How to keep cool without air conditioning

Wandering into an air-conditioned shop or spending the day in an air-conditioned office can feel glorious when the weather is hot.

But, in a country where we only get a few weeks of hot weather each summer, most people don’t have that luxury at home. While it’s possible to get air conditioning units installed, or to splurge on a portable air conditioner, they can be expensive and bulky and they use a lot of energy. 

In fact, some air conditioners will use the same amount of energy in one hour that a fridge uses in a day. 

Read on for some other ways to help keep cool in a pinch – and on a budget.

Compare our electric fan reviews and air conditioner reviews

Use an electric fan – and use it well

Electric fans are a cheaper option than air conditioning and are usually relatively cheap to run. 

Whether you opt for a desk fan or a tower/pedestal fan, remember that a fan doesn’t actually cool the air, it just moves it around. You feel cooler because the breeze helps to evaporate moisture off your skin. So don’t bother leaving a fan on in a room with nobody in it, as you’re just wasting energy.

When setting your fan up, try to position it at the same height or lower than you, such as on the floor or a low table, with the unit pointing up. That will blow the cooler air up, rather than pushing warmer air (which rises to the top of a room) down on to you.

Discover more tips for getting the most out of your electric fan and what mistakes to avoid.

Popular with Which? members: Levoit LTF-F362 Tower Fan

• 17 x 17 x 92cm
• 12 speed settings
• 1.7-metre cable

We like: Wide range of speeds

We don't like: Other fans are easier to store

Tower fans are built vertically, so they have a much smaller footprint than pedestal or box fans. You can tuck them into tight corners or small bedrooms more easily too. 

This Levoit fan is one of the most-clicked fans by Which? members. It has 12 speed settings, a programmable timer, turbo mode for particularly hot days and an auto mode that changes the speed based on the room temperature.

Read our Levoit LTF-F362 Tower Fan review to find out how well it worked in our tests. 

Use a handheld fan when you're out of the house

When it's hot outside and you don't have access to air conditioning, one of the best handheld and neck fans will help keep you cool. 

Whether you're out on a walk, on public transport or at an event this summer, keeping one of these nifty gadgets in your bag will make sure you're prepared for searing temperatures. 

Popular with Which? members: JisuLife Pro1S (2025)

• Weighs 286g
• 100 speed settings
• Claimed charge time: 3 hours

We like: Very simple to use

We don’t like: A bit heavy to hold for longer periods

This portable fan has an incredible range of speeds, so you can tune it precisely to whatever power you’d like.

It also has a two-button turn-on mechanism designed to prevent it turning on accidentally in your bag.

Read our JisuLife Pro1S (2025) review to find out more. 

Close your windows, blinds and curtains

You might think an open window will create a breeze. But unless wind speeds are high, you won't necessarily feel as much benefit from it as you expect. 

Keep the windows shut when the air outside is warmer than inside, and you’ll keep warm air out of the house. Open the windows when the air outside is cooler than it is inside – usually when the sun has gone down. 

If you’ve ever stood in a greenhouse on a warm summer’s day, you’ll know that glass windows in full sun can dramatically increase inside air temperature. Use curtains, blinds and shutters to keep the sunshine out of rooms in the heat of the day and while they’re not in use, to avoid the air heating up.

From frozen towels to affordable air con, these are the products Which? experts rely on during a heatwave

Take cool or lukewarm showers

Don’t be tempted to turn the dial right round to freezing when having a shower. If your body is subjected to extreme cold, it will try to regulate its core temperature by retaining heat. 

This will increase blood flow to your skin to warm it up, making you feel even hotter.

Taking a cold shower might make you feel better for a short time, but your best option is using cool or lukewarm water, and then letting yourself air dry rather than towel-drying yourself. 

The action of water evaporating off your skin will create a cooling effect on the surface of your skin. 

Wear the right clothes at night

Trying to sleep in a heatwave can be torture, and you may think the easiest way to keep cool at night is to completely strip off. 

In fact, it’s best to wear some clothes, provided they are thin, loose and cotton-based. They will act as a wick for sweat, increasing the surface area for sweat to evaporate from and helping you feel cooler.

If you're a hot sleeper, it may also be worth investing in a cooling mattress.

Popular with Which? members: MattressNextDay Coolflex Ortho Luxe Pocket mattress

• Double
• Pocket sprung
• Very cold

We like: Designed for cooling

We don't like: No removable mattress cover

If you struggle to sleep during the summer months, a cooling mattress could be the answer. 

A popular choice with our members is the Coolflex Ortho Luxe Pocket mattress. It's a double mattress that arrives vacuum-packed and rolled up so you can easily take it up to your bedroom. 

Combining layers of foam with springs, it's described as medium firm by the retailer. If you're unsure, there’s a 100-night sleep trial included. If you don’t love it after a minimum try of 50 days, you can swap it – provided you’ve used a mattress protector. 

Will this double mattress provide lasting support for your spine? To check before you buy, read our Coolflex Ortho Luxe Pocket mattress review.

Avoid feeling sweaty at night: we've found 5 cooling mattresses for hot sleepers

Eat cooling and hydrating food

In a heatwave, cold salads, chilled soups, pre-cooked meats and quiches, and fruit (think melon and citrus fruits) are quick and easy foods that don’t require cooking and save you from having to heat your home up further by turning on the hob or oven. 

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, also warns against the risks of dehydration: ‘Older people can be particularly at risk of dehydration and overheating when it gets hot, especially if their home is hard to keep cool. 

'Drink plenty of fluids and eat normally, but be sure to include cold food, particularly salads and fruit which contain a lot of water and help us stay hydrated.'

Planning a picnic or camping trip? Check out our pick of the best cool boxes

When might an air conditioner be worthwhile?

The tips we've rounded up can be useful, but if you’re spending a lot of time at home and find it gets unbearably hot, even when the weather isn’t especially warm, it might be worth investing in a portable air conditioner.

This could be the case if the room is south facing, so gets a lot of sun. 

Air conditioning may also be worthwhile if you have valuable items that you don’t want to overheat, such as computing equipment, models, artwork or musical instruments, or you or a member of your household is particularly vulnerable to heat.

Popular with Which? members: DeLonghi Pinguino Compact PAC ES72 Classic

• 21.5kg
• 68.7 x 29 x 36.3cm
• Two fan speeds

We like: Also functions as a dehumidifier

We don't like: No supplied window sealing kit

If you have the space and budget, an air conditioner will be your best friend during a heatwave. 

The DeLonghi Pinguino Compact PAC ES72 Classic has a rated cooling capacity of 8,300 BTU, two fan speeds, it comes with remote control and there's a 24-hour timer. 

Plus there are wheels that will help you move it around the house. 

Take a look at our results to compare the DeLonghi Pinguino Compact PAC ES72 Classic to the rest of the air conditioners we've tested.

Make the most of the warm weather with these Best Buys Which? experts love for a sizzling summer.

Watch out for the symptoms of overheating

Whatever steps you take to stay cool, watch out for symptoms of heat stroke and dehydration, including:

• muscle cramps in your arms, legs or stomach
• confusion
• headaches
• dizziness
• extreme thirst
• nausea or vomiting
• heavy sweating
• a fast pulse.

That's particularly important if you're more vulnerable to the heat. 

As you get older, your body becomes less efficient at being able to warm up or cool down, and so can be more at risk of issues during extreme weather. 

For more information on how to protect yourself from the heat, you can call Age UK’s free advice line on 0800 169 6565 or visit Age Concern's advice for older adults in a heatwave.

Ice can keep you, your drinks, and food cool this summer. Here's how to buy the best ice maker.