Beat the heat with simple summer cooling tips

Here are some practical, easy ways to stay cool, hydrated and safe during extreme summer weather.

February 9, 2026

Anika Sanders 1 minute read

Illustration of a person cooling down indoors during extreme heat, sitting on the floor beside a fan with a large sun behind them, sweating, with a bottle of water nearby and a plant in the background. — Learn how to stay cool as summer temperatures rise. (Image by Freepik)

On March 3, 2024, the South African Weather Services recorded the hottest tempterature ever, at 53.2℃ in Dunbrody, Eastern Cape.

As the summer gets hotter and hotter each year, we try our best to keep cool.

Here are 10 tips to beat the heat this summer

Eat ‘cool’ fruit, such as watermelon, cucumber, citrus fruis, yoghurt and mint
Use the oven less to reduce temperatures in the house
Find shade whenever you are outside
Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids; especially water
Avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks
Shower, bathe or sponge off with cold water
Cover your home’s windows with shades, blinds or curtains during the hottest part of the day (usually between 12:00 and 14:00)
Turn your hot-water bottle into an ice pack
Wear loose, lightweight, light-coloured clothing
Avoid high-energy activities in the middle of the day

Happy cooling down!

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