Brook Cottage - Christina

Clothing customs. Where we live determines many of our household habits, not the least of which is how we treat our clothes and shoes. Some Houzzers note that in Australia, home to numerous species of venomous snakes and spiders, shaking out your boots and shoes before putting them on is a smart idea. And in remote parts of the country, people even make it a habit to shake out their clothes before putting them on to make sure there are no creepy-crawly surprises inside. Habits we take for granted can be considered unusual in other parts of the world. Australians tend to dry their clothes outside on a line, for example, but that’s considered odd in many other countries, where hanging clothes in a drying cupboard or using a dryer is the norm.The more humid a location, the more prone clothes and shoes are to mold and mustiness. In Bali, for example, washed clothes can take several days to dry. Items are hung in well-ventilated closets and liberally scented to disguise the smell of damp fabric. Scents of all kinds are encouraged in Bali for another reason: Evil spirits are said to be scared of strong fragrances. “Household routines focus on keeping the spirits happy,” says Elina Gordeeva, a Houzzer in Indonesia. “If you displease the spirits, you should expect trouble. This is why the Balinese never dry their laundry higher than head-height or on the second floor. It’s also considered a major sin and an insult to the spirits to hang your underwear or swimsuits up on display.”Your turn: Have you come across any household habits in other countries that surprised you? Share your experiences in the Comments.What You Do When There’s No One Around

10. Spritz Clothes and Linens With Cold WaterIf you need to cool down fast, spritzing cotton clothes with cool water is one way to lower the temperature at the hottest point of the day. You can also bring the temperature of a room down by soaking a cotton sheet or lightweight towel in cold water and hanging it in a window to cool down the air as it flows through a room. Bear in mind, this will only work in dry heat.

You can also bring the temperature of a room down by soaking a cotton sheet or lightweight towel in cold water and hanging it in a window to cool down the air as it flows through a room. Bear in mind, this will only work in dry heat.

Keep what you wear cool...spritz them with spray bottles

10. Spritz clothes and bed linens with cold waterIf you need to cool down fast, spritzing cotton clothes with cool water is one way to lower temperature at the hottest point of the day. You can also bring the temperature of a room down by soaking a cotton sheet or lightweight towel in cold water and hanging it in a window to cool down the air as it flows through a room. Bear in mind, this will only work in dry heat.