How to Cool a Room—Without Turning on the AC

Close the Blinds

While sunshine can give you an immediate mood boost, allowing it to stream in through unprotected windows is a surefire way to raise the temperature in your room. Lower blinds and draw curtains during the brightest part of the day to shade your space, keeping it cooler in the moment (and for the rest of the day), says Jeff Palla, president of Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company.

Insulate Your Windows

While keeping windows tightly insulated is essential for warming your home in the winter, it's also key for keeping hot air outside in the summer. "It is always important to review seasonally the caulking and weatherstripping around all windows and doors," says Palla. "This is the most cost-effective way to reduce drafts and control internal temperatures."

Add Window Film

If you don't want to block the view with blinds or curtains, dim your room with window film, says David Flax, president of Window Genie. "The films can block up to 79 percent of the solar energy from entering," he says. "By reducing the amount of heat entering through the windows, film helps improve energy efficiency and can save you money on cooling the home."

Catch a Nighttime Breeze

Keeping your windows open when the sun goes down—and the air has cooled—lets you take full advantage of the overnight hours to cool your home naturally. "If you are in an area where it cools off at night, open the windows to let fresh, cool air into the home," says Brad Roberson, president of Glass Doctor. "This will help reduce energy usage during the day."

Placing window fans or box fans on your sill can boost air intake, too; look for versions with dual settings to push hot air out or pull cool air in, depending on the time of day.

Close the Doors

If you're trying to quickly cool a small space, like a bedroom or office, close the door to limit airflow from adjoining rooms and hallways. Otherwise, keep the doors open and fans on to circulate air through the entire house for a consistent comfort level.

Run Ceiling Fans Counterclockwise

You may not have ever paid attention to which way a ceiling fan is spinning, but it makes a difference: In the winter, you want them running clockwise, on low, to push warm air around. "During the summer months, you want to run your ceiling fan counterclockwise, as it pushes down the air and creates a cool breeze while providing a consistent room temperature," says Palla.

Open Your Windows Strategically

If your home has double-hung windows, with an upper sash that lowers and a lower sash you can raise, strategic planning can help you cool more effectively. "The bottom sash up can draw in cool air from the outside, while the top sash down pulls hot air from your ceiling out of the window," says Roberson. Alternate the sash positions on windows in the same room to create a better cross-breeze, or open each halfway for maximum airflow. "Having both sashes open provides more ventilation," says Roberson.

Dehumidify

Cutting the humidity in your home won't specifically lower the temperature, but it can make you feel more comfortable on hot days. Even homes with air conditioning can have high humidity levels, causing homeowners to run their systems more than necessary. "Dehumidifiers reduce excess moisture in the air," says Steve Leasure, vice president of operations at Rainbow Restoration. "One immediate sign you might need one is that your home feels clammy. This means it might be cool, but because the humidity level is high, your skin feels sticky and uncomfortable."

Avoid Using Your Oven

On the hottest days, avoid using your oven to keep your kitchen at a manageable temperature. Take advantage of your outdoor grill when cooking, or opt for recipes that require minimal cooking. If you can't avoid heating the kitchen, use your vent hood to dispel as much heat as possible and to help dehumidify, says Leasure.

Add Shade Outdoors

Exterior shading can work just as effectively as blinds or curtains, although waiting for a shade tree to grow isn't an immediate fix on a hot day. Still, if you can install roll-out awnings that shade the sunniest parts of your home in the middle of summer, you can keep temperatures down inside to allow your fans and cooling system to work more efficiently.

Wear Cool Fabrics

While you're waiting for the temperature to drop inside your home, keep yourself cool by staying hydrated, wearing cool fabrics, like cotton or linen, and—if it's unbearable—taking advantage of the air conditioning at the library, movie theater, or community center.

Keep Your Bed Cool

Pack away your satins, flannels, and silks for the season and opt for lightweight, light-colored cotton-linen blend sheets. Take the same approach to seasonal bedding (swap heavier sheets for cooling, moisture-wicking ones)—and don't forget to trade in your down pillows for buckwheat-hull pillows or cooling gel versions.

Use Exhaust Fans

Even if you avoid turning your oven on, you can still use the exhaust fan on top to help pull hot air up and out. The same goes for your bathroom fan, too—you can run your bathroom exhaust fan to help pull hot, sticky, humid air up and out of your home.