woman with fan Summer is the most anticipated season of the year for many but also can be one of the most unbearable. If you don’t have an air conditioner or can’t afford to spend hundreds of extra dollars in electricity running one, the summer months can mean nothing more than hot and humid rooms that make relaxation and sleep next to impossible. The last thing anyone wants is spending a long day at work and coming home to find themselves in a room not much cooler than the scorching heat outside. If you live in an apartment, you may find the temperatures reach particularly sweltering heights, especially at night. If your AC or fan isn’t cutting it, read on for these six simple ways you can make your home cooler this summer and enjoy your time inside.

1. Install Window Shades or Blinds

Windows that receive direct sunlight throughout the day can cause the room to heat up and the heat that is absorbed by the walls is released at night. That is why the temperature indoors may seem to skyrocket in the evening. By installing window shades or blinds and keeping them closed on any window that receives direct sunlight, you can halve the heat gain in your home.

2. Keep the House Tightly Closed During the Day

Contrary to popular belief, keeping all of the windows and doors open during the day when the sun is beating down full-force isn’t the best way to keep your house cool. Instead, make sure the doors and windows are tightly closed up to prevent any heat or humidity from seeping in. Wait until the heat has broken at night to ventilate the home naturally or with fans.

3. Swap Your Sheets

Changing your bed sheets regularly can not only improve skin and help freshen up a room, but changing the type of sheets on your bed can make a drastic difference in how hot you feel at night. Flannel and fleece is great for the winter, but during the summer the insulation will cause temperatures to rise and keep you awake and sweaty. Opt for lightweight cotton bedding instead for the warmer months.

4. Start Grilling (And Washing Dishes by Hand)

Turning on the oven, stove or using heat-generating appliances such as a dishwasher raises the temperature in any room. It’s summer. So why not invest in a grill, if you don’t already have one, and enjoy cooking outside? You also can choose meals that don’t require any heat preparation, such as fresh summer salads.

5. Paint Your Roof

Just like wearing certain colors during the warmer months can reflect UV rays and help keep you cool, it has been discovered that painting your roof white or a light, heat-reflective color also can help keep your home cooler. The Los Angeles Times even suggested at a climate change conference that 100 of the United States’ largest cities should have their roads and surfaces covered with a lighter color to help decrease the amount of energy used in artificial cooling.

6. Improve your Attic Insulation

If you have an attic, installing more insulation (up to an R38-45 value) can help drastically reduce your cooling costs as well as your winter heating costs. In the summer, the insulation helps keep the sun’s heat that is beating down on your roof from entering your home. In the winter, the insulation will help keep the heat inside your home. You also can take plenty of smaller measures, such as applying ice to pulse points and wearing thin, cotton clothes to keep yourself cool this summer and beat the heat without breaking the bank. If you would like to seek even more options to help cool your home, your home may be suited for insulated siding.