12 Ways To Keep Your Home A Little Cooler This Summer

Summer is fast approaching and with that means rising temperatures both outside and inside. Luckily there are a number simple tricks to beat the heat and keep your home nice and cool all summer long.

1. Cook more meals outside on the grill — or use a slow cooker.

Using your oven or stove produces enough heat to actually raise the temperature of your home.

2. Fill your home with gorgeous, air-purifying houseplants.

As houseplants lose water during transpiration, they cool the air around them.

3. Install energy-efficient cellular shades.

Courtesy of LEVOLOR

LEVOLOR Cellular Shades keep the hot air out and cool air in with their unique honeycomb design that traps the air as it enters and leaves your home.

4. Make your bed with white, 100% cotton sheets.

Cotton wicks away heat and moisture, and white sheets will absorb less heat.

5. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise.

This will push the cool air down toward the floor and create a breeze-like effect.

6. Save your chores for after dark.

Appliances like vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, and washing machines all produce heat, so it's a good idea to use them after the sun goes down.

7. Replace standard incandescent lightbulbs with CFL or LED lightbulbs that emit less heat.

You'll also save money on your electric bill. A win-win!

8. Unplug electronics when you're not using them, or plug them into a power strip and turn it off.

Even when your television or computer is turned off, it can generate heat.

9. Plant shade trees on the south-facing side of your home to block the sun.

Sunlight can penetrate your exterior walls and roof to heat your home.

10. Keep interior doors open to allow cool air to flow freely throughout your home — especially if your windows are open.

(However, if there's a room you never use, you can keep that shut off!)

11. Clean or replace the filter in your air conditioner.

This will help your air conditioner run more efficiently and cool your home faster.

12. ...or fake an air conditioner by placing a bowl of ice in front of a portable fan.

As the warm air blows across the ice, it will cool down as some of the heat is absorbed into the ice.

All images via Getty unless otherwise noted

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Courtesy of LEVOLOR