Record-Breaking Heatwave? These 12 Editor-Approved Products Will Help You Stay Cool and Comfortable This Summer

The nights in Alabama don’t offer much relief from the heat, so I have to be a bit strategic with my bedtime routine during the summer. This includes wearing lightweight and breathable pajamas, and my favorites are the Cozy Earth bamboo pajamas. 

The bamboo material helps to regulate your body temperature instead of trapping it, so it’s helpful for those (like me) who sweat at night. They’re designed to have a slightly loose fit for even more comfort, and yes—they even have pockets. 

These bamboo pajamas are a favorite among BHG editors—and I’ve even turned my mom on to them. She washes and dries her pajama sets repeatedly in regular cycles with other clothes; the pajamas retain their high quality and softness.

The short-sleeve set is available in sizes XS to XXXL and 13 different colors and prints. The lighter colors are a bit sheer, so if you prefer more modesty, opt for a dark color like green, blue, or black.

Bamboo sheets, like the Cozy Earth bamboo sheet set, are cooling and breathable so you can stay comfortable at night. Pair them with the Cozy Earth bamboo pajamas for a luxuriously cool slumber. 

When we tested cooling sheets, we were impressed with how buttery soft the Cozy Earth sheets were. Even after laundering the sheet set multiple times and using them consistently, they didn’t pill at all (in fact, all Cozy Earth bedding is under warranty against pilling). 

The sheets felt smooth against our skin and kept our testers at a comfortable temperature all night long. They fit the mattress perfectly, and it was easy to make the bed. The fitted sheet even stayed in place despite tossing and turning. 

These sheets were a hit among our testers, but they are also beloved by our editors. These are my go-to sheets during the summer, and I have several family members and friends (who also live in the south) who refuse to use any other sheets once the temperatures get above 80°F. 

The bamboo sheet set is available in over 10 neutral colors and the sizes range from twin to California king (including split king). While it’s definitely a splurge, the extremely high quality and cooling design makes the steep price tag completely worth it.

We tested a variety of cooling blankets in our own homes, and the Dangtop cooling blanket was the clear winner. Available for an inexpensive price, the blanket kept our tester cool despite frequently suffering from night sweats. 

This blanket comes in eight different colors and four different sizes. It’s made of bamboo-derived rayon, which lends to its lightweight and cooling design. It has a textured feel but is still soft to the touch, and it fit on our tester’s mattress with about 10 inches to spare on either side.

Because of how thin it is, it draped beautifully over the edge of the bed to create a soft and breezy look. There was a small snag on one corner of the blanket, but there were no tears or puckering otherwise. After laundering, it remained soft and the color didn’t fade.

To complete your summer-friendly bedscape, add a cooling pillow to help prevent your head and face from getting too hot. We tested over 100 pillows, and the Casper foam pillow was one of our favorites. 

Made with three layers of foam with breathable channels, the pillow is designed to increase airflow to keep you from overheating while sleeping. We found this to be accurate during our testing, and we were pleased that we never woke up hot or sweating. 

To help it be even more breathable, the pillow comes with a removable and machine-washable lightweight cotton cover. Because of the medium firmness of the pillow, it’s ideal for side sleepers, but it can be used for any type of sleeper. 

My husband actually sleeps with this pillow every night, and he sleeps on his back, stomach, and side. He’s never woken up with any neck discomfort (despite his varied and awkward sleeping positions) and he likes how supportive the foam is. He’s also never woken up sweating while using this pillow, even during hot and humid Alabama summer nights.

If you don’t have central air conditioning or need a window unit to supplement your HVAC system, the Frigidaire window air conditioner will help cool your room without making much noise. At just 42 decibels, we could still hear the TV and carry out conversations, and it didn’t keep up one of our testers, who is a notoriously light sleeper. 

While the installation is fairly straightforward, you may need an additional set of hands to help since the unit weighs about 50 pounds. Once it’s installed, you can enjoy refreshingly cool air controlled by the included remote or accompanying app. 

During our testing period, this window air conditioner consistently kept a 300-square-foot living room at a comfortable 73°F. Because it’s Energy-Star certified and has a variable-speed compressor, it’s efficient at regulating room temperatures without raising your power bill.

A quality standing fan is an absolute essential during the summer, and the Shark FlexBreeze is our top choice after testing almost 60 fans. It can be used indoors and outdoors, and the best part is a removable water tank that gently mists you with water while you enjoy the cooling breeze. 

You can choose from five different speeds on the fan depending on your needs. The lower speeds are quieter, so they’re better suited for indoors while the higher speeds are more powerful and louder, making them ideal to use during an outdoor dinner party or backyard hangout. 

We also like that there are three different oscillation modes to help move the air around, and the tilting head allows you to control exactly where you want the airflow. It can even be converted from a standing fan to a tabletop fan if you need a breeze while working from home or cooking dinner.