with foil or anything else. I just replaced all the windows in my house and the professional window installer told me that putting the install it yourself tinting on our energy efficient windows destroyed the energy efficiency of the windows -- so we won't be doing that again.

Stepping into the shower throughout the day and completely wetting your hair and then letting it air dry in front of a fan is good, along with feet in cold water. Let your body release the heat through the skin -- don't wear shoes and socks, long pants or long sleeve tops.

When I have to work outside (for several hours) in the extreme SW desert heat I am always using the hose to soak my hair and shirt. Right now it's 96 degrees and 46 humidity, a "feels like" temp of about 101+ and its only 10 am.

Water is important, so are electrolytes. Juice is better than soda.

I wet my dog's head with a spray bottle. At first she hated it, but then she learned to sit in front of the fan & cool off. I spritz myself with water & drink lots of it, too.

It raises blood pressure and hot-headedness...

It's refreshing without getting you all wet.

Also drink lots of cold liquids throughout the day.

My very dear wife loves to cook. She thinks nothing of firing up the oven on a hot day. Drives me nuts.

And by modern I mean a stove that is less than 30, maybe even 40 years old.

Of course, if you leave the oven door open after baking, well that's really dumb. But even cooking on the stove top simply doesn't warm up the room.

however , i keep the drapes , mine and the mini blinds theirs closed and the drapes semi closed as i cant stand being completly shut up. when i was in the los angles area as a kid before we had a window ac, wed put pots of water with a fan over the pot and that would cool down the room. others on this thread have good suggestins as well. do any of you remember thermal drapes ?
used to be able to get them. anyone know of a good cheep source for them?

during a blistering heat wave is something you wouldn't be allowed to do

i learned ages ago. woven fabric way cooler than tanks tops. i bought resale shirts, preferably rayon. cut the collar + sleeves off.
at home i get my hair wet too. so far the expected heat wave has not hit milw yet, but sun came out.
yesterday so nice + the sour cherries perfect, i made myself a cherry tart. in the toaster oven.

The window treatment option might be worthy of an investment.

I live in northeast Florida. In a house that is 80+ years old, and of the 23 windows, 6 are the original (leaky) counter-weighted standard windows (and most of those were painted-shut 20+ years ago).

About 5 years ago, I had “cellular” window shades installed in 20 of the 23 windows. The cellular shades provide fabric-enclosed horizontal cells, which act as insulation against solar heat. For those that aren’t “blackout” design (allowing NO light or heat through the fabric, ideal for bedrooms), I get good ambient light, without the heat and bleaching effects. Haven’t measured the difference in electricity costs before/after, but the comfort level is markedly improved (over the vinyl shades). And the lowering/raising of the shades is as easy as pulling a string.

Those facing heat wave conditions in the Midwest and along the East Coast have my empathy. But I would encourage everyone to consider looking at long-term solutions. Global climate change is upon us. It ain’t going away, at least not anytime soon. A few dollars spent now may save hundreds or more as we swelter through the foreseeable future.

It might work, but ...