Insummer, its tempting to crank the AC or plant yourself in front of the nearest fan.
But these arent the only tricks to keeping cool.
And theyll make you feel like a DIY champ, too.
Keep your cool, and…
1.
Keep your blinds closed.
Better yet, invest in blackout curtains.
Blackout curtainsblock sunlight, naturally insulating the rooms in which theyre installed.
Consumer Reports recommends neutral-colored curtains with white plastic backings to reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent.
Be smart about your doors.
Youll want to capitalize on the cooler night hours, too, letting air flow naturally through your home.
Not even anair conditionercan give off a faux sea breeze, butthis simple trick can.
Trust us: Its magic.
As an added bonus,buy yourself a buckwheat pillowor two.
Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise.
You may not realize that your ceiling fan needs to be adjusted seasonally.
Focus on the temperature in your body, not the house.
If your ancestors survived without air conditioning, so can you.
Turn on your bathroom fans.
Or the exhaust fan in your kitchen, for that matter.
Bothpull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy showerout of your house or apartment.
Go straight to the source, and put a coolChillowunder your head while you sleep.
Let the night air in.
During summer months, temperatures may drop during the night.
Just be sure to terminate the windows and blinds before things get too hot in the morning.
Ditch the incandescent lights.
Besides, who doesnt want to get more mileage out of theirgrill, outdoor furniture and seasonal accessories?
Make a few long-term improvements.
Insulated window films, for example, are a smart purchase as they work similarly to blinds.
And if all else fails, buy yourselfone of these.
This article originally appeared onHuffPost.
