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The best portable air conditioners to keep you cool

By Published March 3, 2022

Sometimes, there’s a room in your house or cottage that just doesn’t get cool enough despite a central air conditioning system. However, a good portable air conditioner — such as these top models — can do the trick.

The desire to stay cool and comfortable in the middle of summer isn’t always easy to satisfy if you’re away from your home or office. These leading portable air conditioners can keep the cool air flowing in many different places.

Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

Best overall

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A good portable air conditioner should cool down a room quick. The Whynter ARC-14S Portable Air Conditioner can do so faster than a number of other portable units. Plus, it offers a powerful 14,000 BTUs, a dual hose, and three operating modes: Air conditioner, fan, or dehumidifier.

Global Air Portable Air Conditioner

Best lightweight portable air conditioner

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Lugging around a portable air conditioner is strenuous if it’s heavy. So go with a lightweight yet heavy performer. Tops in that vein: The Global Air Portable Air Conditioner, which offers 10,000 BTUs of cooling power but weighs only 34 pounds.

BLACK+DECKER Portable Air Conditioner

Best value

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Looking for an effective portable air conditioner that’s a great value? The Black + Decker BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner offers that in spades, with 8,000 BTUs of cooling power and a lower price. The unit is ideal for a bedroom, apartment, dorm room, or garage.

No matter where you need cool air — from a bedroom to dorm room to apartment — a portable air conditioner is a smart choice to get, with the flexibility to move such a unit around. Keep these units in mind when portability is top of mind.

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An entryway does not need to be large to be functional. It simply needs to be intentional and clear in purpose. The entryway is the first and last space you pass through each day. This is where you take one final glance in the mirror before stepping into the world. It is also where everyone kicks off their shoes, drops their bags, and leaves behind things like keys, sunglasses and other essentials down and walks away. The space should work for you and not against you.

Start by clearing the surfaces and beginning fresh. Whether you have a console table, a narrow shelf, or a small ledge, keep only what serves a purpose. Add a catchall tray or bowl to contain keys, sunglasses, and everyday essentials. Without a designated place for these items, surfaces quickly become cluttered.

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So which plants can handle winter? For homes that tend to be cooler, hardy plants like Snake Plants (Sansevieria), Cast Iron Plants, and ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) are ideal. The good news is that all three can handle temperature drops and limited sunlight. The Cast Iron Plant, for example, can thrive in conditions as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

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