8 Smart Ways to Keep Your Home Cool Without Spending a Dime

When summer’s sweltering heat and humidity arrive, not everyone is blessed with the luxury of central air in their home. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your home cool during the long summer days.

Whether you don’t have AC in your home or are just looking to save some money this summer, here are a few simple ways to stay cool at home without spending a dime.

Keep Blinds and Curtains Closed During the Day

Keep the warm sun out of your house during the day by keeping your blinds and curtains closed.

Alannah Hardcastle, social impact manager at Random Acts of Green, recommends using blackout curtains to ensure as little sunlight gets in as possible. You can even use reflective window films as well to maximize impact.

Open Windows at Night

Luckily, summer nights give us a much-needed break from the heat, which means you should make sure that your windows are kept open at night to let that cool night air into your home.

Always ensure that you have screens on your windows so that you aren’t letting any bugs in along with the cool air. Once you wake up in the morning, close the windows to trap the cool air inside and keep the hot daytime air out. 

Place Fans Strategically

Fans are your best friend if you don’t have AC in your home. A combination of ceiling fans and standing fans is ideal, although if you don’t have ceiling fans you can make do with standing fans and tabletop fans too.

If you do have ceiling fans, be sure that your blades are set to spin the right way to keep you cool.

“In general, turn a fan counterclockwise in summer to blow cool air straight down, and change in clockwise in winter to draw the air up and circulate it around the room,” Hardcastle says.

Otherwise, standing and tabletop fans should be set up strategically around your home to encourage airflow. If you have box fans, you can open two windows on opposite sides of the home and set up the fans in the windows to create a cross breeze through the home. 

Use Chilled Towels

There’s only so much you can do to cool your home, but there are lots of ways you can keep yourself cool. One easy trick is to place damp tea towels in the fridge or freezer so you can have chilled towels at the ready when you need some instant relief. 

Avoid Using Your Oven During the Day

On particularly hot days, avoid using your stove or oven during the day when temperatures are at their highest. You’d be surprised at how much this heat-generating appliance can heat up your home, even if it’s only used for a short period of time.

Instead, Hardcastle recommends planning and having no-cook meals at the ready or opting to barbecue to keep the temperature down in your home.

Opt for Light and Airy Fabrics

Another easy trick is to opt for light and airy fabrics for your clothing and around your home during the heat.

“Switch to lightweight, breathable sheets made of cotton or linen. Consider using a buckwheat pillow or a bamboo pillow, which are known for their cooling properties,” says Ben Green, CEO of Green Leaf Air.

The same applies to clothing—natural and lightweight fibers are best for keeping you cool.

Install Awnings or Trees Outside

If possible, installing shade cover outside your home is a great way to minimize the amount of sun and heat that makes it inside the house. Think awnings, covered patios, large trees, shrubs, gazebos, shade tarps, and more. 

Create a DIY Cooling Device

Create a DIY cooling system with just a few simple tools and supplies. All you need is a fan, some ice, some water, and a bowl or shallow tray.

“Fill a shallow pan with ice and position it in front of a fan. As the ice melts, the fan will blow cool air across the room,” Green says.

While it may not cool an entire home effectively, it’s a great way to keep small areas of your house cool as you sit inside and watch TV or enjoy a meal with your family.