Ways to stay hydrated, steps to get your home ready for the heat, and ways to prepare your car for the sunshine
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The summer of 2022 is predicting to be “sizzling,” as stated by The Farmers’ Almanac. Another hot summer like last year is probably not what you were hoping for…or prepared for. The sun literally roasted plants in the Pacific Northwest last year with the heat up to a record-breaking 110 degrees for Washington. Many sources are saying that this year will be similar to last year.
So, it will be hot, and thus wildfires will most likely be in our future, as well as the possibility of chronic dehydration. If we prepare now, we can focus on making happy memories and having fun. Great!
Ways to Stay Hydrated:
Let’s talk about how you can get more comfortable this time around.
- Do not spend too much time out in the sun or in hot rooms.
- Keep track of how many glasses of fluids you drink.
- Water should be your top beverage.
- Take cold showers.
- Swim in cold water that is not under constant direct sun.
- Keep in mind that certain drinks like coffee/energy drinks, and certain foods like salty snacks, can dehydrate you.
- According to various sources, like Healthline.com, since alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate you, it is best to not consume them when already dehydrated. Also, whenever you do drink them, make sure that you are eating and drinking things alongside them that will help to hydrate you. (For more information on that, view the bullets below.)
- If you have pets, here are some tips on how to keep them hydrated too.
- If you have a picky eater on your hands, here are some ways to help keep your kids hydrated.
Some foods that help hydrate you:
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce and spinach
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Celery
- Meat—chicken, fish, juicy steaks
- More here
Some drinks that help hydrate you:
- Water
- Fruit water
- Fruit juice
- Coconut water
- Milk
- Electrolyte water
How to Prepare Your Home for the Heat:
- Having well-watered grass and plants decreases your chances of yard fires.
- Water your garden and lawn in the morning or evening. Morning is preferable since it will give the plants time to dry out before the colder nighttime weather. Watering during the high temps of the day can hurt your plants.
- Keep lights off whenever you can. LED bulbs also put out less heat (and are more cost efficient, as our blog about money saving tips points out).
- Use fans to rotate the air.
- It is said that you should set your ceiling fans to go counterclockwise in the summer since it creates more of a cooling wind than a clockwise motion does. Here are steps to change the fan’s direction.
- Install an air conditioner—even a temporary one in the window will help a lot!
- Get blackout curtains.
- Keep the doors and windows closed until temperatures drop. You only want them open if it is colder outside than it is inside.
- Keep plenty of cold drinks in the fridge and ice in the freezer.
- You are not the only one who is going to want some refreshing shade. Here are some tips to fight against ants (view this for additional pests). For other helpful seasonal tips—like how to protect against mold and mildew—read our spring-cleaning blog.
- Cook weather-appropriate. Eat food in the summer that takes little or no heat to prepare—like salad—or cook outside so that you can keep your house cool.
- Do you have a pool or trampoline? Read this.
- Dogs tend to be left out in the backyard more in the summertime. Inspect your fence and do any repairs to ensure that it will keep your animals in (and others out).
- Fill dog holes regularly to avoid trips.
- Inspect your sprinklers.
- Keep your lawn, garden beds, walkways, and porches tidy to help avoid trips.
- Clear up debris from the yard, walkways, roof, and gutters. Less brush helps avoid summer fires.
- Inspect all your fire alarms.
- Do you need to repaint the outside of your house or your deck?
- Keep in mind that pavement is hot. It can literally burn the bottom of your pet’s feet.
- It is not all about the cleaning checklists and home maintenance infographics. Making sure that your insurance is ready for summer hazards can also help ensure stability. You want to make sure that you have adequate coverage in case something happens at a party, BBQ, cookout, playdate, etc. Despite your efforts for a safe and clean environment, sometimes the inevitable happens. Review your home insurance, renters’ insurance, secondary home insurance, landlord’s insurance, and/or vacant home insurance.
- What kind of summer toys do you have? We can help you with insurance for your boat, jet skis, RV, motorcycle, ATV, classic car, and more. Also ask us about our Airbnb insurance. You can also find more details in our summer toy blog post.
- For more insurance that is good to review during the summer, check out our simple checklist.
How to Prepare Your Car for the Heat:
- Car maintenance is super important all times of the year. When it comes to summer, the items to pay really close attention to are fluids, AC units, windows, tires (air pressure), hoses, belts, batteries, and air filters. For a general car maintenance list, view our blog and checklist here. HowStuffWorks.com also has a summer car checklist.
- Do an oil change—oil and oil filter. Routine changes are good in general, but particularly before you increase your driving habits.
- Get your brakes checked.
- Replace your windshield wipers. This might not have crossed your mind since it does not rain as much in the summer months…But, summer rains do happen, and you want to make sure that you replace the blades so that they have a likelier chance of working after getting baked in the sun all day. Rubber wears out, so after the winter and spring rain, get a refreshed pair to start the summer!
- Try to drive during cooler times of the day.
- Try to avoid parking in direct sunlight.
- Use a windshield cover when you are parked to help keep the temperature down in the car.
- Avoid leaving pets in the car—even with the window(s) cracked.
- Keep a refrigerator bag in the car with ice packs, water, and snacks.
- If your car has leather/pleather seats, keep them oiled with seat oil so that they do not crack and rip. Also, having towels in the car to sit on can help you and your passengers avoid burns and/or sticking to the seats while wearing shorts.
- Keep backup fluids in your trunk—antifreeze, oil, windshield wiper fluid, etc.
- Review your emergency kits—make sure that you have the tools you need for basic repairs and injuries. Examples: jumper cables, tire iron, jack, spare tire, Band-Aids, gauze, disinfectant, wrenches, etc.
- Make sure that you have at least one pair of backup sunglasses that stay in the car.
- It is time for a DEEP clean bath. Get those sudds in the bucket and hose the car down! Also, take advantage of the sunshine—vacuum and steam clean the carpets and seats, clean inside the windows, organize your glovebox and trunk, clean under the seats, throw away garbage, install a few car trashcans, bring things into the house that do not need to be in the car, replace air fresheners, change out the moisture control packets, and update your toolbox and backup kits.
- It is also important to keep in mind that with summer there is more than just the heat to be cautious of. Summer is the top season for car theft and break-ins. We have tips for avoiding car prowlers, what do to if it happens to you, and understanding car theft insurance claims in our blog post here.
