On the Homes & Gardens team, only a few of us are lucky enough to have air conditioning built into our homes. As a result, we have become pretty resourceful at staying cool.
From specialist towels to the perfect appliances that are worth the spend, there are plenty of quick tricks to help beat the heat, even without AC to lend us a hand.
Without further ado, here's how we keep our homes cool in a heatwave.
What our team is shopping to beat the heat
1. Door and window covers
Stopping the sun entering your home can make it feel cooler throughout the day.
The last thing you want to do on a roasting hot night is close all the bedroom windows, but how do you stop insects from entering your home?
Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden shares, 'I swear by mesh door and window covers, as they are great for those without built-in screens. It means at night, when the heat of the day has dissipated, you can throw open all your windows and let the cooler breeze come through as a cross draft, without letting in lots of flying bugs, including mosquitoes.
'I use the ones you can cut to size and stick on with the included Velcro adhesive tape, and these are on my sliding door into the yard.'
If you choose to invest, too, brush up on the best way to clean window screens to keep them bug-free.
With 16 size options and two color ways, these magnetic door screens keep pests out while allowing easy access in and out of your home for both you and any pets.
This window screening can be cut to size and stuck to your window with included double-sided tape, keeping it taught to prevent pests.
Reflective window film can help to black heat from entering your home, reflecting the suns rays back out of your home to keep inside feeling cooler during the day.
2. Cooling towels
Specialist cooling towels can help keep your core body temperature low on hot days.
Rather than trying to find the fastest way to cool a house, why not cool yourself down instead? This helps beat the heat when you're outside, too.
Solved's home tech editor Dan Fauzi shares, 'Since my gym started laying out cold towels to use after sessions, I started doing the same at home whenever it gets too hot.
'It worked so well that I ended up buying a specialized cooling towel that lasts longer – just like this top-rated Arctic Cool Instant Cooling Towel at Amazon – and now I can take it with me when I head out on a hot day, too.'
3. Desk fans
Whether you work from home or the office, a small desk fan can make your environment that little bit more conducive to work.
Whether you work from home or have to commute into a hot office, the best fans can do a lot to make your working environment that little bit more comfortable.
Zara Stacey, Homes & Gardens' managing editor, says, 'I swear by my small USB desk fan. It plugs into my laptop so I can use it anywhere without having to fuss over charging it the night before.'
This Mainstays USB fan from Walmart has over 800 five-star reviews, with verified shoppers praising it for its excellent air flow and durability.
Looking for something a bit more intensive? Learn how to cool a room with fans. For this, we like the Shark FlexBreeze Fan, from Shark. With a 24-hour battery life and adjustable stand, this portable fan is perfect for use both indoors and out. We gave it five stars in our FlexBreeze review.
This powerful Shark fan isn't for your desk, but it remains a firm favorite among shoppers, with more than 4000 being sold on Amazon alone in the last few weeks. It has 10 speeds and noise levels, delivers powerful breezes with up to 180° oscillation, and the twin blades can be turned in different directions, making it versatile and brilliant for busy households.
4. Insulated cups
Stanleys are more than just a fashion statement. They are one of the best insulated cups to keep drinks cool.
Staying hydrated throughout the day with cool liquids can help you feel cooler while protecting your health. After all, the one thing you should never do in a heatwave is allow yourself to become dehydrated.
Kitchen editor Lydia Hayman adds, 'I swear by the Stanley Cup, from Amazon. It keeps my drinks cold for hours and hours, which helps me stay hydrated whether I'm working at my desk or braving the heat outside.'
The Stanley tumblers are made from 90% recycled stainless steel and are BPA-free, helping to reduce microplastic contamination in your drinks. The double-wall vacuum insulation helps to keep your drinks cold up to nine hours, helping you to beat extreme heat.
5. Electrolytes
Mix electrolyte powders with tap water for a hydrating, healthy drink.
While electrolytes are not one of the unusual methods for staying cool at home, replenishing lost fluids and salts can help you feel better during periods of extreme heat, especially if you find yourself sweating a lot or if you have an existing health condition.
Punteha, who is chronically ill, adds, 'Speaking of hydration, I take daily electrolytes to properly rehydrate in the summer heat. It's especially important during heat waves and will help you alleviate that feeling of fatigue that comes with high temperatures while replenishing vital electrolytes lost through sweating. I've tried a lot of brands and always come back to Fast Up, available on Amazon.'
Electrolytes are so important that one doctor we spoke to named them her 'must-have' for your emergency home cooling kit.
6. The Ninja Creami
They are a mini luxury, but work wonders to make the heat a little more bearable.
It isn't just what you drink, but what you eat that can have an impact on your comfort during heatwaves.
Lydia says, 'I'm lucky enough to own a Ninja Creami [available at Amazon], which has become my go-to for making refreshing morning smoothie bowls and homemade ice cream and sorbets without the added sugars and processed ingredients – there's even a small discount in the sale on Amazon.'
We gave the Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream maker 4.2 stars in our review, loving its huge capacity and 11 different frozen functions. The only downside is that you need to prepare your frozen treats 24 hours ahead, so it is not the quickest way to handle extreme heat at home, but it certainly is one of the tastiest.
Lydia has also been using this blender for strawberry smoothie bowls. She says, 'It's not as powerful as a full-size countertop blender or ice cream churner, so you need to let your frozen fruit thaw a little bit before blending, but you'll get super creamy and refreshing results.'
7. A hot water bottle
Contrary to the name, a 'hot' water bottle can keep you cool, too.
Ottilie Blackhall, Solved news writer, says, 'It might sound counterintuitive, but in summer, I swear by myHomeTop Premium Classic Rubber Hot Water Bottle available at Amazon.
'Simply fill it with tap water, leaving a couple of inches at the top empty, then pop it in the freezer, and wait until it's fully frozen. Then, you have a portable ice pack for carrying around your house, using as a cooling foot rest, and even taking to bed at night, too.
'With four dogs and no air conditioning, we also rely on this trick to offer them a bit of cool respite from the heat.'
Just be sure not to use the same hot water bottle for boiling water in the future. Most hot water bottle rubber is not designed to endure fluctuating temperatures, so they may leak and cause burns. Have separate bottles for winter and summer accordingly.
Meet our editors
Punteha was editor of Real Homes before joining Homes and Gardens as Head of Solved. Previously, she edited lifestyle and consumer pieces in print and digital newspapers and magazines, including a long-running column in BBC Good Food. Punteha is a DIY enthusiast and spends her weekends working on ways to personalize her newly built home.
Dan is the home tech editor for Homes & Gardens, covering and testing everything from floorcare and cleaning products to air purifiers, sound, and smart home. They've always been passionate about the latest tech, but their writing on home products started back in 2021 on brands like BBC Science Focus, YourHomeStyle and Gardens Illustrated.
Zara is the Managing Editor at Homes & Gardens. She joined the brand in February 2022 as an Interiors Content Editor, specializing in writing content on interior color trends, decorating ideas, and design inspiration.
Lydia is the Kitchen Appliances Editor for Homes & Gardens, testing everything from coffee machines and juicers to air fryers and mixers. Lydia trained in cookery at Leiths School of Food & Wine and was previously Recipe Editor for Mindful Chef. She’s also worked on editorial for brands like Six Senses and Deliciously Ella.
Ottilie produces content for the Solved section on the website, focusing on clever tips and tricks to keep your home beautiful, organized, and clean.
While most of our team are finally feeling a little cooler in these crazy summer temperatures, we will all be looking for better ways to future-proof our homes against extreme weather for longer-term solutions.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.