the ceiling, turn those on and keep them on. if you have any standing fans, keep them all on. if you don’t have any standing fans, and all the places nearby that sell them haven’t already sold out, buy some. even if you only have a tiny fan or fans, keep those plugged in and blowing. they can make a world of difference. there’s an important caveat to the fans, though: if the internal temperature of where you’re at is over 35°C/95°F, fans can actually make it harder for your body to cool down. if it reaches that point, turn the fans off and try other methods listed below to stay cool.
- find a place you’re going to be comfortable in lying down in essentially all day. you want to move as little as possible. i’d recommend having a fan stationed there and blowing for as long as it’s safe to—if you only have one, keep it there. wear loose-fitting, light clothing.
- drink water. drink more water than you think you need. depending on how hot it gets and how dehydrated you get, you’re going to feel sick and not want to drink water, but do it anyways. juice and electrolyte-enhanced beverages (i.e. gatorade) are also good, but water is best. carbonated and/or caffeinated beverages aren’t great, but they’ll do in a pinch if for whatever reason, you’re in a place where you don’t have access to water. if you’re sensitive to caffeine, though, i’d recommend avoiding it 100% until it cools down.
- if you have any pets, make sure you have similar systems set up for them. i’d recommend looking up online resources specific to whatever breed of animal you may have.
- know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Here’s the NHS page that lists quick and dirty symptoms: https://www(.)nhs(.)uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/ and here’s a Mayo Clinic page, which is longer but lists more symptoms and the causes of it, as well as lists risk factors: https://www(.)mayoclinic(.)org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250 if you live alone, i’d recommend setting up a system with a friend/family member/neighbor/etc where you check up on each other throughout the day and set up a plan to call for help if either one of you starts experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. if you know anyone who lives alone, especially anyone who’s in a risk group, i’d also recommend getting in touch with them to see if they have a similar plan in place, and if they don’t, setting one up with them. long story short, though, if you start feeling any kind of sick or funky, start taking steps to cool down, even if you’re not sure if it’s heat exhaustion. don’t take chances. personally speaking, if it helps any, the few times i’ve had heat exhaustion what i usually noticed first were stomach cramps, followed by muscle cramps, lightheadedness/dizziness, and nausea. every person is different but be sure to be on the lookout for those symptoms in yourself and anyone you know/are surrounded by.
- Wet any spare rags or cloths you have and put them in your fridge. When you start to feel unbearably hot, pull them out and put them on the back of your neck and your pulse points. The ones on your neck are most effective, but you can also use your temples, your wrists, your armpits, the inside of your elbows, ankles, and knees, the tops of your feet, and your inner thighs. I’ve heard cycling through using those spots is effective, as is just keeping cool rags there until they start to warm up. Once you’re done using them, rewet them and put them back in the fridge. Ice packs and bags of ice cubes are also great for this purpose, just make sure to wrap them in cloth first.
- cold showers are your best friend. during the day, if you start to overheat, they’re another great option.
- at night, once it’s cooled off, keep the windows open as far as they’ll go (and as far as you can safely keep them). get as much cool air as you can into the building before it warms up again the next day.
This is such a lot of very useful information, thank you! I hope it helps out anyone else suffering from the heat too!
Today's work day was not an easy one, got to admit 😂 (my office is still mostly my bedroom, and the sun shines though the window from about 2 to 5, which is amazing when its not boiling!) But at least I didn't have to get the tube - small mercies!
Thanks also to @pensiveabstraction, @moth-time and @uncle-sams-dirty-socks with their helpful tips in the last post :)
I hope all the other folks suffering in the heat are keeping themselves as safe as possible!
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mlqc-gavinslove · 2 years
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GAVIN: Keeping Cool (R KARMA)
Gavin's Moments ~Cooling Supplies~
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dreamlandsystem · 2 years
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Our system is very warm blooded. We tend to overheat in 80° F weather - our autism makes being hot sensory hell! Here’s some stuff you can do to keep cool; it’s been really hot lately and it’ll probably continue to be that way for the next couple months!
Stay hydrated! This one is a no-brainer and the most important thing! We have a water bottle we keep in our fridge so it’s always cold, and we always keep it topped off. We also use it to refill our pets’ water bowls, so they can have cold water in the afternoon when it gets really hot
Keep frozen treats around! A popsicle or ice cream sandwich can work wonders when coming inside from a really warm day. Be sure to eat it slowly so you don’t get a brain freeze! Our syskids like to eat frozen peas and frozen grapes - you can have all sorts of frozen treats if you get creative!
Take a cool bath or shower! This can help lower your body temperature and keep you feeling cooler longer.
If you have long hair, keep it tied up or maybe get a haircut! We have short hair, but back when we had longer hair, it always kept the back of our neck hot and sweaty 😖 Having shorter hair or keeping it tied back and away from your skin absolutely can help keep you cooler in the summer months!
Eat cold foods and things you can make without an oven/stove. Having the oven or stove on can heat up your living space, even if your air conditioner is running! Now is definitely the time for sandwiches, cereal, salads, and other cool meals that you don’t need to heat up.
Never underestimate the power of a cool wet rag on the back of your neck or your other warm bits!
Keep your blinds and curtains closed! The sun streaming through a window can really increase the temperature inside. If you’re able to, maybe hang blankets over your windows to keep the light (and heat!) from getting in
Wear light, breathable fabrics like linen or cotton, and avoid layering outfits! If you bind, please remember to take lots of breaks (even just a quick moment to breathe in the bathroom would help) - binding in the heat can be much worse than binding in cooler weather!
Plan indoor activities. If you want to go out, go to an aquarium, the mall, or a museum (please remember to mask up!). Visiting somewhere indoors can be a great way to get out of the house without overheating!
Use fans! Place a bowl of ice between yourself and a fan at home, and it’ll help keep you cooler. You could also get a fan to plug into your phone that can help keep you cool while you’re out and about!
Stick to the shade (and off of the pavement!). When going out, choose routes that have more shade access and less pavement (especially if you have dogs - hot pavement can hurt a dog’s paw pads!). Maybe bring an umbrella with you to help shade yourself from the sun!
Create a designated cool room. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, creating a designated cool room will really help, especially during the hottest time of day! In this room, make sure you’ve covered the windows with dark material to keep out as much light as possible. If you can, place a portable cooling unit or some sort of fan inside. This way, you can trap the cool air inside the room - it’s easier to cool down one room than a whole home! Sleep on top of some blankets on the ground with only a thin sheet for cover - heat rises, so you’re more likely to feel cool if you lie close to the floor!
Play in the water! We bought a little plastic pool for like $8 from Target for our littles and our dogs to play in. Dance in the sprinklers, splash around in a little pool, or have a water fight! See if your community has a pool, lake, creek, or splash pad that you can cool off in. Remember to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water if you’re going to be outside!
Create a cross breeze at night. If your house has been getting warmer throughout the day, at night open two windows on different sides of your home. By one window, place a fan that points inward towards the rest of the house. In the other window, place a second fan that points outside. This will help pull in cool air while pushing stale warm air out of your home. If you have a home exhaust fan, it pretty much does this same thing!
There’s definitely more things you can do to help stay cool, but we just wanted to share a few tips! Remember to Stay Hydrated and take care of yourselves and each other! Try not to push yourself to hard and remember to take breaks - autumn will be here before you know it!
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bitletsanddrabbles · 2 years
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You know it’s hot when it’s an hour to bedtime and you suddenly realize you’ve not put your pyjamas in the freezer.
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Remember The Cool Logic Of The Stoics
When you are hot under the collar out on the golf course, cause things are not going your way. Remember the cool logic of the Stoics. When the shit hits the fan and your golf ball goes missing in action. Remember the calm poise of the Stoic Golfer. These all too familiar moments on the golf course can rile up the average Joe or Joanne. Yeah, golf is not a game of perfect but gee it can wind you…
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siarven · 10 months
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Saw this post by @doppelnatur how dandelions are pretty good trans symbols and got inspired! Happy pride everyone 🏳️‍⚧️
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