15 Clever Ways People Used to Stay Cool Before Air Conditioning
Before air conditioning became common, people came up with clever and useful ways to cool off when it was hot outside. These ways included using nature to cool things down and making solutions that worked for them at the time.
- Tricia Quitales
- 5 min read
Before air conditioning, people had to think of clever ways to stay cool in summer like making their own cooling systems or using materials in smart ways. People used 15 different ways to stay cool in this article, which shows how adapting to the climate was important for staying comfortable during the hot weather. These methods show how resourceful people had to be when they didn’t have access to modern cooling technology.
1. Sleeping Under Wet Sheets
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One of the oldest ways to stay cool was to sleep with wet sheets or clothes on top of you. To stay cool at night, people would soak sheets in cold water, hang them over windows, or use them as blankets. The air would get cooler as the water evaporated, making the room much cooler.
2. Using Hand Fans
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Before electric fans, people had to use handheld fans to stay cool. To make a breeze, people often carried small paper or cloth fans to wave back and forth. More complex fan styles used big folding fans made of feathers or bamboo to cool off and look good.
3. Cooling Off in Bodies of Water
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People often went to lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water nearby to stay cool. Every so often, they would jump into the water to cool off. Not only was it a way to cool off, but it also became a social activity, especially in summer.
4. Installing Window Awnings
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Awnings were put up over the windows to block direct sunlight and keep the inside cooler. These things helped keep the sun out of the house, which made the rooms feel much cooler. In warm places, awnings were common. They could be made of fabric, wood, or metal.
5. Using Ice for Cooling
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Ice was a key item to use to stay cool before refrigerators and other modern cooling methods. People would put ice blocks in small rooms to cool the air or use them to cool drinks. Icy boxes, which were like early refrigerators, also used ice to keep food cool.
6. Drinking Cold Beverages
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Drinking cool drinks, especially water, was important for staying cool and refreshed. People usually kept their drinks cold by putting them in containers with ice or using coolers. During the hot summer months, people liked drinking lemonade, iced tea, and fruit juices they made themselves.
7. Creating Cross Ventilation
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Cross-ventilation, which lets air flow naturally through a building or house, comes from opening many windows across the structure. This was very helpful when the weather was cooler, like in the morning and evening. By making it easier for air to flow through them, people could keep their homes from getting too hot.
8. Using Damp Towels
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Using a damp towel was another easy way to cool off. It was common for people to soak towels in cold water and then put them on their foreheads or necks to cool down. People who want to cool off quickly still use this method.
9. Sleeping Outdoors
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Many people would sleep outside under the stars, where it was cooler when it got too hot to be inside. This was a common thing to do in small towns and rural areas, where homes didn’t always have the cooling technology that homes do in big cities. People who slept outside could avoid the stuffy heat inside their homes.
10. Using Straw or Bamboo Mats
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Straw and bamboo mats were placed on beds or floors to keep people cooler while they slept. These mats let air flow and prevented the body from touching hot surfaces, such as wooden floors. In many cultures, people liked to sleep on mats on hot summer nights.
11. Building Houses with Thick Walls
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Homes often had thick walls made of stone or adobe that kept the inside cool. The temperature indoors stayed more stable because these walls took in heat during the day and let it out at night. To stay cool, people still use this old insulation method in many parts of the world.
12. Planting Shade Trees
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Planting trees around a house or garden was a good way to create natural shade. Big trees, like oaks or maples, would block the sun from hitting the house directly, helping to lower the temperature inside. Cities and towns with streets lined with trees were also cooler places for people to walk.
13. Using Shade Cloths
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Shade cloths, made of fabric that lets air flow, were often put over windows or porches in hot places to keep the sun’s rays from making rooms too hot. Shade cloths made of fabric that lets air flow would block direct sunlight while still letting air flow, keeping the room cool and comfortable without using electricity.
14. Building Homes with High Ceilings
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Hot air rises, so homes with high ceilings stay cooler than those with low ceilings. By making homes with open, airy rooms, heat can escape more easily, keeping the people who live there cooler. The better airflow caused by the high ceilings makes the inside more comfortable.
15. Using Underground Homes or Cellars
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In places where it gets very hot in summer, people sometimes dig homes into the ground or use cellars to cool off. The earth is naturally cooler below the surface than above it, making it a nice place to be during the hot summer months. These cool underground spaces were common in dry places.