You can easily build a DIY cooling fan or a "poor man's air conditioner" using everyday household items. The most effective methods turn standard fans into swamp coolers by passing the airflow over ice or frozen bottles.
All you need to do is grab a tub or bucket, fill it with ice-cold water (add ice to keep it cold), and put some bottles of ice-cold water inside the bucket. Then, direct the fan at the bucket with the water bottles. This will result in the fan blowing around cooler air around your room.
Yes, a fan is highly effective and recommended for people with COPD. Directing a cool stream of air at your face is a proven, non-pharmacological way to relieve the sensation of breathlessness (air hunger) and can even improve recovery times after physical activity.
Lay the cloth over the fan. As it blows the air out, it'll circulate through the cloth and the air will feel cooler. Make sure that the cloth cannot get caught on the fan in any way at all––if this is a possibility, don't use this method. Replace the cloth frequently, as they dry out.
Simply grab a bowl filled with ice, or even fill up a milk jug with water and freeze it, and put the ice behind the fan so it's pulling cold air out.
You can hack a fan into a makeshift air conditioner by placing ice, frozen water bottles, or a damp towel directly in front of the unit. As the fan pushes air over the freezing temperatures or moisture, it rapidly chills the breeze before it circulates into the room.
Many Amish homes are built with plenty of windows to help circulate the air and bring in the cooler overnight temperatures. They open the windows on the top floors to help the heat escape while the family retreats to the lower grounds within their homes for comfort.
How cool should my house be if it's 100 outside? Your AC can typically cool about 20°F below the outdoor temperature, so if it's 100°F outside, maintaining 78–80°F indoors is reasonable.
Fans can circulate dust and pollen in the air, which may trigger allergies in some people. The fan blades themselves are another unwelcome source of dust. If you inhale these allergens, you could experience symptoms, such as runny nose, itchy throat, sneezing, watery eyes, or breathing difficulties.
Yes, placing ice in front of a fan does work, but with a few caveats. It essentially creates a makeshift "swamp cooler". As the warm air blows over the ice, it absorbs the chill and lowers the temperature of the immediate surrounding air.
Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke can narrow the air passages and make breathing more difficult.
The average age of death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is typically between 70 and 80 years old. According to data from the American Lung Association, roughly 85% of all COPD-related deaths occur in individuals over the age of 65.
Avoid moving air.
If a ceiling fan, heater, or air conditioner blows toward your face while you're lying in bed, change that. Senior says his patients often say their coughing is worse when any air blows on them at night.
To cool a room with a fan, create a cross-breeze by placing one fan facing outward in a window to exhaust hot air, while opening a window on the opposite side of your home to pull fresh, cooler air in. For best results, position the exhaust fan a couple of feet away from the open window rather than pressing it directly against the glass.
To make your fan blow colder air, place frozen water bottles or a bowl of ice directly in front of or behind it. The fan will circulate the chilled air, creating a refreshing, misty breeze.
Here are a few great, cost-effective ways to make a room colder during the summertime, without using AC.
The single most effective way to avoid Carbon Dioxide build-up is to keep windows open while you sleep. This allows fresh oxygen in, as well as allowing Carbon Dioxide to escape naturally. Another important factor in choosing to keep windows open at night is for temperature control or thermoregulation.
A fan doesn't cool the air itself, but it creates a wind‑chill effect on your skin which makes you feel cooler. Position your fan to blow air on you rather than just into the room. You can also try placing a bowl of ice water in front of a fan for a quick blast of cool air (though this melts fast!).
The "sock trick" for ceiling fans is an incredibly fast, mess-free way to clean fan blades. By slipping a standard sock over each blade, you can wipe away built-up dust while trapping the dirt inside the sock, preventing it from raining down on your furniture or floors.
The Amish beat summer heat by relying on time-tested passive cooling designs, strategic chore scheduling, and traditional heat-relief hacks. Because they avoid modern air conditioning, they use a blend of cultural practices and clever architecture to remain comfortable.
Whether 77°F is "too hot" for a house depends entirely on personal preference, humidity levels, and whether you are trying to balance comfort with energy costs.
Climate models indicate that 2026 will likely be about as hot as 2025, but potentially slightly cooler than some of the peak records set in previous years.
No, most Amish do not shower every day. Hygiene practices vary widely by community. While less conservative sects use indoor plumbing and take frequent showers, traditional and strict communities lack hot running water. For them, daily sponge baths and a weekly, family-wide galvanized tub bath are the norm.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
Summary: The Amish typically have their teeth pulled out by unlicensed dentists instead of incurring the high cost of dentistry. They perceive dentures as more cost effective and easier to maintain oral health.