Feeling the heat? Try these 3 fan tricks to cool your room fast

With Nigeria’s scorching temperatures, staying cool indoors can be a struggle, whether you’re working from home or just trying to sleep at night. While a fan can help, using it the right way can make all the difference.

Experts have shared three simple yet effective tricks to boost your fan’s cooling power—no air conditioner needed!

1. Create a cross breeze to flush out hot air

If your room feels like an oven, one fan won’t be enough. Experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) suggest using two fans to create a cross breeze.

Keep your windows, doors, and curtains shut during the day to block out direct sunlight.
At night, open the windows and place one fan facing outward to push hot air out.

Use a second fan facing inward to draw in cooler air from outside.

This method helps ventilate your room, reducing the trapped heat.

2. Use ice for a homemade air conditioner

A simple bucket of ice can turn your regular fan into a makeshift AC. According to GHI, placing ice directly in front of your fan cools the air as it blows over the ice, creating a refreshing breeze that circulates around the room.

For best results, use a metal tray or bowl filled with ice cubes and place it at an angle where the fan’s airflow passes directly over it.

3. Freeze water bottles for long-lasting cool air

If you don’t have a bucket of ice, freezing water bottles can work just as well. Here’s how:
Fill an empty one-litre plastic bottle with water and freeze it overnight.
Place the frozen bottle on a tray and cover it with a damp cloth.

Position it in front of your fan.
As the fan blows over the bottle and cloth, it releases a chilled breeze that cools the air around you.
Other simple ways to beat the heat

If your fan alone isn’t doing the trick, try these additional tips for staying cool:

Switch to light cotton bedsheets – Heavy fabrics trap heat, while cotton allows better airflow.
Stay hydrated and avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed – These can make your body temperature rise.

Use a cold water bottle instead of a hot water bottle – Fill it with ice-cold water and place it under your sheets.

With these cooling tricks, you can turn your fan into a powerful heat-fighting machine. Try them out and stay cool, no matter how hot it gets!