Summer is approaching, hints of the upcoming summer are in the air, and it's time plan to seek refuge from hot weather. If your home doesn’t have an air conditioner — or if you’re just trying your best not to use it around the clock — there are still plenty of things you can do to keep your home cool. 

1. Keep the Windows Closed and Covered 

During the hot summer months, the simplest thing you can do to keep a room cool is making sure the windows are shut. For those of us who love the fresh air, this can be a hard sell — but trust us, it works. If the air outside is hotter than the air inside, keeping the windows shut will help the inside of your home stay a little cooler. And because about 76% of sunlight that enters your home through the windows turns into heat, it’s a good idea to keep your blinds drawn or your curtains closed.

2. Shut the Doors 

If you’re spending most of your time in one room, consider closing the doors to the rooms you aren’t using as often. Closing off parts of the house keeps the cooler air concentrated in a single area, and can help the room you’re using the most cool down faster and stay cool.

3. Swap your Light Bulbs 

Kitchen appliances aren’t the only things that bring in unnecessary heat during the summer. Light bulbs are another culprit, albeit a less obvious one. Incandescent light bulbs give off the most heat by wasting 90% of the energy they use, so making the switch to energy-efficient bulbs like LED can make a difference in keeping your home cool as well as saving your electric bill.

4. Use Fans the Right Way 

If you live in a home without air conditioning, fans are your best friend — as long as you’re using them the right way. Since fans move air around rather than cooling it, what you do with a fan and where you put it matters. Creating a cross breeze with fans is the best way to circulate cooler air and push hot air out. Find the coolest part of your house and angle the fan towards the hottest part of your house. For a make-shift air conditioner, try placing a large bowl of ice or wet cloth at an angle in front of a fan. This easy trick blows the cold air coming off the ice into the room.

5. Manage the Humidity 

If you live in a humid climate, the humidity can make the summer heat feel even worse. While a dehumidifier won’t reduce room temperature, it will help control the sticky, thick air that makes hot days even more uncomfortable. Since humidity decreases the rate at which our sweat evaporates, we often feel much hotter and sweatier in humid weather, so investing in a dehumidifier can keep your home more comfortable during the humid months.

Hopefully, by following the steps mentioned above, you'll be able to effectively reduce the heat in your home during the summer. Don't forget to share any additional indoor methods to beat the summer heat in the comments if you have them.