3 home essentials I use every single day to combat summer heat and humidity – and why I couldn’t ever live without them

Summer's finally here, and I couldn't be happier. But, living in a bright and sunny, south-facing house, I've already had to make adjustments to my space to cope with the soaring temperatures.

From utilizing my favorite fan to switching to my preferred bedding, there are three simple swaps and affordable additions in my home that do the heavy lifting to keep me comfortable during hot and humid summers.

Here, I share the three summer home essentials I couldn't live without to keep my home cool in a heatwave, without the luxury of air-conditioning.

3 summer home essentials I couldn't live without

1. My fan

My bedroom is south-facing with large windows and while it's a beautiful, bright space, it gets extremely hot. And, without air conditioning, I was struggling to keep it cool and comfortable at night.

The solution has proven to be the humble fan – just like the bestselling Honeywell Table Fan available at Walmart. Paired with the simple cross-draft trick during the day, this is the best way and most affordable way I've found to keep my bed cool in summer and, importantly, cool down a bedroom fast.

I'm not the only one on the Solved team here at Homes & Gardens who relies on cooling a room with fans in summer. Dan Fauzi, our home tech editor, agrees.

They say, 'I use the Shark FlexBreeze Fan available at Amazon whenever the weather's hot. It's the best fan I've tried, and is perfect for quickly cooling me down while creating a comforting breeze throughout the room.

'And, as it's completely portable, I can take it around the house or even outside!' This is perfect for me for al-fresco working from home days, which I'm enjoying more and more as the weather warms.

For particularly hot nights, I also point my fan out of the window to cool down a room even more, which is a clever eco-cooling method you can enjoy anywhere around the house.

2. My summer bedding

I've realized recently that I'll just never be one of those people who solely sleep under a sheet in summer. Even in the sweltering heat, I still need the comfort of my duvet.

But, in order to avoid any hot weather sleeping mistakes, I do switch out my duvet and bedding for something a little more summer suitable, which, in turn, helps me to sleep better.

The most important step here is switching to my best cooling comforter. Our sleep editor Emilia Hitching rates the LaCrosse Premium Down Light Warmth Comforter available at The Company Store as her overall top pick for warm weather, which is available in 11 colors, five sizes, and four warmth variations.

The light one is recommended for hot nights and hot sleepers, with rooms reaching 69-74° Fahrenheit. Alternatively, there are plenty more affordable options available, such as this Lightweight Comforter from Amazon.

Then, I also switch my warmer, fleece sheets to my best cooling sheets. My favorites are the BERGPALM Duvet cover and pillowcases available at IKEA, in the gorgeous green striped colorway. They look just as luxe as they feel, and the best part is they're super affordable.

That being said, you definitely don't have to swap your bedsheets. Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved, says, 'In warm weather, I just use a light duvet but the same covers. This helps me to save space in my small linen closet storage ideas, but it's still crucial to store the comforter you're not currently using correctly.'

For this, it's best to simply fold your winter comforter before putting it away in a cool, dry place. If you're tight on space, you can use vacuum storage bags, such as the bestselling Hefty Shrink-Pak Vacuum Compression Storage Bags available at Walmart, but just be careful when compressing any duvets or comforters filled with feathers, to avoid damage.

3. My dehumidifier

Finally, I can't live without my best dehumidifier in warm weather. While I use this year-round, I've found it to be most crucial in summer. Hot and humid weather might be lovely outdoors, but inside, I find it a recipe for disaster when it comes to mold and mildew.

Luckily, a dehumidifier is one of the most effective ways to help prevent mold at home, drawing excess moisture out of the air and reducing humidity.

High moisture content in the air around you makes it much harder to cool down, which is why a dehumidifier can also make a room feel cooler, too.

I just use a small, budget-friendly, and portable dehumidifier, similar to the BREEZOME Dehumidifier available at Amazon.

Being aware of the vital things you need to know before buying a dehumidifier will help you pick an appliance that's most suitable for you and your home.

The best place to put a dehumidifier is also important, particularly if you're using yours to curb mold, mildew, and damp like me. For the best effect, position yours where the humidity is at its highest.

Be mindful, however, that putting a dehumidifier in a bathroom (known as a wet room in electrical circles) will pose an electrocution risk and should be avoided. Instead, put yours in the hallway and run it after showering or bathing is finished, with the bathroom door open.

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All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet our experts

Chiana Dickson

Chiana is an award-winning content editor at Homes & Gardens and is our resident 'queen' of non-toxic living. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. Through this, she's also become an expert when it comes to getting a space ready for summer, with clever cooling tips that really work.

Dan Fauzi

As home tech editor at Homes & Gardens, Dan covers all things cleaning, smart home, sound, and air treatment across the Solved section. They have tried and tested dozens of fans, vacuums, dehumidifiers, and other essential home appliances, bringing a wealth of technical expertise to our thorough reviews and buying guides.

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