Cooling towels, misting fans, bamboo sheets: 10 essentials to get you through a heatwave without an AC
Fall back on these tried and tested products ranging from fans and mists to blackout blinds to beat the heat
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As Americans gear up for the nation’s 250th birthday and World Cup celebrations, they’ll need to contend with another beast: record-breaking temperatures reaching above 100F sweeping the majority of the country over the long weekend.
If you’re feeling the heat of current conditions, there’s much you can do to regulate your body temperature and stay safe – even if you don’t own an air conditioning unit. If you’re indoors, experts advise keeping windows shut during peak mid-day hours, staying hydrated constantly and using window blinds over curtains for energy-efficient shade.
Our writers have also tested, reviewed and personally relied on these gear to stay cool in extreme heat. From a cooling fan that blows mist to a slushy maker that keeps drinks chilled, here are the 10 best things to help you stay comfortable in these sweltering forecasts.
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Dreo TurboCool Misting Tower Fan
The best cooling fan we ever tested is bound to come to the rescue: it can shoot a cooling stream of air in tandem with refreshing mist droplets that help drop ambient temperatures by up to 10 degrees. “I tried its top setting (fan 12, mist 4), and sitting 2m away, I felt the occasional, pleasant cool drop of water, but the floor didn’t get wet,” said Caramel Quin, a reviewer, who was a true fan of the device when her front room heated up to 88F recently.
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Diveblues Portable Handheld Turbo Fan
For an even more targeted stream of cool air, opt for the most powerful personal fan we’ve ever put to the test. Its three-way design allows you to perch it atop any surface, use it as a handheld fan or rock it around your neck with its lanyard. “If you want power for a reasonable price, then [this] is the answer,” said Alan Martin, a Filter tester. At its highest setting, it delivers gusts of air at 6.6m/s, though that can get noisy too.
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Frogg Togg Instant Cooling Towels
For an immediate cool down, grab a reusable cooling neck towel with bonus built-in sun protection. Recommended to us by a personal trainer who specializes in training women undergoing perimenopause, who tend to experience hot flashes as part of their symptoms, these versatile towels stay dry to the touch and can cool you off up to 30 degrees.
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Dr Althea 345 Relief Cream Mist
Stay cool and care for your skin while you’re at it. Sali Hughes, the Guardian’s beauty columnist, called this hot weather must-have “the perfect mist” for its ability to dispense “a superfine monsoon of hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing, calming ingredients such as aloe, rice, panthenol and centella”.
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Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
Running hot at night can feel like a total nightmare. When I tested these cooling bamboo sheets in my guide to the best Cozy Earth sleep gear, I was struck by how effective these semi-slick sheets were at keeping night sweats at bay for those who tend to overheat. But you won’t be slipping and sliding off your mattress: they boast the softness of “a well-worn T-shirt”, as I put it, which can further contribute to some much-needed respite during the heatwave.
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Fishwife Albacore Tuna in Spicy Olive Oil
Avoid cooking with a stove or oven that can generate heat over time, Samuel Gibbs, a consumer tech editor, recommends in his guide to keeping your home cool in a heatwave. Instead, opt for a meal that requires zero cooking at all. “Tinned fish, beyond its protein-maxxing benefits, is the easiest no-cook shortcut,” according to Karen Yuan, the Filter US commissioning editor. She likes mixing Fishwife’s albacore tuna in spicy olive oil with kimchi, sliced cucumber and dried seaweed flakes over microwaved rice for an ultimate lazy-person dinner. Another protein-packed favorite is Cole’s smoked salmon in extra virgin olive oil.
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Tommee Tippee Sleeptight Portable Blackout Blind
Whether you’re looking to protect your baby’s sleep environment or infuse your own space with impromptu shade, these portable blackout blinds are the way to go. “Hanging blackout curtains on the sun-facing side of your home can block its heating effects,” according to Callum Bains, a Guardian contributor. “Although basic, it’s effective.” Suction cups keep these blackout blinds affixed to any window, should you need something installed in a (hot) flash.
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Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
A water bottle is a no-brainer addition to your cooling setup, with adequate hydration assisting profoundly in the body’s ability to thermoregulate. Topping our list of the best water bottles that money can buy is the fan-favorite Owala FreeSip, which gives you the option to chug from its wide spout or sip neatly through its collapsible straw. Whichever method you choose, you’re guaranteed an ice-cold sip thanks to its triple-insulated stainless-steel design.
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Ninja Slushi Drink Maker
You deserve a sweet treat amidst the heat – you may as well make it a cool one. Tobey Grumet Segal, a Filter contributor, was “blown away” by the ease with which you can whip up a refreshing bev on a hot day with this viral device. “I just pour in my liquid of choice, hit one of the five presets (slush, spiked slush, frappe, milkshake, frozen juice), set a freezer level, and it chills inside the machine until I dispense it,” she said.
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Fatboy Miasun Beach Tent
No shade to your home, but sometimes you’re better off outdoors, especially if there’s a slight breeze worth catching. If that’s the case, Rhiannon Evans, a Filter contributor, said this portable beach canopy “has you covered” in a heatwave. It’s capable of accommodating up to two adults and two children and can be configured three ways to suit your lounging style.
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
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