If You Want to Save Electricity but Still Stay Comfortable, Try Using Your Fan This Way

During scorching hot days, air conditioners often feel like lifesavers. However, if you want to reduce your electricity bill while still keeping your home cool and comfortable, you can rely on your electric fan — as long as you use it correctly. The following simple tips can help your fan deliver cooling power that feels almost like an air conditioner, while also being healthier and more energy-efficient.

1. Stick a Mentholated or Essential-Oil-Infused Pad Onto the Fan Grill

This small trick is surprisingly effective for cooling down small spaces, yet many people have never heard of it. The method is extremely simple: just place a few drops of menthol oil or peppermint oil onto an adhesive medical pad or bandage strip, then stick it onto the fan guard.

Once the fan is turned on, the airflow will carry the cool, refreshing scent throughout the room. Menthol evaporates quickly, and when dispersed into the air, it creates a noticeable cooling sensation. When the scent fades, simply add a few more drops to the pad — you can reuse it many times. You may also use multiple pads depending on how strong you want the effect to be.

Not only does this method help cool the air, but it also works as a natural insect repellent, keeping away mosquitoes and small bugs that often appear during hot summer nights. Additionally, the gentle aroma of menthol or essential oils can help you fall asleep more easily and improve relaxation without harming your health.

2. Place the Fan in a Well-Ventilated, Strategic Position

Many people assume a fan will work well no matter where it’s placed, but that’s not true. Fans don’t actually cool the air — they circulate it. Therefore, if the air surrounding the fan is warm and stagnant, the cooling effect will be greatly reduced.

To maximize airflow, place your fan at least one meter away from the wall, allowing enough space for air to circulate properly. When the weather is cooler — especially at night — position the fan near a window to draw fresh, cool air from outside. Ideally, the fan should be 0.5 to 2 meters from the window for best performance.

However, families with small children should be cautious. Cool night air and humidity can sometimes cause respiratory issues, so avoid placing a strong direct breeze on sleeping children.

Before opening windows or changing the fan’s position, always check the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors.

• If the outdoor air is cooler, open the windows fully to balance the temperature.

• If the outdoor air is hotter, keep the windows closed so the house stays insulated and cooler inside.

This strategic approach helps your fan deliver maximum comfort without needing an air conditioner.

3. Place a Frozen Bottle of Water in Front of the Fan

To cool a room more quickly, many people put a bowl of ice or a small bucket of ice water in front of the fan. As the ice melts, the fan blows cool, moist air throughout the room, lowering the temperature and increasing humidity — making the room feel fresher and more comfortable.

The downside is that ice melts quickly, and the cooling effect disappears fast. To improve this method, try using plastic bottles filled with frozen water instead of loose ice. Here’s how:

• Fill plastic bottles with water.

• Add a small pinch of salt before freezing them — this helps the ice stay colder for longer.

• Place the frozen bottles in front of the fan to generate a stronger, more focused stream of cool air.

This simple “DIY air cooler” is inexpensive, effective, and easy to maintain. Just refreeze the bottles when they melt and reuse them again and again.