How to Keep Your Room Cool Without an Air Conditioner

When summer temperatures soar, staying cool can be challenging, especially if you don’t have air conditioning. The risks of heat stroke and heat exhaustion can become significant—so staying cool is essential for your health.

If you’re trying to cool your house (or yourself) down, give these cooling tips a try. But remember, if the heat becomes unbearable, it’s safest to head to an air-conditioned spot like a library, movie theater, or cooling center nearby.

How to Prevent Your House From Heating Up

The old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" rings true when it comes to keeping your home cool. These strategies can help you maintain a cool home without the need for air conditioning—or reduce the energy required to cool it down if you already have AC.

Shut your drapes or blinds.

Sunlight streaming into your home can significantly increase the heat—so be sure to draw those drapes.

As the U.S. Department of Energy states, over 75% of sunlight that hits a standard window turns into heat inside your home, so covering your windows helps reduce that. Medium-colored drapes with a plastic backing can cut heat by 33%, while insulated cellular shades can block up to 60% of unwanted solar heat.

Apply a window film

In addition to closing your blinds and drapes (or as an alternative), you can apply a clear temperature-control film to your windows. These films allow sunlight to enter your home (bringing in natural light!) while reflecting much of the heat away. They also help in the winter by adding an extra layer of insulation.

Avoid turning on the stove.

A hot stove will, of course, raise the temperature inside your home. So, why not try some no-cook recipes to keep cool and avoid heating up your kitchen.

(And if cooking is a must? Consider grilling outdoors instead to keep the chill inside your home.)

Switch off (and unplug) unnecessary devices.

Dishwashers, washers, and dryers are often the biggest offenders, but even phone chargers and small appliances can generate heat in your home. Turn off—or better yet, unplug—anything you don't need.

Create some shade outside your home.

Awnings and shade trees can block sunlight from entering your windows and help keep your rooms cooler. Window awnings can reduce the amount of solar heat inside your house by as much as 65%.

Shut the doors to rooms you’re not using.

Reduce the amount of space that needs cooling by closing off rooms that aren't being used at the moment.

Seal gaps around doors and windows.

You might associate weather-stripping with winter, when sealing your doors and windows helps block cold drafts. However, taking some time to caulk around your windows and doors can help keep hot air out during the summer, too.

This small change can make a big difference. In one study, energy-efficient improvements like weather-stripping reduced heat stress from 50% in inefficient homes to just 4%.

Opt for LED lightbulbs

Incandescent bulbs do emit light, but they also release a lot of heat, so leaving them on for hours at a time could add to the warmth of your home. Energy-efficient lighting such as LED or CFL bulbs generate much less heat and last significantly longer.

How to Cool a Room Without Air Conditioning

Even with the best preventative measures, your home will still likely heat up when temperatures soar and the sun is intense. Fortunately, there are a few additional tricks you can use to cool down your space without AC.

Open your windows when it gets cooler outside.

Keep your windows closed during the hottest part of the day. However, when the outside temperature drops below the indoor temperature, open the windows to allow a refreshing breeze to flow inside.

Placing a fan to blow cooler air inside your home will help you cool down quickly, and opening windows on opposite sides can create cross breezes that further speed up the process.

Try opening a smaller window to let air in, and a larger window to let it out. This can increase airflow speed and make your home feel cooler, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Ventilate the hot air out.

Using the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom can help expel heat from cooking or showering. These fans work even better when paired with open windows at night, helping to push out hot air and bring in cooler air.

Here’s another trick: Open windows on the upper floor with a box fan blowing out, and open windows on a lower floor. The warmer air on the upper floor will be vented out, drawing cooler air in from below.

Create your own DIY air conditioner to cool the atmosphere.

A refreshing breeze paired with something chilled can effectively cool a room. Placing yourself near the source will help you feel cooler as well. You can try different methods, such as hanging a cold, damp sheet in front of a fan, setting a large bowl or container filled with ice in front of it, or even attaching frozen bottles of water to the fan's rear.

Activate a ceiling fan.

Ceiling fans are an excellent choice for lowering room temperature. They can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler while consuming just 10% of the energy used by a traditional air conditioner, according to the NRDC.

Be sure to set your fan's blades to spin counterclockwise during the summer for cooling effects. In winter, switch them to clockwise to circulate warm air effectively.

Although a fan may help you feel cooler, it won't actually prevent heat-related illnesses, as stated by the CDC. If the temperatures soar into the high 90s, your best option for staying cool is to take a refreshing cold shower or bath—or find a place with air conditioning.

Try using a dehumidifier

Excess humidity can make your space feel even hotter and more uncomfortable. It also prevents sweat from evaporating, making it harder for your body to regulate temperature. To get rid of that excess moisture, consider using a high-quality dehumidifier.

Ways to Sleep Comfortably in the Heat

Sometimes, the heat is unavoidable. But you can still get a good night’s sleep on those hot, sticky nights. Here are some helpful tips to prepare for those sweltering evenings, along with what to do if you find yourself sweating when it's time to sleep.

Invest in cooling sheets

What you wear to sleep plays a big role, so opting for a set of cooling sheets designed for those who tend to overheat will make a huge difference in warm conditions. When picking your ideal set, focus on the material. Fabrics like cotton, bamboo, Tencel, and hemp are all breathable and allow air to flow freely while you sleep. The weave also matters, and Percale is the best choice for cotton sheets because it’s less dense.

Take a warm bath or shower before bed

Though it might seem counterintuitive, a warm bath or shower can actually help you sleep better than a cold one. According to a scientific review, taking a lukewarm shower an hour or two before bed causes physiological changes that lower your body’s core temperature, improving your chances of a restful night’s sleep.

Cold showers, on the other hand, cause your blood vessels to constrict in an effort to conserve heat. While you might feel chilly during the shower, once you step out, you’re likely to feel warmer than before.

Cut out alcohol

It’s no secret that drinking before bed disrupts sleep, but did you know it can also lead to hot flashes and night sweats? Alcohol increases your heart rate and dilates blood vessels, which boosts blood flow and makes you feel warm. On hot nights, it’s best to stick with water (lots of it!) to replenish fluids lost through sweat.

Freeze your socks and pillowcases

If you’re looking for a quick cool-down when you get into bed, this trick works wonders. Simply pop your socks or pillowcases (or both!) into the freezer an hour before bed. When you take them out, they’ll be icy and ready to place on your feet or pillows.

Wearing frozen socks is like taking the cool-down to the next level, similar to sticking one foot out from under the covers. Since feet are packed with blood vessels, cooling them has a big impact on regulating your body temperature. The neck area is also great for cooling (with those icy pillowcases) because it’s near our body’s temperature control center.

Get low

As we all know, heat rises. The higher you are in your home or room, the warmer it will be. If possible, try sleeping on a lower floor or move your mattress to the ground level for a cooler night's rest.