Now that summer has officially started and the temperatures (and humidity) are getting up there, a lot of people are trying to stay cool. Sure, some can just turn on their air conditioning, but not everyone has that option. And even if you do, you might be looking to save some money on your electric bill or are worried about the environmental impact. Here are a few easy, free—or at least cheap—ways to stay cool, even without AC.
Cold showers are a classic cool-down strategy, but don’t overlook the cold bath. Filling your tub with cool water basically turns it into a tiny swimming pool, conveniently located in your home.
Start by getting your hair wet—you don’t have to do a full-on wash, but getting your head cooled off first will feel good if you’re really hot. Then, fill up the tub with cool, refreshing water and hop in. Don’t be afraid to linger—you can even make an afternoon (or evening) out of it, bringing a beverage and a book with you and hanging out until you cool down. For maximum core temperature reduction, try to submerge your torso for at least part of your bath.
If you want to take your cold shower (or bath) experience to the next level, you may want to invest in some products with peppermint essential oil. Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap is the gold standard, but you can also make your own body scrub by combining Epsom salt, coconut oil and a few drops of peppermint oil. Slather that on and scrub away: The cooling sensation of peppermint oil lasts longer than the shower, and you’ll have silky smooth skin to boot.
The most effective way to regulate your body temperature is to stuff your body full of cooling foods and fluids. It’s way more effective than trying to cool yourself from the outside in. Keep a few bottles topped off with water, then stick them in the fridge. You can also fill freezer-safe bottles partway, then freeze them for portable, on-demand ice water.
If you don’t love the taste of water, here are plenty of ways to trick yourself into drinking more. But don’t worry too much about the amount you’re drinking—we’ve talked about how much water you should really drink, and it doesn’t have to be a complicated math problem. As long as you’re drinking water when you’re thirsty, you’re doing fine.
Water isn’t the only cold thing you can stuff in your maw when things get a little too toasty. Crush some ice or bust out the sheet pan and make yourself a tasty slushie. They’re actually proven to boost your endurance on those super hot days, especially if you need to exercise, or think you might need to go outdoors. Or, if you’re trying to get a little protein in your diet, try these protein-packed popsicle recipes to cool off and get the nutrition you need to hit your fitness goals. Either way, don’t limit yourself to boring old ice water—mix it up and try other delicious, icy, chilled treats that’ll also help you stay cool.
Fans don’t so much “cool” the air as much as they keep it moving around, which, as it moves over your skin and helps your sweat evaporate, makes you feel cooler than you would if the air were still. Set up your fans in windows or hallways so you get an awesome cross breeze, drawing in cooler air from one part of your home (or outside) and pushing the warm air elsewhere. Think of your house or your room as a PC with a hot processor in it that needs airflow, and set up your fans accordingly.
If you have ceiling fans, make sure to set the spin direction for optimal cooling, and if you’re really enterprising, you can build your own temperature controller to toggle the fans on and off automatically depending on the temperature in your home.
If you don’t have an AC or can’t have one—you live in a dorm, you’re renting a room, or your windows are the wrong shape—you can roll your own air conditioner to keep things cool. You just need to know which ones actually work, because they aren’t all effective, and you need to set your expectations accordingly.
And if you’re thinking you can throw together a DIY air conditioner and suddenly make your whole room cooler, you’ll be disappointed. You can, however, make yourself cooler if you sit next to it for a while after it’s been running.
Your next biggest ally in the fight against heat is quietly running in your kitchen: Your fridge and freezer. We’re not saying you should open it up and try to keep cool by standing in front of it (that’s actually a terrible idea), but you should use it to cool down things that touch your body.
Make space in your freezer for a couple of wet washcloths, or even a bedsheet or two. Your body will thank you when it’s time to get into bed at night. You can also stick clothes in the freezer—like underwear, or that shirt you’re going to wear tomorrow—for an extra burst of freshness as you’re getting dressed. This can be especially helpful for times when you get out of the shower and immediately start sweating.
One of the best ways to make sure your home stays cool in the summer is to keep the sun out and give the hot air somewhere to go. In addition to a fan fortress, you should consider some heat blocking curtains to keep direct sunlight from turning your apartment into a greenhouse. Once the temps have peaked and it starts to get a little cooler outside, usually around dusk, open those curtains and windows. The cool air comes in, the warm air goes out, and everybody’s happy (or at least, happier). Just make sure to close everything back up before it gets hot again.
If you do have a little money to spend, a pillow or sheet set that’s designed to keep you cool can be a huge help when it’s hot outside (and inside). Cooling gel pillows are relatively inexpensive, pretty easy to find, and can make a huge difference in your sleeping comfort levels.
In the sheet department, you can check out the $180 Sheex “Arctic Aire” bedsheets, which promise to keep you nice and cool while you sleep. If those are beyond your budget, sticking with a classic cotton percale sheet is a great way to go; Target has a lot of great, affordable options.
Whether you’re buying specialty sheets and pillows or just tossing your own washcloths into the freezer, it helps to know your body’s best cooling spots. Draping a cool washcloth over your neck, wrists, insides of your elbows, or the backs of your knees will help bring your body temperature down faster than laying one over your forehead (even if it feels good to do so). This will help you get the most use out of your cold compresses or half-frozen water bottles.
Never underestimate the power of getting naked and ever-so-slightly damp. Combine a little naked dampness with the fan or a DIY air conditioner that you’re sitting next to, and you have a recipe for a relaxing retreat.
The key here is, of course, to make sure that it’s not too humid, or else you won’t get that lovely evaporative effect as you dry off under a fan, or as that damp towel on your head slowly dries. Take a cold shower with the curtains drawn and the fans in the house going—and maybe chase it with a few glasses of cold water and a slushie—and there’s no doubt you’ll be able to maintain your chill.
This won’t be an option for everyone, but installing a whole house fan can cool your whole home at a fraction of the cost of central air. They’re cheaper to operate than multiple AC units, and the upfront installation costs aren’t too bad. Unfortunately they don’t dehumidify the air, and they can’t cool it any lower than the temperature outdoors. If your summers are hot and dry during the day but cool and dry overnight, though, a whole house fan could be just the ticket.
This story was originally published on June 25, 2016 and was updated on June 25, 2019 to provide more thorough and current information. It was updated again on June 3rd, 2021 to reflect Lifehacker’s current style guidelines, along with new photos and updated links.