Keeping doors open will allow air to flow and cool your home more easily. This includes both bedrooms and bathrooms, so avoid closing any doors that aren’t necessary.

Use fans to increase circulation, especially in areas that tend to warm up. You can also place a bowl of ice in front of the flowing air to create a cool breeze or use ceiling fans to increase airflow even more.

Keep blinds and curtains closed as much as possible, especially on the sunny side of the house. This will keep your home insulated and keep the windows from heating everything up.

If possible, cut down your oven use, as cooking on a gas stove or baking in the oven produces a lot of heat. Grilling outdoors is a great alternative, or just focusing your diet on cool foods like sandwiches, fruit, and salads. These will keep you healthy and reduce the need to heat your home by cooking indoors.

Change out the sheets and blankets on your bed for cooler options, as well as fighting off allergens that accumulate during the warmer months. Avoid flannel or down, as these insulate heat. There are also a number of cooling items that you can place in your bed to keep your pillow or feet chilled.

Even if your apartment is warm, you can feel much more cool by sipping on cool drinks. Smoothies, lemonade, and iced tea are delicious choices to keep you hydrated and cooled down.

These simple tricks will help you keep your home and your family cooler during the summer without straining your electric bills while your air conditioner tries to keep up. From increasing air circulation to keeping yourself physically cooler, you can help your home and family stay more comfortable and healthy during the summer by keeping the inside temperatures down and tackling high temperatures head-on.