Turning on the air conditioner during hot weather has become a common habit in every household. Did you know that hanging a damp towel in an air-conditioned room can have certain benefits?

On hot days, the air conditioner is an essential appliance in every home, helping to dispel the suffocating heat and bringing comfort to everyone. However, using the air conditioner continuously can lead to a sore throat, dry skin, and discomfort. So, what is the solution?

You don’t need to buy a humidifier; you can apply this simple, cost-effective, and practical trick. That is to hang a towel in the air-conditioned room.

How to do it:
First, prepare a bowl of water, add a little white vinegar, and cut some fresh ginger to soak in the water. After that, place the towel in the water for about 10 minutes.

Once the time is up, take the towel out, wring it out moderately, then hang it on a coat rack. Hanging this towel in the air-conditioned room will not only help humidify the air but also cool the room.

The Benefits of a Damp Towel in an Air-Conditioned Room

Because the moisture content in hot air is higher than in cold air, the humidity in the room decreases when the air conditioner is on during the summer. This makes people in the room feel dry and uncomfortable.

When you hang a towel in the room, the evaporation of moisture from the towel can increase the humidity in the air.

The towel, which contains white vinegar and ginger, can help cool the body when inhaled, which is very useful for people staying in air-conditioned rooms for long periods.

Moreover, the pungent smell of ginger helps repel mosquitoes. Combined with white vinegar, it helps neutralize odors in the air-conditioned room. This keeps the air in the room fresher and more pleasant.

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Tips for Using the Air Conditioner in Summer Without Getting a Cold or Heat Stroke:

1. Do not set the temperature too low:
   On hot summer days, almost everyone wants their room to cool down quickly, so they tend to set the air conditioner at a much lower temperature than the outside environment.

   However, experts in refrigeration suggest that having a large temperature difference between the room and the outside environment can lead to heat stroke or a cold. Therefore, it’s best to set the air conditioner temperature about 7°C lower than the outside temperature. For example, if the outside temperature is around 35°C, set the room temperature to about 28°C.

2. Turn off the air conditioner 30 minutes before leaving:
   Before leaving the air-conditioned room, it’s a good idea to turn off the air conditioner about 30 minutes in advance to allow your body to adjust to the higher temperature outside. This helps avoid sudden changes in temperature that could cause heat stroke.

3. Do not stay in the air-conditioned room for too long:
   During hot weather, many people want to stay in the air-conditioned room 24/7, but this is not ideal. Health experts recommend not staying in an air-conditioned room for more than 8 hours continuously.

   Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory illnesses like sore throat, cold, or skin problems like allergies and dryness. The risk increases if the air conditioner hasn’t been cleaned regularly.

   Therefore, if your work requires you to stay in an air-conditioned room for long periods, make sure to step outside every 2-3 hours to relax and breathe in fresh air.

4. Clean the air conditioner regularly:
   Air conditioners are usually not in use during spring, fall, and winter, and are primarily used in the summer. However, when not in use, they often don’t get cleaned. In the summer, air conditioners are used almost all day, which can cause dirt buildup inside the machine, especially on the filters.

   The filters collect dust and other impurities that could be blown into the room if not cleaned, which can be harmful to your health.

5. Close the windows:
   Some people like to open the windows when the air conditioner is on because it feels too cold, but this will not only cause the air conditioner to leak water, but also reduce its efficiency, and could damage the machine.

   So, it’s best to keep the windows and doors closed while the air conditioner is running and adjust the temperature to a comfortable level.

6. Avoid entering an air-conditioned room right after being in the sun:
   After being in the sun or exercising, wait outside for a while to let your body cool down before entering the air-conditioned room. Entering the room with a high body temperature could lead to a cold or even heatstroke.

7. Pay attention to the air conditioner's placement:
   The position of the air conditioner is important because it not only determines its cooling effectiveness but also affects the health of the household members.

   It is recommended to place the air conditioner high up so that the cool air can circulate better. Avoid placing it in a spot where the cold air blows directly onto people, as this can cause discomfort and increase the risk of catching a cold, sinusitis, bronchitis, sore throat, etc.