Air-conditioning is one of the luxuries some homeowners can’t live without. While the temperatures rise outside, you stay cool, calm, and collected inside your home.

But sometimes air-conditioning isn’t always an option. Whether you are trying to save money, you don’t own an air conditioner, or it isn’t quite warm enough to turn on the AC, keeping cool during summer is crucial. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to lower the temperature of your home.

Use ceiling fans

Your ceiling fans are an effective way to help deal with the summer heat. However, you need to make sure they are adjusted correctly. Your fans should run counterclockwise, as this will help pull hot air up to cool your home down.

Add box fans

Box fans can be another helpful solution to your hot house. Strategically place box fans throughout your home to generate a breeze, or point box fans out your window to pull hot air from your home. If you’re looking for a cool gust of air, place a bowl with ice at an angle in front of your fan—this should produce a refreshing, cool mist.

Draw the curtains and close your blinds

Limiting the amount of light coming into your home can help reduce the temperature. Curtains and blinds are best used during the hottest part of the day, and on the side of your home where the sun is entering. Blackout curtains are made of double-lined fabric and  are designed to block out light.

Insulate your home

Insulation is known for keeping our homes warm in winter, but did you know it can also keep cool air inside during summer? Adding insulation to both your attic and walls can be a worthwhile investment that benefits your home year-round.

Close some doors

Think about how you use your home throughout the day. If there are rooms that are not being used, keep the doors shut. This will help prevent cool area from entering these rooms during the hottest portions of the day and keep you cool in your bedroom as you sleep at night.

Change your sheets

Trying to sleep in a hot house can be an awful experience, but you can make your bed a more pleasant place to be by switching up the bedding. Breathable cotton sheets can help keep you cooler. If you’re looking to be extra cool in bed, try placing your sheets in a plastic bag and then inside your freezer for a few minutes before bed.

Turn off the lights

The lightbulbs in your home can generate heat, so you should try to keep your lights off during the day. This shouldn’t be a problem in the summer with the sun not setting fully until 9 p.m. some evenings. Also, switching from incandescent lights to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can help reduce the heat generated by your light bulbs.

Don’t use your stove

Cooking over a hot stove is not ideal for the dog days of summer. Instead of cooking hot meals, try changing up the menu by making foods like salads, which don’t require a stove. Here are some healthy recipes that require no heating to make:

Use your grill

If the temperatures are too hot inside to cook, you can always take dinner outside. Grilling can provide a warm meal without raising the temperature of your house. Plus, it’s the summer—who doesn’t want to grill more? Check out some of these delicious grill recipes:

Keep yourself cool

While it is important to combat the heat with external factors, make sure you are keeping your body cool. Drink plenty of cold beverages and apply a cool cloth to areas like your neck or wrists to help regulate your body temperature.

 

Living without air-conditioning can be tough, but by following some of these tips, you won’t be sweating any potential heatwaves this summer.

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