How to stay cool when it’s extremely hot

An illustration of two people on pool floats, on top of an ice cube tray.

Illustration: Dana Davis

We’ve spent about a decade’s worth of summers finding the best cooling products available under the sun. Below, we’ll walk you through some of our advice and most effective recommendations for keeping your home cool—whether you have central air, window units, or no AC at all.

Our expert advice for keeping your home cool→

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The best air conditioners

A Midea U MAW08V1QWT air conditioner shown setup on a window.

Photo: Michael Hession

There’s just no substitute. Not only is AC the only way to actually lower the air temperature in your home, the dehumidifying effects of air conditioning can also improve the efficiency of your body’s natural cooling system: sweating. And if you don’t have central air, a window or portable unit is your best bet.

Our top-pick window unit is the closest thing to a perfect air conditioner→

If you have central air: Consider a smart thermostat

A square-shaped Ecobee smart thermostat set to 70 degrees.

Photo: Michael Hession

Smart thermostats are great for hot weather, because they can quickly learn your routines and automatically adjust your home to the ideal temperature. This not only ensures your home is comfortable, but it also saves you money and conserves energy resources.

The 4 best smart thermostats→

Automate your curtains and shades

Two windows with white blinds behind a gray couch

Photo: Lutron

Sunlight pouring into your home through your windows is charming during any other season, but in the summer, it also brings unwanted heat. Drawing any shades or curtains can help to limit the amount of heat entering your home, but smart shades do it automatically, so you don’t have to lift a finger. Editor Jon Chase says they are “the absolute best for keeping out unwanted heat,” especially cellular-style models that can help insulate windows.

Smart blinds we love→

Cook with less heat

Boiling pot of water on induction cooktop with box of pasta next to it

Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Though fully retiring your range or oven for the summer may be a bit extreme, there are ways to modify your kitchen habits to keep the room cooler—without resorting to a diet of ice cream and salad. An induction cooktop is a good place to start. It generates heat directly in the pan, which means your cooking vessel will still get quite hot. But the technology creates a significantly cooler cooking surface, which translates to a more comfortable kitchen temp.

More tips for chilling out your kitchen→

One last thing: “I douse my whole body with cold water every night”

Illustration of a person pouring water out of a bathing pail or ladle.

Illustration: Dana Davis

It’s helpful to have a few strategies for cooling down that are not dependent on electricity. And there is no more effective way to bring down your body temperature than with cold water. Editor Katie Okamoto walks you through her advice for hot nights, involving nothing more than cold water and a humble pail.

A nightly ritual to cool down→

For even more advice on staying cool indoors during a heat wave, head here.

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