My rented house was like an oven, so I was thrilled when this 5-minute pantry staple was the secret to cooling it down damage-free

A maximalist seating area with patterned red chairs surrounding a stone coffee table. Yellow drapes cover floor-to-ceiling windows and patio doors behind. .

I work upstairs in my home office most of the day, and during the summer the heat used to be absolutely relentless – until I tried the clever aluminum window cooling hack that HVAC pros swear by.

It involves taking a few sheets of aluminum and covering windows with them in order to deflect light and warmth. I gave it a go, and now I do it on the days when my home office is particularly sweltering. I also spoke to the pros about why this DIY solution is so effective.