Smart Ways to BEAT the HEAT

As extreme temperatures become the norm, summer brings more days that spike above 95°F and more nights when temps don't drop below 70°F. Luckily, the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute know all the hot tips and cool tricks to help you keep your home, clothes, workout, and beauty routine more comfortable.

- DAN DICLERICO HOME IMPROVEMENT & OUTDOOR LAB DIRECTOR SABINA WIZEMANN GH BEAUTY LAB DIRECTOR STEFANI SASSOS, M.S., R.D.N. NUTRITION AND FITNESS LAB DIRECTOR Laura Formisano NICOLE PAPANTONIOU KITCHEN & COOKING LAB DIRECTOR

Assist Your AC

An icy blast feels great when you walk into your home on a muggy day. The electric bill that follows? Pretty painful. Our home improvement expert says one easy move can help with both.

SPIN DOCTOR

An oscillating floor fan with multiple speeds allows you to adjust an AC's setting by five to 10 degrees and get the same comfort. For ceiling fans, make sure the blades are spinning counterclockwise to create a cooling downdraft.

EXPERT PICKS

CHILLY RECEPTION

These cooling appliances stood out in our testing.

BREEZE MAKER

It is powerful enough for larger rooms and offers 90-degree oscillation. Plus, the speed setting (there are 12) will adjust automatically based on room temp.

LEVOIT CLASSIC 42-INCH SMART TOWER FAN, $130

HUMIDITY BUSTER

It is Energy Star-rated for efficiency and can tackle seriously damp areas such as an unfinished basement. Also, an auto-defrost function prevents the coils from freezing in cooler spaces.

TCL 50-PINT SMART DEHUMIDIFIER, $237

AIR CHILLER

This is programmable, can cool up to 500 square feet, and doubles as a dehumidifier to make your home less muggy.

WHYNTER DUAL HOSE PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER, ARC-14S, $500

Lighten Your Look

GH Beauty Lab chemists recommend swapping out winter-friendly creams for gels, jellies, and serums, which tend to be lightweight, quickly absorbed, and less greasy.

For Lips, Cheeks, Eyes