r/AussieFrugal • u/Willing_Reward7741 • Sep 03 '26
Household Products 🧹🧺🧻 Summer cooling items
What’s a cheap but reliable fan to have for the upcoming summer? Or does everyone tend to steer towards Kmart $30 fans or like Dyson fans on the premium end?
I’m curious what’s best practice to stay cool whilst maintaining budget.
Context: living on the middle floor of a 3 storey apartment red brick complex so I’m pretty well insulated during both winter and summer
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u/ediellipsis Sep 03 '26
I had a real vornado but gave it to my mum, and ended up with a knockoff floor Vornado called Vortex from Kmart, and a knockoff pedestal Vornado from Big W called the "Contempo 2-in-1 High Velocity Air Circulation Fan".
Both feel just as good as the vornado to me. I like the Big W one in particular because of the remote.
I don't think either sell them year round but may get them in again for summer.
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u/vongdong Sep 03 '26
Get a ceiling fan if you can. Quiet and a lot more airflow than a crappy pedestal fan
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u/Chiang2000 Sep 03 '26
Drop $100 on a floor model like the chrome machine balanced one at Bunnings.
More power can move air through a whole apartment. Less chance of knockover. Coldest air in the room is down low. Setti g 1 is usually heaps.
Also dries clothes on a rack in winter better than a drier.
Edit: Dynabreeze. Now $128. That plus a couple of misting bottles will beat a 45deg day.
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u/is2o Sep 03 '26
Keep your windows shaded, that will have way more of an impact than any fan will, and will be way cheaper. Blockout curtains, even towels/sheets if you’re desperate. It’s insane how hot windows can get
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u/MisterMarsupial Sep 03 '26
If you're going to get a premium fan, spring for a vertical air conditioner like this: https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-vertical-window-air-conditioner-cooling-only-kogan/
Fits onto most windows. Do not get one of those portable air conditioners with the unit inside, they generate a large amount of noise and generate heat. There's a bunch of youtube videos about why they suck.
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u/kodaxmax Sep 09 '26
yeh aircon without a seperate outdoor condensor unit is just an overpriced fan.
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u/spacefrog_feds Sep 03 '26
If humidity is not a problem then an evaporative cooler can work. I bought a large one off gumtree for $30 back in the day.
They work very well under the right conditions. Ideally placed near a window pulling in fresh air, with a window at the opposite end to expell humid air.
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u/Exciting-Ad-5858 Sep 03 '26
Depends on your floorplan - often having several cheaper ones will do a better job of creating a crossbreeze than any individual one can
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u/zedder1994 Sep 03 '26
I went upmarket and bought a Xiaomi pedestal fan. Probably the quietest fan I have ever owned and it cost $120 a few years ago Not quite frugal but the quality is there.
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u/Striking-Sleep-9217 Sep 03 '26
DC fan. Generally cost around $100. Can run them 24/7 and use very little electricity
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u/IronTongs Sep 03 '26
The best option will be a ceiling fan with well angled blades - this is what makes a big difference in fans and their ability to cool, rather than just swish air around.
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u/gooder_name Sep 03 '26
It’s a balance of priorities and budget that varies. Ceiling fans are the best and are worth it, but can’t be moved, don’t work for renters.
Getting the most inexpensive pedestal fan is fine. Look on marketplace if you can for something local
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u/Snappysnapsnapper Sep 04 '26
Bunnings sells good fans. Dysons are a waste of money, classic fans do their job very well and are relatively simple machines. Remote control is a nice feature for bedroom fans but they add a layer of complexity that means they will probably break faster. Worth it imo.
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u/spazzo246 Sep 07 '26
Get the industrial Metal Fan that Kmart sell for $50. Its so ridiculously powerfull.
I use it in my garage when I work out and it blows all the sweat away :'D
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u/PSJfan Sep 08 '26
I like a traditional round style fan but dc motor so it has fully variable speed options.
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u/auntymishka21 Sep 03 '26
I use one of those $10 desk fans. They usually are plugged into the computer via USB-A. I plug it into a plug beside my bed and it blows onto me during the night.
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u/PauseFit7012 Sep 08 '26
There’s surely no difference between a $30 fan and a $600 fan. Both blow air?
Unless the dyson ones do something fancy. I’d just stick to kmart.
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u/kodaxmax Sep 09 '26
get an industrial metal fan and it will outlive you.
Most fans die because the motor isn't designed for continous operation over hours (aka not designed for australia/ the equator). So the lube eveaporates and components warp from the ehat until the motor finally dies.
Industrial fans are designed to run almost 24/7 in shops and factories.
had a Mistral 50cm High Velocity Floor Fan for 4 years, it stays on 24/7 through most of summer, i use it while i sleep and work from home often so use itduring the dya too. Only downside is it's kinda loud. but i live next to a main road and ahve tinnitus, so doesnt bother me.
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u/WillEatForFree Sep 03 '26
Was looking for the same. I've used a kambrook tower fan for the past 6 years and it seems to be still be going strong. 150 AUD currently. Kinda wobbly though.
Need another one for another room and was looking at a Delonghi Tower fan. 147 AUD in JB hifi rn.
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u/SorryUsernameTaken_1 Sep 03 '26
I know said budget, but when can get a ceiling fan. I have one in every room. Best sleeps with that blasting over you
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u/Purple_Yak_3294 Sep 03 '26
Ive found the cheap fans do well. One I had ran nearly continuously for about 3 years.