Photo: Michael Hession

Curtains that effectively block out light are good for your sleep—most people’s shut-eye would benefit from a darker room. But blackout curtains can also help keep your home a bit cooler, by limiting the amount of heat entering through the windows. Making them especially useful during, say, a summer heatwave.

To find the absolute best blackout curtains, we put 35 to the test in our own homes. And we came away with all new picks for different light levels, from very dark to pitch black.

Bathe any room in sweet, sweet darkness→

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The best portable air conditioners We’ve considered more than 200 models→

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Michael Hession

A filthy fan or air conditioner is not only less efficient at cooling you down, it’s also a potential health risk—especially if you have sensitive lungs or allergies. So don’t wait until the end of the season to give it a clean. All it takes is a few household supplies you probably already have.

The best way to clean your fan or AC→

Photos: Dorie Chevlen

One of the ways we tested blackout curtains? Hunched over in a closet, of course. We draped each curtain over a bright light while sitting in a pitch-black closet. And, as you can see, some were definitely better at blocking out light than others.

More on how we tested→

Plus, from NYT Well: Why does humidity make me so miserable?

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