Keep cool, get your housework done and save on cooling costs all at the same time.
Today is going to be scorcher! Even though it is only May, the temperatures are in the high 80s with high humidity. It makes things very uncomfortable, and the air conditioning will need to go on if we don’t want to all melt into little puddles on the floor.
When the days get like this, the housework rules have to change a bit to accommodate the heat and humidity. Because our window air conditioners take up a lot of energy, I have to be careful about running them with other appliances, and I try to reduce the amount of time that they run in the first place.
Normally when I get up in the morning, I open up the blinds to let all of the sunshine in and brighten up the rooms. On uncomfortable days, I leave them closed until the hottest part of the day passes, with the exception of one curtain near my desk that allows me ample light to work.
I focus on getting the heavy tasks done early in the day, when it is the coolest. Trying to mop floors or iron when the heat is at its peak is tough. So is gardening or lawn care in the heat of the day. I save the easier tasks, such as laundry in the cooler basement, for the hottest parts of the day. Grocery shopping may be another task that can be designated for the worst part of the day, since the stores are air conditioned.
The garage tends to be about 10 degrees cooler than the outside, as long as I keep the door clothes, so cleaning out the car or straightening up the garage are tasks that I can look forward to instead of dread, since the cooler temperatures make it pleasant.
I also alter how I clean. Usually I like to use a steam mop for my floors, but that just adds to the humidity, so on the hottest days, I switch to a sponge mop and a mild cleaner.
Do you alter your housework according to the weather?