We have all been there – tossing and turning at night, unable to sleep because it’s just too darn hot. In sweltering summer, there really can’t be anything worse than being unable to get some shut-eye in a stuffy, borderline-sauna room. Cooling down a room without installing or turning on an AC is possible.

Hear us out. 

Firstly, use cotton sheets. Instead of using luxurious silk or brocade, opt for cool, breathable cotton. These sheets don’t trap heat like heavier fabrics and feel cool to touch. You could also put a sheet inside a bag and stick it in the freezer for a few minutes before bed. It might not keep you cool all night but it’s enough to allow you to relax and fall asleep. 

Then consider making a DIY, cheaper AC alternative by placing an icebox directly in front of a fan. The breeze from the fan will create a cooling mist in the room when it comes in contact with the ice surface. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use an icebox, then place table fans pointing towards open windows so that they push hot air out. Adjust ceiling fans so that the blades move in a counter-clockwise direction and don’t trap stuffy air inside a room. You can also cool down an entire room by hanging a wet sheet in front of an open window. The breeze blowing in will quickly bring down the room’s temperature. 

If you live on the top floor and the roof above gets heated, consider lining the ceiling from the inside. You could get professional help to install a false ceiling or simply use some kind of lining material made of thick cloth, straw, or bamboo for a temporary solution. You could also cover the roof if that’s an option. Use a large tarp, gravel, tiles or wooden planks to make sure the concrete doesn’t get heated during the day. 

We also tend to keep our windows open throughout the day to let the air in during summers but that will only heat your house when it’s hot outside. Close off the windows when the sun is out and only open them after five in the evening when the air outside starts to cool down. You could use blinds on the windows to keep the sun and heat out during the day so that your room feels at least a couple of degrees cooler at night. 

 
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