The sun is out in full force for the next few days – so both you and your outdoor space need protection from it. A parasol is the ideal tool for this – but if your garden or patio is on the smaller side or you’re only working with a small balcony, none of which fit a regular-sized parasol, let me introduce you to the half parasol.
Equipped with crank function, it makes opening and closing this parasol super easy. And it’s designed to protect both against the sun and light rain as the material’s water-resistant.
Half parasols are a concept that’s so simple but so clever – so much so that I just can’t believe I’m only finding out about them now.
And it’s not just people with tiny outdoor spaces that are already going crazy for them – shoppers are also using half parasols to shade their windows which is a clever hack. One reviewer of the Charles Bentley half parasol wrote, ‘This parasol was recommended to me by my brother. He had two on his patio to shield his kitchen windows from the sun. I bought one and used it for the same job. Well made, perfect bit of kit. Folded away easily. Much nicer than drawing the curtains.’
(Image credit: B&Q)
While another existing customer wrote, ‘It fits perfectly on a small patio flush up against a hedge. Seems very sturdy and being heavy stays put in windy weather.’
But aside from the popular Charles Bentley design, I’ve found 6 other half parasols worth investing in if you need a space-saving protection from the sun for your compact outdoor space.
Top half parasol picks
Outsunny
2.7m Garden Half Parasol
This half parasol is one of the bestsellers across different retailers, from amazon to B&Q. It’s available in a variety of colours from neutrals to bolder shades like this vibrant orange.
John Lewis
Freestanding Balcony Parasol & Base Weight
This half parasol is loved by John Lewis customers and even comes with its own base which is a great benefit – it is, however, reflected in the slightly higher price point.
Outsunny
2.6 m Half Garden Parasol with Solar LED Lights
As if a half parasol in itself wasn’t genius enough, this Outsunny design from Amazon also comes with added internal LED fairy-style lights for creating a magical atmosphere in the evening.
QVC
Innovators Space-Saving 2.7m Half Parasol
Available in two colourways – this neutral grey and bold citron green – this crank-operated half parasol comes with an aluminium pole which is known for being durable rust-resistant.
sweeek
2.5m round half parasol for balcony
Boasting several positive reviews, this round half parasol is available in a timeless sand colourway and is operated by a handy crank on the robust aluminium pole. The base is sold separately though.
Kettler
Wind-Up Balcony Half Parasol, 2.1m
This half parasol comes with a tilt function which allows you to adjust the design to your needs throughout the day. Kettler also doesn’t mess about when it comes to sun protection as the material comes with UV50+ protection.
With parasols being the ‘it’ garden buy of this summer, this style makes it attainable for outdoor spaces of all sizes and dimensions. And I’m always very much here for that!
It’s getting seriously hot, record-breaking levels of heat, and if you’re struggling with the most recent heatwave, imagine how your pet feels. If you’re looking for ways to help keep your furry friends cool this month, Aldi’s best-selling pet cooling range has returned to the middle aisle, offering affordable cooling products that work.
The Aldi pet cooling range is becoming a middle aisle favourite, returning again for 2026. With prices starting at just £1.99, these handy cooling buys are back by popular demand after rapidly selling out last year.
Dogs, cats and all manner of pests are part of our families, which is why we invest in everything from the best vacuums for pet hair to the comfiest beds and squeakiest toys. Now, you can also ensure your pet stays cool during what is currently the hottest week of the year.
You can choose between a playful watermelon and pink striped print or classic blue and green pool shades. The paddling pool itself is foldable, making storage easy when not in use, and small garden-friendly.
You can also expect it to be durable, too. In the past, I’ve used a normal paddling pool for my pooch, only for her nails to scratch the lining, causing leaks. Specially designed pet pools are made from tougher material to prevent popping and scratches.
(Image credit: Aldi)
As well as the collapsible, Aldi is also dropping a £12.99 pet cooling bed, which is available in four colourways and two different sizes. These beds are designed to provide a soothing, cool environment to help pets sleep. There isn’t much information on how Aldi’s cooling mats work, but FurDreams Pet Cooling Mat (£49.99, B&Q) works by absorbing your pet’s body heat, keeping them seven to nine degrees cooler than their surroundings. It re-cools automatically after 15 to 20 minutes of non-use.
Also, to catch my eye was Aldi’s Cooling Dog Toy (£2.49), which offers dogs something cool to chew on, helping to regulate their temperature while they play.
‘Pets are part of the family, and we are always looking for ways to help our customers keep their four-legged friends happy and comfortable, especially during the warmer months. Our Pet Shop range has been designed to offer fun, practical solutions at unbeatable value to help keep dogs cool all summer long,’ said Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK.
We expect Aldi’s pet cooling range to sell out fast. So, I’ve found a few alternatives you can shop online.
Crufts Cooling Mat
The mat provides cooling relief as soon as your pet lies down. The pressure activated gel provides cooling relief without the need for water, electricity or refrigeration. It’s wipe clean, and automatically resets after an hour of non-use.
Jsdoin Dogs Pool -100cm Inflatable Dog Splash Pool
Perfect for dogs who love to play, this sprinkler pool will help keep them cool all summer. It’s material is thick and durable, and it is large enough for two dogs to enjoy.
Rosewood Green Checkered Paddling Pool – 120cm
A paddling pool is a great way for dogs to help cool off. this one is suitable for small, medium and large sized dogs, and is made from claw-resistant PVC and reinforced MDF outer panels.
Heatwaves can be uncomfortable and even dangerous for our pets. Are you prepared to keep them cool?
Temperatures this week are set to soar as high as 38 degrees in parts of the UK, so it comes as no surprise that we’re all on the lookout for cooling solutions for our homes. The best portable air conditioners are the best way to quickly cool your home, but they have been flying off the virtual shelves. In fact, many of our top-rated models are already sold out at multiple retailers, and we imagine some of the best fans are set to start selling out just as quickly, too.
However, there are still portable air conditioners, air coolers and misting fans available to buy if you know where to look. We’ve tracked down where you can still find a portable AC in stock, and any rare fan deals we come across along the way.
At Ideal Home, we test portable ACs and fans all year round, so we have all the insider intel on which ones are worth spending on, the alternatives that deliver similar results for a lower price point and other cooling hacks that will tide you over until you get your hands on a portable AC.
If you’re not able to get your hands on your chosen portable air conditioner just yet, or they are out of your budget, then it’s definitely worth considering a misting fan, especially if it feels like your fan is just blowing hot air.
With an integral water tank, they spray an ultra-fine mist as they blow out air, which results in a very cooling breeze for those in its path. It’s not likely to lower the overall temperature in a room like a portable air conditioner, but it’ll feel like a cooler breeze than a normal fan, so it’s a good middle ground.
So should you buy a portable air conditioner now or wait? After all, these appliances aren’t cheap, with even the most budget friendly models costing in excess of £250.
If you need a portable air conditioner to be able to get through the next few days, then if you find a portable AC that will suit your needs and it’s in stock, then definitely don’t wait to snap it up. Stock is moving very quickly, so if you don’t you could miss out.
However, if you have a very specific model in mind, like the new super-quiet Meaco Cirro, then if you can hold on for a few more days, you may be able to get the one you want, with more stock due in early July. It’s worth checking back daily too. In the last few days, I’ve seen portable air conditioners come back into stock and sell out again on the same day.
Where I’d go to buy a portable AC in stock this evening
While we haven’t tested this particular model, but we rate ElectriQ’s products. Run, don’t walk.View Deal
(Image credit: Future)
Duux Whisper 3 alternative
I’ve spotted that the Duux Whisper 3 (which is a brilliant fan for a bedroom, thanks to its ultra-quiet operation), which was discounted as an early Prime Day deal, is out of stock.
Fortunately, if you had your heart set on it, its sister model, theDuux Whisper Flex 2 is in stock for less than £150 on Amazon. It’s identical in terms of bedroom suitability and looks just as good. The biggest difference is that the Whisper Flex 2 can be controlled via an app and has two different height options, while the Whisper 3 isn’t smart and offers more height variations between desktop and full pedestal height thanks to its telescopic stem.
This smart and super quiet fan, which I’ve also tested and loved, is reduced by £30 in the early Prime Day sale.View Deal
When might portable air conditioners come back in stock?
While the best portable air conditioners we’ve tried have temporarily sold out, you might be wondering when they might be back in stock.
While we’re checking stock levels daily (and checking in with our industry insiders), the level of demand for these appliances has been huge, so it’s a bit of a scramble to get them back in stock.
We do know that the brand new Cirro portable air conditioner from Meaco is due back in stock in early July, and we’ve spotted numerous brands, like Meaco and Devola, encouraging you to sign up to be alerted when your favourite model is available again. I’d recommend doing so, and even bookmarking your favourites (or our buying guide) so we can let you know as soon as stock is replenished.
The answer will largely depend on where you live and your budget. Portable air conditioners are more affordable than fitted AC, can be moved around your home (although you’ll need help to move one up and down stairs due to its weight) and are non-permanent, which means they are renter-friendly too.
It is, however, hard for a portable unit to beat a wall-mounted one when it comes to quiet and clutter-free operation. The downside is that a fitted option is more expensive to install and can’t be moved from room to room. You’ve also got to have an indoor and outdoor unit permanently installed too.
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Sarah Handley)
(Image credit: Future)
How our Sleep Editor keeps cool at night without an AC
‘I swear by the best linen bedding all year round, but this breathable fabric is especially important during high temperatures. It’s perfect for combatting hot and humid British heatwaves. My Duux Whisper fan, available at Amazon has also seen me through five years of hot summers in my south-facing bedroom – I love its natural breeze setting.’
Amy Lockwood, Sleep Editor
I’m signing off now to head upstairs and open up my bedroom windows now the air’s a little cooler – I’ll also blast my fan to try to shift some of the hot air and allow fresh airflow through the house. On really hot nights, I forgo my duvet altogether and opt for a top sheet instead. And in this heatwave I have one more trick up my sleeve – I fill my hot water bottle with cold water (and a couple of ice cubes from this ice cube tray) and pop it into my bed five minutes before I climb in.
With Amazon Prime Day kicking off tomorrow, our Editor Becky Knight will be back bright and early shortly after 7am with a stock update and to share any deals that have dropped overnight. We predict any bargains will sell out fast, so if a portable air con is top of your wishlist, bookmark this page now and we’ll see you in the morning!
As soon as the warmer weather arrives, so do the flies. But it’s important for UK homes to keep common house flies, fruit flies and drain flies out of the house, as these irritating pests can spread germs and generally cause a nuisance.
Thankfully, it’s my job to test all of the ways to keep flies out of the house, and I’m always on the lookout for new hacks that can get the job done – especially as flies have been buzzing around my own kitchen recently. So, when I spotted a method that uses coffee grounds to get rid of flies, I decided to test it out.
According to @thehitchcockhouse, all I had to do was burn my leftover coffee grounds in the oven for 15 minutes, then leave the smoking remains to work their magic and keep the flies at bay. And while I’m happy to report that it did work, there was a catch.
The coffee grounds fly hack is based on the notion that coffee is a scent that flies hate. Like most animals and humans, they also associate smoke with danger. So, in theory, the burnt coffee grounds should force the flies to flee.
After burning coffee grounds from my own morning brew in the oven for 15 minutes, I was left with a smoking pile of coffee that made my house smell like a café. And within a few minutes of placing it on my kitchen worktop, the flies that had been buzzing around left through a window I’d left open for them.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Lauren Bradbury)
For the next three hours, my house was a fly-free zone – despite leaving the window open to let the cool breeze into my stifling Victorian terrace. However, the magic wore off after that, and the flies started to return.
This is something that James Copley, Chief Executive Officer of Copley Pest Solutions, expected to happen. He told me, ‘Burning coffee grounds to keep flies out of your home is a widely shared tip that homeowners use. Flies heavily rely on their sense of smell, so the smoke will deter them, but it is not a permanent solution. Instead, the most effective way to keep flies out of your home is to remove whatever attracted them in the first place.’
So, while burning coffee grounds can be a great way to reuse coffee grounds and get rid of flies in the short-term, long-term prevention will always be more effective. This is especially true if you struggle with flies in the kitchen as I often do.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Lauren Bradbury)
James says that the most important step is to deter flies from food waste bins, as ‘Flies are attracted to food scraps, overripe fruit, dirty bins, pet food, pet waste, and standing water. Homeowners should not just empty their bins regularly but also clean them.’
Regularly cleaning the kitchen, storing food in airtight containers, and removing standing water from kitchens and bathrooms are also key steps to keep flies out of the house.
Physical barriers can also help if you’re struggling right now. Our Senior Digital Editor, Jenny, swears by fly fans like this Zero In Fly Go! USB Rechargeable Fly Repellent Fan (£11.99 at Amazon) to naturally repel the flies, and there are even barriers you can put on your windows and doors to keep these unwanted visitors out.
(Image credit: Future/Jenny McFarlane)
Jason Peterkin, director and founder of 247 Blinds, says, ‘One of the simplest ways to keep flies out of the house is with a retractable fly screen. They create a physical barrier that helps keep insects out while still allowing in ventilation and natural light, making them particularly useful in kitchens, living spaces and bedrooms where windows are frequently left open during warmer weather.’
Of course, there are also the traditional methods of using citronella candles and even the lemon clove fly repellent hack, where you stick cloves into a lemon half to throw off their senses and leave them no option but to flee your home. But, really, prevention is always better than the cure if you want to keep flies out of the house.
Joseph Joseph Intelligent Waste
This food waste caddy should be less appealing to flies thanks to the ventilated design that reduces moisture and odours – and it even comes with an odour filter, too.
NeatiEase Adjustable DIY Magnetic Fly Screen
This magnetic fly screen comes in different sizes to suit the windows in your home, and comes extremely well-reviewed on Amazon.
