| Savings & Tips

Tired of getting eaten alive by mosquitoes? Sick of sweating in your hot car? Summer doesn’t have to mean suffering. These easy life hacks will help you keep your cool all summer long.

  1. Cool off a hot drink in 10 seconds. Watch Dave Hax explain how to chill those not-so-refreshing room temperature bottles or cans in a snap. All you’ll need is ice, water, salt, and a bowl.
  2. You can cool off a hot car in 10 seconds, too. First, open the passenger side door. Then, move the driver’s side door back and forth to fan the air in the car. This will circulate the air and cause the temperature to drop.
  3. Driving around with no air conditioning? Keep a small cooler with frozen bandanas in your car. For more tips, read our post “6 Ways to Stay Cool on the Road Without AC”.
  4. Draw a line with chalk to show ants you mean business. Many have found that ants don’t like to walk across chalk lines. Drawing a line around the perimeter of your home should keep the ants outside.
  5. Have the ants already invaded your home? Figure out what kind of ants you have by sending a photo to your local university extension service. This can give you clues about where it nests. The Family Handyman has a great step-by-step guide for getting rid of ants.
  6. If you’re venturing outdoors, tuck a dryer sheet in your pockets to keep mosquitoes away. Apparently, mosquitoes don’t appreciate the smell of fresh laundry like we do.
  7. Raise your hand to keep gnats out of your face. Gnats tend to buzz around the highest point of your body. If you don’t want to look like you’re waiting to be called upon by the teacher, try wearing a tall hat.
  8. A bee sting can ruin the best of afternoons spent barefoot in the grass. Make a paste for stings by combining water and baking soda. Not only will the paste help with the pain, but it will also help to pull the stinger out as it dries.
  9. Keep your pet’s water bowl fresh to avoid mosquitoes. Standing water (like the water in your pet’s water bowl) is primetime breeding ground for mosquitoes. Pour out your pet’s water bowls each night and refill with fresh water.
  10. Make an “ice lick” treat for your dog. Fill a small bucket with water, toss in some of your dog’s rubber toys, and freeze it. The ice lick will help keep your pet busy and stay cool on hot summer days.
  11. Take the kids to a free workshop at Lowe’s to learn a new skill. Home Depot has free weekly workshops for adults, too.
  12. Or make a “kid wash” out of PVC pipes. This fun backyard sprinkler costs less than $10 to make.
  13. Soothe your sunburn with aloe vera ice cubes. Squeeze aloe vera gel into an ice cube tray and place it in the freezer. When you rub the cubes on your skin, you’ll get a nice cooling sensation.

Your turn. What are your best summertime tips? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter.