Beat the heat wave — 10 essential tips and tricks to stay cool this summer

woman sweating in the sun
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Hot enough for ya? Thanks to climate change, we're seeing hotter and hotter temperatures across the globe during the summer months. However, there are a number of things you can do to try and keep cool during heat waves no matter how high the temperature gets outside. 

From chilling your car to tending to your plants, here are 10 tips and tricks to staying cool to beat the heat this summer.

Plus, these are 5 colors that repel heat to keep you cool this summer.

I just beat the heat with a $2 roll of aluminum foil

aluminum foil on tom's front window

(Image credit: Tom Pritchard/Tom's Guide)

One of our editors used a humble roll of aluminum foil to keep the temperature down in his apartment. (As a bonus, it helped protect him from aliens.) Here's how he did it and how it worked.

How to make a DIY air conditioner

If you're looking for a little cooling action and don't want to buy an air conditioner, you can make your own out of a few household products.  Here's how to do it in three easy steps.

7 tips for staying cool in a heatwave

From wearing the right clothing to knowing what appliances to use — and which to turn off — here are seven common-sense tips for keeping cool when the temperatures rise. 

How to cool down your car

reflective windshield cover in silver car

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During a heatwave, your car can turn into a veritable oven, making it really uncomfortable when you need to get into it and drive somewhere. Here's how to keep it cool — and get it cool quickly if it's been baking in the Sun. 

This is the ideal water temperature for beating the heat

When it gets hot out, it's more important than ever to stay hydrated. And the experts agree: if you want to drink water to cool down, it should be a certain temperature — and it's warmer than you think!

How to cool down a room

Even if you don't have air conditioning, here are 10 tricks and tips for cooling down a room and keep it from getting too hot.

5 tips for keeping your lawn green

Striped garden

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If you don't have air conditioning, you don't have to suffer in the heat. Here are 10 tricks and tips for cooling down a room and keep it from getting too hot.

How to sleep better in a heatwave

There's nothing worse than trying to go to sleep when it's hot out. Check out our tips on how to get some zzz's if the mercury is up.

The 3 things you should look for when buying a new air conditioner

In the market for a new A/C? Here are the three things you need to look for above all else to make sure that you can cool down your room while spending less money.

How to clean an air conditioner

Woman opening up an air conditioner

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If you want your A/C to run in top condition, then follow these tips to keep it working as well as the day you bought it.

Products and deals to help you beat the heat wave

In the market for a new A/C? Then check out our picks for the best smart air conditioners, as well as the best air conditioner sales and deals. If you'll be spending time outside, we have a number of picks for the best coolers as well as the best water bottles to keep you hydrated. 

Mike Prospero
U.S. Editor-in-Chief, Tom's Guide

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.