If your home is lacking A/C there are things that you can do to help keep cool using some ice, a fan and some simple tricks….

Close the curtains.

Windows can let in about 25 per cent of summer heat. To cool down a room without AC, make sure to block the heat with shades or blinds during the sunniest hours of the day. Blackout curtains work best because they will completely prevent the sun from getting in. However, neutral-toned curtains with white plastic backings are best for reflecting away sunlight. These curtains can actually reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent.

Try insulated window films.

Window films offer a ton of benefits, from cutting energy costs to providing you privacy while still enjoying the view and light of the great outdoors. They can provide up to 98 per cent infrared heat reduction compared to unprotected windows, and reduce temperature imbalances in your home.

Wet your curtains.

This trick has been around for a long time, but I very rarely see my friends trying it at home. Spritzing or soaking your curtains, or leaving the bottoms to sit in buckets of water, is a great way to cool down any incoming sunlight or breeze from the outside. This trick only works if you can get air circulating to evaporate the water, so run a fan at the same time or chose a window with a draft coming through.

Put a bowl of ice in front of your fan.

This uber-easy trick is the very best of the DIY air conditioners: just toss a bunch of ice cubes into a metal bowl (or freeze some water straight into the bowl), and set it in front of a running fan. Tilt your fan or the bowl in such a way as to get air flowing directly onto the icy surface, cooling down the blowing air. You’ll feel the effect immediately. Remember to refill your ice trays right away to be ready for the next load.

Believe it or not, ceiling fans have two settings: clockwise and counter-clockwise.

In the summer, it should spin counter-clockwise at a high speed in order to provide a breeze in the home. Conversely, the clockwise setting is for the winter and should be used with a slower speed to help move around heat.

Stay hydrated.

When you’re hot and flushed, hydrating yourself is the first and foremost step to cooling down.

Use cold washcloths on your neck or wrists

Place a cold washrag or ice bags (packs) on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you’ll cool down more quickly.

Spicy Food…

This might sound like a terrible idea on a hot day, but “hot” foods like cayenne, jalapeño, and habanero peppers get their heat from the chemical capsaicin, which acts as an irritant in humans and gets us to sweat more, cooling us down.

Sleep under a damp towel or sheet.

This will feel especially nice if you have a fan running at the same time. The evaporation of the cloth’s water will keep you cool all night, and the sheet or towel will most likely be dry by morning.

Sleep in breathable linens.

Cotton is one of the most breathable materials, so cotton sheets or blankets could help keep you cool through the night. The lower the thread count of the cotton, the more breathable it is, This is because the higher thread counts have more weaving per square inch.

Sleep in the basement.

If you can’t sleep through the night because you’re too hot, try sleeping somewhere besides your bedroom, if that’s an option. Heat rises, so if you have a lower or basement level in your home, set up a temporary sleeping area there to experience cooler temperatures at night.

Some surprisingly simple ways to keep cool this summer!