It’s Hot! Here’s How to Keep Your Cool All Summer Long

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Homemade Red, White and Blueberry pops are a delectable way to chill this Fourth of July. (The View from Great Island)

We’ve survived our first week of summer. And yes, it’s hot. If you’re one of the lucky ones with a lake or mountain home, please invite us. In the meantime, here’s some sure-fire ways to help you keep your cool—no matter what the temperature.

POOL FLOATS

Love to lounge? Lay back and relax on Frontgate’s Drift Chaise Float. Soft beads contour to your body, providing luxurious support.

Chaise floats let you lounge in luxury. (Frontgate)

Or for fun in the sun, choose from an array of over-the-top, Insta-worthy floats. There’s something for everyone—think light-up swans, luxury jets, rainbow unicorns, even an everything bagel.

Celebrate Malibu Barbie’s birthday in 70s style. (Funboy)

And who’d have guessed Malibu Barbie turned 50 this year? Funboy’s limited edition anniversary jet float promises to transport you to “the jet-set lifestyle of the 1970’s and land at the beach where it’s always sunny and the fun never stops.”

This pup-friendly float is ultra-buoyant and strong. (Frontgate)

Got a baby or puppy? There’s a float for that. SwimWays baby pool float has a removable canopy and activity center. And Frontgate’s dog lounger will keep your pooch cool and relaxed.

OUTDOOR SHOWERS

Start your day with a refreshing spray. It’s also ideal post walk, work-out, or gardening. Amp up the style factor with a custom surround, bench, plants, and landscaped pathway.

PULSE’s Wave 3-Spray shower easily connects to your outdoor water line. (Lowes)

MISTERS

Misters make the sweltering heat a whole lot more manageable. These handy compact fans can reduce the temperature of any outdoor space by as much as 25 degrees. Simply attach to a standard water hose to turn your normal flow of H20 into a fine, cooling mist.

Lasko’s three-speed misting fan has a swiveling head so you can control the output. (Amazon)

BEDDING

Hot, sweaty nights have a time and a place. But when all you want is a good night of ZZ’s, start with your bedding.

“Your body’s ability to regulate temperature is a big part of how it regulates sleep,” Dr. Michael Grandner, the director of the sleep and health research program at the University of Arizona, told New York magazine’s Strategist. “And one of the ways that the body regulates temperature is by excreting small amounts of sweat.” Breathable sheets allows moisture to evaporate into the air, thus cooling your body down.

SOL’s organic sheets are cool and inviting against your skin.

Your best bet: natural fibers, like cotton and linen. The online publication gives top ratings to SOL Organics percale sheeting—“crisp like your favorite shirt”—for its lightweight breathability. For optimal effect, add a cooling pillow.

Two temperature-regulating technologies and premium NASA-designed fabric earned Slumber Cloud’s UltraCool Pillow a 2021 Good Housekeeping award.

A more advanced—albeit pricier—option is a sleep system. Chilisleep’s Cool Mesh model sports a hydro-powered thermal range that operates from 55-115 degrees. What if bed partners don’t agree? No problem. It’s available in half or full sizes.

This luxurious sleep system includes a reversible hydronic pad, control unit, and OOLER app for sleep schedules.

JUST FOR FUN

Colorful LED lights add a fashionable flair. (Amazon)

Sometimes it’s the little things that help beat the heat. This portable, personal neck fan just might be summer’s most essential accessory.

A fully-vested way to stay cool. (Amazon)

This is literally a vest you freeze and wear. It won’t leak on clothing and the cold can last for hours at a time.

Satisfy your ice coffee fix in just 60 seconds. (Walmart)

Ice coffee lovers, rejoice. It takes just a minute to turn standard drip coffee into a cold, caffeinated treat. The ingenious multi-chamber design also chills tea, wine, even beer that’s been sitting in the sun too long.

Refreshing pops can be insanely addictive. (Amazon)

And finally, what’s better on a hot day than a homemade ice pop? The New York Times Wirecutter researched dozens of molds and gives top billing to Tovolo’s Classic Pop Molds—the “most consistent and easy-to-eat pops we’ve tried.”

Elaine Raffel left the corporate world to become a freelance creative focused on real estate and design in Dallas.

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