Point fans toward windows at night to boost cooling, not toward beds

Fans do not lower a room’s temperature – they only move already hot air. Most people point the fan toward themselves at night, which merely circulates warm air around the head.

To improve cooling, aim the fan at an open window so it expels the accumulated heat while cooler outdoor air enters. Adding a wide bowl or shallow tray of ice in front of the oscillating fan further chills the airflow, and hanging a wet sheet over a second window lets incoming air pass through moist fabric, reducing its temperature. These simple steps can noticeably lower indoor heat, especially in top‑floor apartments that become very warm during the day.

"A fan does not lower the temperature at all – it only moves already hot air."