Summer is here and it’s (quite literally) sticking around. With the weather warming up, you might be feeling the heat, especially if you don’t have an air-conditioned home. Here are the best ways to cool down your apartment without AC.
1. Swamp Cooler
Also known as evaporative coolers or bucket air coolers, swamp coolers are similar to air conditioners in the sense that they cool the existing air in a room, but with a different method. Swamp coolers are cost-effective, good for the environment, and actually use the hot air hanging around your room to its advantage. You can make your own DIY swamp cooler or buy one for under $200.
2. Cool Bed Accessories
Whether you’re looking for a pillow you can fill with cold water or a temperature-controlled cooling mattress pad, there are plenty of ways to add a cooling element to your sleep. We also like this cooling blanket, too.
3. Reusable Ice Cubes
We know you’ve been there: you’re laying in your bed trying to catch up on (see: binge) your shows, but the oppressive heat keeps making you lose your focus. Enter the reusable ice cube. Stick a few of these in a bag and you’ll have an instant cooling pack to lay on your body as you watch your shows in peace. Try putting one on your wrists and another on your neck to reach your pressure points and cool you down faster.
4. Freeze Your Sheets
It might sound a little ridiculous, but putting your bedsheets in the freezer is actually a thing. Throw the top and bottom sheets in a plastic bag and place them in the freezer for a few minutes before going to sleep. When you’re ready for bed, take them out of the bag, put them on your bed, and enjoy their instant cooling effect.
5. Box Fans
You probably think these things exist just to blow hot air around a room, but did you know you can use them to blow hot air out of your room, too? Simply point the box fan toward your window and direct the surrounding air outside. It’s an easy fix for a stuffy room.
*BONUS* — Window Unit Air Conditioner
A common purchase for city-dwellers and renters who don’t have an air conditioning system is the in-wall window unit AC. A wall air conditioner can be found for under $200 (like this one from Home Depot) and will really cool down a hot room. Consider getting one for your bedroom and keeping the door closed to keep the cool air in.
Looking to move to a new place? Check out all the apartments for rent on Zumper and set a filter for air conditioning to ensure you stay cool.
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