It's tempting to blast the air conditioning in your home in an attempt to stay cool in the hot and humid summer months.

Unfortunately, air conditioning is costly, terrible for the environment, and it dries out your skin.

So if you're looking to save money and look younger, follow these 10 simple ways to keep your home cool.

1. Keep these plants in your home

Plants not only look look pretty in your home, they're also proven to have a bunch of health benefits.

Some plants help to detoxify your air and cool your house at the same time!

Common houseplants like ferns, snake plants and golden pothos are super cheap and work hard to keep your house cool in the summer months.

Aloe vera is another great plant and is the one I always recommend my friends to put in their homes.

Tip: If you wake up with a sunburn, take a leaf of this plant, cut it in half, and apply it on the affected area.  

2. Switch to fluorescent bulbs

When you draw a light bulb, you're likely to draw an incandescent bulb.

These traditional sources of light look fancy in your home, but they waste about 90% of their energy because of all the heat they emit.

That's a lot of extra heat you don't need in your home!

Make the switch to fluorescent or CFL bulbs to cool your home and save money on your next electricity bill.

3. Change your sheets

According to Huffington Post, fabrics made of natural materials are perfect for the summer months.

They allow for "ventilation," which makes them stay dry longer.

Cotton, in particular, is the best, while satin, silk, flannel, and fleece sheets tend to trap heat.

If you really want to treat yourself this summer, purchase a buckwheat pillow. This organic material will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Buckwheat hulls are also great for people who have trouble sleeping.

If you're already using a cotton pillow and still can't sleep because of the heat, put your pillowcase in the freezer for a few minutes. This is my favorite hack!

4.Unplug electronics

We all know to turn off our lights when we leave a room, but we should also be unplugging our electronics.

According to Mother Earth Living, most electronics generate heat even when they're turned off.

The reason why this happens comes down to inefficiency, so there's nothing you can do about it other than unplug them when they're not in use.

5. Open your windows at night

This one sounds like a no-brainer, but not enough people do this!

The temperature always drops at night, no matter where you are in the world, so crank open your windows and let that cool air circulate throughout your home.

To make the most out of this time, set up fans around your home to blow the refreshing air around to keep your house cool for longer. (You don't have to do this in your bedroom if you don't want to!)

6. Turn on bathroom fans and follow this special trick

You're probably scratching your head right now wondering how a bathroom fan can save you money, but it can!

Even the exhaust fan in your kitchen can cool your home.

These fans suck in hot air, just like they do to steam in your bathroom and kitchen, and remove it from your home.

And now for the special trick, which I learned from Fox News.

Fill a bowl with ice and put it in front of a fan. When you turn the fan on, "the air will mimic a chilly, misty breeze." It works!

7. Put your mattress on the floor

You've definitely heard this before: Hot air rises, cold air sinks. Now it's time for you to use that knowledge to your advantage.

If your bedroom floor is cooler, put your mattress right on the carpet or hardwood.

Better yet, sleep in the basement.

8. Make a change to how you eat and what you drink

Grilling season is back! That means delicious barbecue meals and, one more thing, a cooler home.

Turning on your stove and oven will make your air conditioner turn on more times than it should. Slash those costs and enjoy food made on the grill.

Another way to make your home feel cooler is by focusing on your own temperature.

Drink cold beverages as much as you can, apply cold cloths to your neck, and take cold showers.

Make sure the clothes you wear around the house are made of breathable material, like cotton.

9. Close your blinds and doors

To prevent your home from becoming a greenhouse, close your blinds in the afternoon, when the sun is blazing hot.

If you go to work in the morning and no one's home, leave with all your blinds closed. Then if you must let in some sun, do so in the evening.

To trap cooler air in your home for longer, use blackout curtains to block light from penetrating inside.

Another trick to keep your home cooler is to close the doors of unused rooms during the hottest times of the day.

10. If you must use the air conditioner...

Now that you know how to avoid the air conditioner, that doesn't mean you should never turn it on. Sometimes you have no choice.

If you think summers are getting hotter every year, you're not alone. There's even scientific proof that it is.

Those times that you must turn on the air conditioner, make sure there are lots of fans close to the vents to help circulate the cool air around your home.

That way, you don't have to have the A/C turned on for hours.

How often do you use the air conditioner?

[H/T: Fox / Huffington Post]

For more money saving tips, check out 14 simple ways to save money at every U.S. National Park.

If you're looking for more household hacks, check out how to make the most of your Vicks VapoRub.