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The forecast may be calling for blazing temperatures, but that doesn't mean your AC (or your bank account) has to suffer. These smart home upgrades and cooling essentials can help keep heat out, airflow moving, and energy waste to a minimum before summer's most expensive utility bills roll in.
1. A set of Bedsure microfiber sheets so you can comfortably sleep through the night and not flip and flop around like a hot dog on a damn grill. The bamboo-derived rayon sheets are breathable, moisture-wicking, and designed to fit mattresses up to 16 inches thick, so you won't have to constantly readjust them.
Promising review: "Summer sucks for me, I always overheat! But honestly, these really do the trick. The bamboo is so soft and breathable, and makes the sheets feel super silky. And they actually do help keep you cooler at night! I have no complaints. And the color is true to the photos. I will definitely come back for another set in the future. Love this product." —Dalia
Get them from Amazon for $41.35+ (available in sizes Twin–California King and in 26 colors).
2. And Rest's Evercool Cooling Comforter with temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking fabric so you don't have to rip apart your bed in an attempt to get quality sleep. The brand's proprietary fabric has a "feel temperature" (aka a Qmax Score) much lower than cotton, bamboo, silk, and lyocell!
Promising reviews: "I have no idea how this works, but it does! It’s actually cool to the touch! I am always hot and don’t sleep well because of it. This blanket is a game changer!" —Rhonda M.
"Ever since I moved to south Florida, I have been unable to use any sort of comforter or duvet because I am such a hot sleeper. In fact, I haven’t used anything besides a top sheet in what feels like ages. This comforter has completely changed that for me. It feels so fantastic against the skin, and my only regret is that I didn’t purchase one when I first saw the ad last year. If you sleep warm, this is 100% the best thing for your bed." —Steven S.
Get it from Rest for $139+ (originally $199+; available in sizes Twin/Twin XL–King/Cali King and in six colors) or Amazon for $148.25+ (available in seven colors).
3. A Shark TurboBlade fan, because as much as you want to run your AC 24/7... your electric bill says otherwise. This bladeless fan pivots, twists, oscillates up to 180 degrees, and propels air at 10 speeds so you can stay cool in a HIGHLY efficient and cost-effective manner.
Promising review: "I usually write a review if a product goes far beyond what it claims to do, or if the product goes far below expectations. I have to say this fan performs like nothing I have ever seen. I struggle with SEVERE hot flashes, so having cool air when I need it is very important. This fan flows cool air up the entire width of our queen bed. The air that blows out feels like it's coming from an air conditioner. I use the remote to turn the force of the air coming out 4-5 levels. Not sure how many levels there are, since I don’t go past 4. Even at 3 levels, I can’t leave it on more than 30-40 minutes at a time. At 40 minutes, I start to get cold. The temperature outside is near 85. I really love this fan when I’m sleeping, reading, or knitting. Whoot Whoot SHARK!" —Denise
Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in three sale colors).
4. A power consumption meter to help you track down the energy vampires in your home. You know, the TVs, computers, small kitchen appliances, and other electronics that leach energy even when they're turned off or in standby mode.
The home energy monitor can not only calculate and display how much power your appliance uses, but also what that translates to in terms of your electricity bill!
Promising review: "This meter is actually worth it! I can now see how much power any device (computer, heater, AC, phones, etc.) is consuming through the meter, and whether it is energy-saving as claimed or not. I can also use it to check whether I am getting enough wattage. Awesome! I highly recommend this product." —Lisa
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
5. Some transparent weatherstripping tape so you can seal any gaps between your AC unit and window. Look, if you're gonna pay to use the AC, you wanna make sure every BIT of that cool air stays inside where it belongs.
PS: XFasten is a small biz.
Promising review: "My portable AC unit had gaps between the plastic piece where it mounts on my window. I tried tape but found it had no effect. I tried this tape, it lowered my room temperature by 5 degrees. Worth it!" —Tai T.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).
6. And a roll of thick foam tape weatherstripping you can install around every door frame while you're at it!
Promising review: "The weather stripping (rubber tubing) on our front door was compromised, and our AC couldn't cool the house. After replacing the original stripping with this foam, the temperature inside dropped by 10 degrees. Your mileage may vary, but it worked well for me." —HrVanker
Get it from Amazon for $12.48+ (available in 18 sizes/lengths).
7. A set of blackout thermal curtains that'll not only block out light, noise, and heat, but also prevent cool air from escaping, because that is just money straight down the drain.
Promising review: "I purchased these for every room in my house. They completely block out the light and heat. I live in Florida, so the AC is running 24/7, and after purchasing these, my electric bill went down about 25%. These are honestly such a smart investment if you’re looking to sleep in or cool your house down. I feel like an idiot for not buying them sooner." —Lucinda
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in 31 sizes and colors).
8. Or a set of motorized shades that offer a different look, but work much the same. Plus, they can block out light with the push of a button or a simple Alexa voice request.
The blackout shades can be controlled via a remote or your Alexa or Google Assistant device. Since each is made to order, you don't have to worry about tricky window dimensions, either.
Promising review: "I have three large windows that these are up on. I have yet to sync them for a schedule, but I use the motor daily. The heat blocking on these is awesome, and I have noticed a huge difference in the room where these are installed. My AC is not constantly running to keep the house cool any longer, and I am looking forward to slightly lower power bills this summer." —S
Get them from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in 14 colors; all orders are custom-sized).
9. A set of smart LED bulbs wayyy more efficient than those incandescent ones you've been using. Not only do LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer, but they don't give off any heat, which can truly make a difference!
According to the Department of Energy, lighting accounts for roughly 15% of a home's electricity use and swapping in LEDs can save you about $225 per year. These Bluetooth-compatible Govee ones are also color-changing, can sync to your music, and can be set to your desired schedule via a companion app.
Promising review: "The Govee Smart Light Bulbs have transformed our home lighting experience. We have been using the bulbs and app for at least four months now and have purchased more. Their seamless compatibility with Google Home effortlessly connects several bulbs, allowing for easy management. The programmable brightness and vast color options provide personalized ambiance, while scheduled on/off settings enhance both convenience and energy efficiency. Setting up these smart bulbs is a breeze, making them accessible even for those new to smart home technology. In summary, Govee Smart Light Bulbs deliver on both functionality and convenience, making them an excellent choice for anyone seeking a seamless and elevated smart lighting setup." —The Zoo
Get them from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in packs of 2, 6, or 10).
10. Some magnetic air vent deflectors so you can redirect airflow toward the center of your room, because right now it's seemingly going right through the wall???
Promising review: "I bought these for my floor vents to keep the AC and heat from going up the curtains and window. I can feel the cool air on my legs from more than four feet away! The magnets are plenty strong enough to keep it in place on the floor and the plastic is thick and sturdy. I'm ordering more of these now that I have tried the first ones." —K.P.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in packs of 4, 6, and 8).
11. A therapeutic cold cap that tons of reviewers swear by, not only for alleviating intense headache, sinus, and eye pain, but also for deeper sleep on hot summer nights. Pop this in the freezer, throw it on before you go to bed, and you might just be able to get away without your AC running through the night.
Promising reviews: "I bought this because summers in California are HOT and I’m prone to heat headaches. This fits well. The material is very soft and flexible. It's tight enough not to fall or slip but not too tight to be uncomfortable. I love that it holds the cold very well. I got a solid 30 minutes of cool comfort. Will buy more so I don’t have to share with my kids 👍🏽👍🏽" —Danielle2133
"I suffer from migraines occasionally, and a friend suggested I try this mask. I’m so glad I did!!! I didn’t even put it in the fridge/freezer to get cold. The coolness alone worked well for me! I highly recommend this, not just for headaches, but even for those hot summer days and nights to just cool yourself off." —alohapeg
Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in two sizes and five colors).
12. A two-pack of affordable draft blockers, because you'll be damned if you pay even a penny for any cool air that Houdinis its way out of the house.
Plus, it'll help muffle outside noises — something particularly helpful if you live in an apartment building or with noisy roommates.
Promising review: "I’ll admit I was skeptical of these at first, but after applying them to four of our doors, we are thrilled! We live in an older home that is in no way energy efficient. We have only had them for a short time, but they look so good! They actually upgrade the doors a bit. ;-) The application went well and it is a firm hold. The flooring in our house meets the door almost so there’s not much room for movement and these stay put firmly when opening and closing the door. I have no doubt that they will stay on for a long time. Will probably buy another pack for the doors leading to our garage." —AHA
Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in two sizes and five colors).
13. And an attic stairway insulation cover that creates a seal so none of the air you paid for escapes up into the attic for your mice and squirrel friends to enjoy instead...
Promising review: "The attic drop-down door in the home I'm renting is located in the interior of the home in the bedroom hallway, plus the door is warped, leaving a half-inch gap open. In this flaming hot summer, the heat was pouring into the hallway, and my AC ran 12 hours per day to keep the house reasonably cool. The thermostat is 3 feet from this attic door (poor design), which exacerbated the problem. Within 5 minutes of installing this, I noticed a complete change! In the South, it doesn't get terribly cold in the winter, but this will keep the cold from leaking in as well. Great product for less than $40. Beats paying for a new attic door on a home I don't even own." —C A
Get it from Amazon for $25.95+ (available with or without a staple gun).
14. A pair of *affordable* down-alternative pillows with breathable cotton covers, if even your fan on high and your AC blasting (set to a crisp 68 degrees, nonetheless) are no match for your night sweats.
Promising reviews: "Ok. I’m gonna own it... I really took a leap of faith from my regular pillows. I never would have spent more than $10 for a pillow, so for me to purchase these, I had to really ponder for a few days...but now all I can say is....what the heck took me so long??? I haven’t slept like this since...1994!!! No flipping... no flopping... no readjusting... no sweaty head... just a peaceful, deep, cool sleep. So when my good friend came to stay the night, I gave her one of them to sleep on. She got up the next morning and ordered a set. I plan to replace every pillow in my house. I’m in love... with a pillow!" —Patricia L. Page
Get a set of two from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in Queen and King sizes and in two materials).
15. And a set of Japanese-engineered cool-to-the-touch pillowcases with fibers that absorb your body heat as you sleep. How cool is that?!
Promising review: "Finally found pillows that are worth every penny!!! I am buying more ASAP! I have a sweating problem, and also have my bedroom on the third floor of my home, so the heat rises, which doesn’t help my hot flashes at all! I have a hard time finding a pillowcase that isn’t sticky feeling, too hot to lie on, etc. These pillowcases are cool to the touch, super soft, and super comfortable to lie on, to the point I woke up with drool all over my face from the remarkable amount of great sleep I had! This pillowcase doesn’t get that overwhelmingly warm, sticky feeling after lying on it for a while. It stays comfortable to lie on all through the night! I’m incredibly happy and grateful to finally find pillowcases that are exactly what anyone with sweating issues and hot flashes needs and wants in pillowcases." —CosmeticatedReviews
Get them from Amazon for $15.49+ (available in standard, queen, and king sizes and in seven colors).
16. A pack of clinical-strength SweatBlock wipes that can stop hyperhidrosis, nervous sweating, and hormonal sweating right in their tracks. The effect lasts a full week, so give your pits a good wipe down after your Sunday everything shower, and enjoy a full seven days of sweat-free sleep.
This is STRONG, so if you have sensitive skin, the manufacturer suggests you do a spot test first.
PS: They also make a version for your face!
Promising review: "I sweat profusely on my forehead for some reason. Makes it nearly impossible to keep makeup on. I’ve tried all kinds of makeup products, and nothing has helped keep my makeup on. So I decided to try these even though they’re for armpits. It does burn and itch a little when you first apply it and can make your skin a little dry, BUT it’s totally worth it. I never sweat on my forehead with these. Makeup stays put. Even when I’m outside on hot summer days (and I live in the south where it can reach 100degrees with horrible humidity), I don’t sweat at all wherever I apply this. SweatBlock has become a must-have for me. Since I’ve been using it for a couple of years at this point, I only have to reapply every 2–3 weeks, so that saves money. Highly recommend this to anyone who has the forehead sweat problem." —My
Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in packs of one, two, and three).
17. A splurgeworthy BedJet cooling and warming system, which makes it possible to regulate your nighttime temperature so you can stop waking up with a sweat outline showing you sleep in mountain climber position.
The futuristic gadget (which works on beds of all sizes) is outfitted with biorhythm sleep technology. Basically, that's just a fancy way of saying it's programmed to change the temperature each hour of the night to help you sleep better. You can also set the temperature to whatever degree you'd like using the accompanying remote. If you're a cold sleeper, you can also set it to heat mode, and it'll warm you up 15 times faster than a regular ol' blanket! Just plug the small unit into an outlet, slip the vacuum-like tube under your sheets, set your preferred temperature, and you're good to go. Since there are no wires or anything like that, it also won't affect the coziness of your mattress.
Promising review: "There are plenty of glowing reviews for the BedJet. It's worth every single one of them. Very easy to set up and use via app or remote. For anyone who suffers even the slightest at night, due to being warm or waking up sweating...this is a must-have, and to call it a game-changer is an understatement. I wish this had been around years before now. Summer sleeping is at a new level of comfort." —Gene Hardison
Get it from Amazon for $569+ (available with or without sheets).
18. A Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan if you loveeee walking through the misters at Disney and want to bring the experience home. This bb — which can be configured as a pedestal or tabletop fan — uses way less electricity than an AC unit, yet still lowers temperatures by up to 12 degrees. And you can even pop some ice cubes in the tank for extra chill factor!
Promising review: "We love this fan. Not only can you spray water through an attachment that goes to the fan, but you can charge the fan itself, disconnect it from the stand, set it up on a table, and it will run for about four hours with no electricity required. It will also run for about four hours before having to be recharged. You won't regret this purchase." —Nan Lindstrom
Get it from Amazon for $199.99.
19. A programmable AC booster fan designed to improve your HVAC system's existing airflow. The smart programming features 10 speeds, heating and cooling triggers, timers, and cycles that can be controlled via remote or Bluetooth app. If you have a specific room or addition that doesn't get adequate air, this can help!
It features a programmable LCD controller with a heating and cooling thermostat and automated fan speeds.
Promising review: "My home was generally too hot in the summer and a bit cooler than I liked in the winter. Now, with this product, the entire house is much more balanced — upstairs and downstairs. In the winter, after my HVAC system shuts off, the unit continues to run as long as the duct continues to put out heat. In the summer, the unit puts out cold air upstairs even though the HVAC system is off, making upstairs bedrooms very, very comfortable for an afternoon nap. Setup is not difficult. Best of all, my energy bill went down. I was concerned that it would go up since these units are plugged into a receptacle, but the units appear to be 12- or 24-volt units (low amperage). Bottom line, an outstanding product that I feel is well worth the money I spent." —Sharon
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in two sizes and two colors).
20. A handy dandy ice roller that'll not only feel INCREDIBLE on a hot day or after some time in the sun, but it also shrinks the appearance of pores, reduces puffiness and redness, and relieves general fatigue. Some reviewers even recommend using them for migraine relief, too!
I've been using this after my outdoor runs to help cool down my face, and it's the best!
Promising review: "I was skeptical about this product. I wasn't sure how it was much different than rolling any other frozen thing on your body. I'm beyond pleasantly surprised. I've used it for sinus pain, migraines, swollen neck glands, under-eye circles/bags, inflamed acne, TMJ pain, etc. Not to mention, when I use it on my face, it leaves my skin feeling tight and wakes me up in the mornings. It also stays cold forever but never sweats or leaves water behind. It's like magic. I also bought one for my mom, who suffers from nerve damage in her arms and legs. I think it'll really help when she has bad pain days." —Jessica McRee
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in nine colors and bundles).
21. A reusable XL gel ice pack you can use in a pinch when you're hot AF and need to cool down asap. Just keep this guy in the freezer so it's always ready to go; it can keep you cool for nearly 30 minutes before it needs refreezing.
Promising review: "Many times I wake up too warm to sleep, and wish I had something opposite of a hot pad! This is perfect! You never want it directly on your skin. You can place it between a towel and lie on it, or place it inside your pillow, or even under it. Sure cuts down on AC bill or freezing your hubby or pets...when it's just you who needs to chill. 😆 I will also use this in my dog's jogger stroller on a hot day for him. But just remember, they also need a towel covering it — not directly against skin. Easy to fold and place in freezer, and unfold." —Live Love Laugh
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two sizes and colors).
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Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
