Look, we’d love to own a pool. Even though they can actually lower property value — this is what we call a worthwhile investment in our own joy and exercise. (Because we’d go swimming every single day, right?) However, although this sounds like an amazing fantasy, swimming pools also cost about eighty bajillion dollars to put in (we’re rounding up, OK?) and who has the space? Not us. So instead of fantasizing about a pool that’s impossible to actually own, we’re opting instead for something far more practical: actual, small, affordable (sometimes free!) solutions that will keep us cool all summer long and don’t require us to move house. The summer is our favorite season — we love all the fresh tomatoes and the sheer feeling of excitement and fun in the air — but it’s also pretty torturous some days, so we need ways to stay cool.
We know that being a mom in the summer comes with extra challenges, too — especially when school gets out. For our own self-care, we love this story about ways to protect hair this summer , because normally, our hair gets absolutely fried from all the sun and trips to the local waterpark and community pool. And for pregnant moms, this list of things every pregnant woman will need to survive a summer pregnancy is absolutely genius — definitely check it out to stay … well, less miserable in the blazing heat! For kids, we love indoor activities on hot summer days , for when it’s literally just too hot to go out to play. Check out summertime hacks to survive the heat with kids , which is more oriented on the kiddos, and these low-cost & super fun activities for your summer family bucket list , which is a general guide to clean, cheap fun this summer.
Make a DIY Cooling Spray
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Sure, purchasing a cooling spray is an option, but they’re so expensive. We get ingredients that are cheaper and better quality when we make our own cooling spray  with witch hazel and aloe (and a drop or two of peppermint essential oil is nice, too)!
Pick up an iPhone fan
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Yes, it’s kinda nerdy, but also yes, this fan plugs directly into the one thing we have on us all the time — our phones — and works like an absolute charm. Also, we love that it comes in rose gold because we’ll never get over that color. Don’t judge!
Opt for a Classic Spanish Hand Fan
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We also love going totally old school — this fan is a beautiful example of form and function combined. It’s definitely also compelled more than one person to say, “Well, that’s the smartest thing I’ve seen someone do today” to us, too.Â
Avoid Getting That Haircut
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Pick Up a Serious Thermos
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We may associate thermoses with the winter and keeping hot drinks piping hot, but we actually really love a seriously old-school thermos even more in the summertime, when normal water bottles get incredibly hot and sticky.Â
Add Some Houseplants
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How can houseplants possibly keep a home cooler in the summer? Well, it turns out that plants do a lot of amazing things — such as purify the air in the home — and they also release moisture, which can make it feel more comfortable.
Get Spicy
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It may seem counterintuitive, but spicy food is actually really great when it’s hot outside. That’s because the capsaicin in chili peppers causes us to sweat without actually raising our body temperatures, which cools us down.
Eat Plenty of Watermelon
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One of the biggest problems in the summer is overheating through dehydration. Although we can remind ourselves to chug as much water as we want, it’s even better to make sure snacks such as watermelon are what we reach for.
Throw on a Linen Dress
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Linen is a material that wicks sweat and keeps us cooler than cotton. Check out these linen dresses that will keep moms cool (and stylish!) all summer  for more info about why linen is absolutely magic (and find some on-trend options).
Grab Ice Cube Trays For Water Bottles
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For anyone who isn’t going to invest in a giant, awkward thermos like the ones we’re in love with (above) we strongly recommend grabbing some ice cube trays that can make ice cubes that actually fit in a water bottle so there’s no jamming and cursing involved.
Cool Off Wrists First
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When we’re incredibly overheated, the first thing we want to do is throw our wrists in the sink with some cool water or discreetly place an ice cube on our wrists. This is because the wrists are an easily accessible pulse point.
Throw Pillowcases in the Freezer an Hour Before Bed
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On nights when it’s just too hot to possibly imagine sleeping, toss the pillowcases in a plastic bag and then in the freezer. (We’d recommend just sticking them in the freezer, but our freezer doesn’t smell that great. But to each their own!)
Buy a Cooling Pillow Gel Pad
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Although the pillowcase-in-the-freezer trick does feel really great, a full-on cooling pillow gel pad actually works serious wonders. It stays cool to help us fall asleep, and it doesn’t need to go in the fridge or freezer.
Make Popsicles a Daily Treat
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We love popsicles in the summertime, and they can be a daily treat when we DIY them and the cost stays low! Check out these recipes for homemade popsicles everyone will love this summer .
Avoid Heating Up the Kitchen With Serve-Cold Recipes
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When it’s a million degrees outside, nobody needs to cook a whole dinner that involves standing in front of a stove or turning on the oven. Check out these serve-cold recipes that are still really filling .
Break Out the Slow Cooker
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We’re also a big fan of breaking out the slow cooker, which creates beautiful hot meals that don’t involve making the kitchen boiling hot. Take a look at these Crock-Pot summer recipes for easy meals on hot days .
Spray Down the Curtains With Water
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Spraying curtains with water from a spray bottle — or letting their bottoms soak in little tubs of water — is an effective trick for cooling down a house without air-conditioning. Open the window, set up a box fan, and let the water-sprayed curtains do all the rest.
Get a Cooling Shirt
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Yes, these actually work. Run this T-shirt under cool water, and go for a run (or, uh, for anyone like us, just live regular life taking care of chores and errands). Yes, it involves wearing a wet shirt, but it’s incredibly comfortable.
Avoid Using the Drying Cycle on the Dishwasher
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The drying cycle makes the dishwasher turn into a little heat box. Instead, just let the dishes drip dry (or if something is really needed again right away, dry it the old-fashioned way with a dish towel).
Grab a Cold Therapy Pack
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We love this cold therapy gel pack because it straps onto parts of our body that get way too hot — such as our feet — and cools them down in record time. They are also helpful to use on wrists, which are pulse points.
