How to cool down a sewing room
 

I have so many lights in my sewing room that the heat in unbearable. I have central air and have a fan right behind the vent so it blows the air towards me in my sewing room, but with my hot flashes, I can't stay in my sewing room but 15 minutes at a time. I have to shut all the lights off and leave for about 45 minutes for it to cool off enough to come back in and then it heats back up again and I have to leave after 15 minutes again. I try to only use the lights I need in the area I'm working at the time, but I still get overheated. I can't afford those really expensive lights that are cool, unfortunately. Any suggestions?

I did some sewing today with just the light on my sewing machine and my ott light...no overhead lights on. I was able to sew for over an hour with just a small fan blowing on me...I am very hot these days with menopause...so was glad I could make it that long. Only other suggestion is to be sure to stay hydrated...drink lots of cold water.

The newer swirly bulb lights aren't expensive and put out much less heat then regular bulbs. You will save enough in electric cost to pay for better lights if the lights are the problem. Buy one bulb at a time if that is what you have to do.

These are much cooler to run...I can stand under the lights and cut and not have to leave the room. I replaced all the old ones.

Perhaps a small window AC unit?

an ice pack type thingy on your neck might help.

I just keep drinking water like crazy, and hope that it will rain soon ,need it badly.

and hope it will cool down outside.

You mention having a lot of lights in your sewing room; maybe start by unscrewing (does not have to be all the way) any existing lights that you don't need?

Some types of lights are much cooler than others. I have some overhead lights (in a track lighting configuration) that are very hot - but right now 3 of the 6 are burned out, so the heat from them is not as bad. I keep the shades drawn in the summer and use a fan to cool the room, trying not to use the iron too much.

Maybe get some medication/treatment for the hot flashes?

A big bucket of ice in front of the fan blows cooler air.

Change to cooler light bulbs and keep ice water handy. Whenever you feel a hot flash coming on, drink ice water (mostly ice, which will melt). If you have a way to crush ice, that's even better. Back when I was going through this, I found caffeine made the hot flashes much worse.

some people swear by progesterone cream. you can buy it at any vitamin/nutrient store. You just put a little on your wrist and it helps all the symptoms of menopause. I also like an item sold online by nature's sunshine called C-X. I used it for several years and never had a hot flash after I started using it. I don't need those products now as it seems I got lucky and only went through menopause for a short time.

Do you have your iron on when you are in there. I find that mine thinks its a space heater so I have a fan directed at it and turned it down a bit.

I sew with as few clothes on as possible.

Sugar is a huge trigger for hot flashes! As is alcoholic drinks and caffeine. I get hot flashes big time after eating sugary foods and I regret it pretty quickly...not worth the discomfort of the flashes....

My sewing room is upstairs in our farmhouse home. I have to use the window a/c to supplement the central air. I too put a fan in front of the window unit to help circulate the cool air. I find that the iron is the biggest contributor to the to room! I should look or ome of those low heat bulbs fr my overhead light figure. The winter s not bad with all of these heat producing light, etc.

Sandy

Maybe a family member will buy you better light bulbs if they know you are can't enjoy your sewing room.

Think I would shut the lights off, and use a stand up lamp.. I have one this a fleurescent 3 way bulb that is unbelievable.. I would still want to change the bulbs, as you are using way too much electricity..

Direct the fan to blow on you. I cut out under 3 - 100W bukbs and I was sweating like crazy. It dawned on me to set the fan on something higher and aim it at my head. Menopause is only a bad distant memory. This may help. We finally got some cloud cover today and it only got up to 103. Very hot and dry out here.

You must have that room lit up like the surface of the sun for it to get that hot that fast!!

For general room lighting I have 1 75 watt bulb in a floor lamp. I have task lighting over my cutting table, on my sewing desk and I even have a clip light on my fabric shelves. All of those lights are daylight fluorescents so they don't heat the room up. Plus it saves a lot of electricity not to have every light on all the time. I only turn them on when I need them on.

have you tried the energy saving light bulbs? they are low wattage (ie 13 watts) but illuminate at 60 watts or more. you can buy them at the dollar store so price should not be too much of an issue also i think florescent lights may not be as hot. i have replaced all of my bulbs with the energy saving ones.

i also use "section" lighting, a separate light near my ironing board, separate light near my fabrics, separate lights near my sewing so they are on only when i need them, plus i have a room fan when needed.

I understand the problem. All 3 of the rooms I sew in, especially the one with the longarm are lit up like the surface of the sun. I found a large wire cage fan with "more power" tipped up toward the ceiling to help circulate all the air in the room to be more effective than one blowing directly on me. You also might try a fan blowing out of the doorway to pull the heat out of the room. Also a damp towel around the neck or a cooling neck wrap for freezer from drug store. I also vote for as few clothes as possible.

My sewing room is hot as it is directly under the roof and above the garage. Fortunately I do like warm and there are also many windows on three sides. If it gets really bad I can run AC but I prefer not to because of cost. So I might plan when I am there.

Just a thought, do you have any ceiling fans? Those are very helpful in the heat of the summer. Well honestly mine never goes off in this room. And when I am sewing I have the one in there going as well. I only have one light, but leave the blinds open just a tad to let in some light from outside. But we also have sunscreens, and double pane windows that keep some of the heat outside. Of course I think some of you are experiencing some very hot weather right now, and hopefully this heat wave will pass for you soon, and things will cool off.

My biggest question is WHERE is the sewing room? On an UPPER level? If so, that may be the problem. I don't know of anyone who has an upper level that isn't normally hotter than the main level or basement area. Sometimes bad in the winter too (they have to close the registers to keep the furnace heat out of the upstairs).

If your sewing area is upstairs, maybe you can close your central air vents in the lower levels and send it alllll upstairs.

Good luck

My sewing room has the cheap flourecent Shop lights it has 6 sets on the ceiling

Why not get a window unit for your room? They have some small ones and you can set it to what will keep you cool. If you don't want a unit in the window they make the portable ones that only put a sliding vent with the hose in the window. I personally like the window unit better because they take up less room but the portables are good if you need to move them room to room.

Not a suggestion about lights, but try wearing one of those cooling collars that tie. Bet that will make a big difference.

Way back BAC (before Air Conditioning) we would take a large block of ice (purchased from the milk delivery man) put it in a tub, and then put an oscillating fan behind the tub......this moved the cool air coming off the ice in the tub.........so if you had a small cooler, and a small fan, you could so the same thing...........it really did work!

Thanks for all the ideas. I can afford the light bulbs you all mentioned. I just can't afford to buy a lot of Ott lights. And I think some ice in front of the fan is a great idea. I've seen those long collars that go around your neck that you put in your freezer to cool you off...I think I need to try that also. I've been having hot flashes since 2000. Just my luck...don't think they'll ever go away. I need to try some herbal remedies. I know my iron is my worst enemy in my sewing room. It's like leaving my oven on high and opening the door. I think I need to shut it off and only turn it on when necessary. I'll try all you tips. I want to sew so badly.

Consider fluorescent lights they give off less heat.

it the hot flash that getting to you. There is a pill you can get for that I do not get a lot any more but when I did I need a fan on me all the time.

I just moved my machine and equipment to the basement! I don't keep my fabrics there, however. BOY, I am enjoying the escape. I will move back upstairs for the winter as the basement isn't heated. My dear husband helped!!

I find that using my ott light, sewing machine light and one other from across the room behind me keeps the room cooler. I also run the ceiling fan on low all the time. Had similar hot flash probs, but much better now with fewer lights on. Also helps to kerp shades/ blinds closed all day to keep the heat out. Good luck!

I have a portable ac unit that I can take from room to room. I love it! I got mine used off ceaigslist

If you don't want to take medication for your hot flashes try Black Kohosh and Evening Primrose oil. The combination of the two has gotten rid of mine.

I found grnuine Ott light replacement bulbs at my local Lowes hardware store where the light bulbs are sold. They fit in any kind of lamp and are soooo much cooler! I put one into an adjustable metal lamp and can touch it even when it's been on for hours. The bulbs alone are not too expensive, I think I paid $5.98 for it.

He was only trying to help.
J J