Practical tips to cool your house if you don't have AC

When temperatures are starting to rise, the go-to reaction is to turn the AC on and not leave the house. However, the cost of running the airconditioner can turn a summer into an absolute nightmare.

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And what if you don't even have AC, to begin with? To those who are melting in the heat, here are 23 ways to cool down your house without turning the AC on.

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If you're feeling overwhelmed by the heat, try putting away the carpets and changing the curtains for thinner ones. With those simple changes, your house can get a lot cooler.

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A good trick to take advantage of your curtains is to spray them with water, that way you can feel a cool breeze coming through the window.

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Blinds are also a good idea to avoid the sun coming through the windows. Pro tip: customizing the size of your blinds can block out the sun even more.

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Trying to sleep with temperatures above 80° can be really difficult. Your hot water bottle can be useful during the summer as well as the winter. This time, fill it with cool water or ice and put it under the sheets. Your bed may feel less hot at night.

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Another good alternative for your bed is cotton, linen, or silk bed sheets which are more breathable fabrics and let the air flow through when you're trying to sleep.

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Open the windows early in the morning when the sun isn't fully up, so you can create air currents of cool morning breeze flowing through your house. Remember, you only need ten minutes to air out the house.

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You can also take advantage of the cool night breeze. Once the sun is down, temperatures can lower a bit, so be ready to open every window or door in the house and let the air cool the house down during the night.

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Electrical appliances such as televisions or computers can generate a lot of heat, so it's a good idea to switch off everything when you are not using it. Lights are another source of heat, so make sure you don't leave any lights turned on. Pro tip: Led lightbulbs give off less heat and can help you save money!

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The famous alternative to AC is fans. They are cheaper, effective, and consume less energy. They can also be moved around to wherever you need them to be.

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If your fan is not doing the job, put it in front of it a bucket of ice and coarse salt, and you will see that the flow of air is much cooler.

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Fans on the ceiling are a blessing. Easy to install and not that expensive, they can help you get the air you need to survive a heatwave.

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If temperatures get high it's recommended to take 1 or 2 showers a day. However, cold showers are not as effective as you may think. In fact, if you use really cold water, the contrast between the temperature of your body and the water outside can be too much for it to handle. Your body may then try to elevate its temperature, which will actually make you be hotter.

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A simple and easy option to feel less hot is to put your feet in a bucket of cold water. You will feel how the freshness of your feet cools down your entire body.

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Although it can make you sweat more, it is essential to stay hydrated in the heat. Two liters of water per day (about half a gallon) is the recommended amount.

To feel less hot and uncomfortable in your house, try wearing light, cottony and bright clothes. Or... don't! Feel free to not wear any clothes at all.

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Mopping the house with cold water every morning can make the temperature go down.

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If you are cooking, don't forget to switch on your extractor hood to keep the hot air of your meals and stove out of the house. That way you will, of course, also get rid of any bad smell!

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If possible, in the hottest hours, avoid turning on the oven and stove. It's better to try cold recipes and meals that will keep temperatures down.

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Watering the plants in your house can make the air cooler. If you also have plants on the exterior of the house, make sure to water them as well because they will cool down the walls of your home. Being surrounded by plants is a great way to achieve the perfect temperature.

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Sealing your doors with draught excluders is a good way to stop the heat from entering your house. They are cheap and easy-to-install rubber strings that you can attach to your windows and doors.

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Finally, however, if you have given up and want to turn on the AC, remember that it is recommended to regulate it at 78 degrees. Regulating the temperature of your air conditioner can help you save money.

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Your feet are a very important point of temperature regulation of the body. So, at night keep them outside of your bed sheets and you will feel less hot.

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Eating a very heavy meal can make the body elevate its temperature and you will be hotter. The best advice is to prepare light and refreshing meals such as salads, cold soups, and smoothies…

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As you can see, there are some small things you can do to feel less hot in your house. Remember, though: summer activities are good for you, so take your bottle of water and enjoy the fresh air outside!