The whisper-quiet Meaco pedestal fan is flying under the radar – but it’s still in stock and has next-day delivery

by Furnishly | Jul 10, 2025 | Design Inspiration

If you’re struggling to get a hold of a decent fan or air conditioner right now, you’re not alone. With stock flying out faster than ever and delivery delays hitting lots of major retailers (ahem, Amazon), staying cool at home has become a bit of a challenge.

But if you’re trying to find something (anything!) that will help before the hot spell lands, the Meaco pedestal fan, £180 at Argos could be your best bet.

It’s not on offer right now, but it’s still one of the best fans you can buy in terms of performance and quiet operation. Meaco is a trusted name in the world of air conditioners and fans, known for combining efficient airflow with impressively low noise levels, and I already love how quiet the Meaco Sefte portable fan is.

And this pedestal model is no exception – it’s Quiet Mark-certified whisper quiet, meaning you can run it all night without being disturbed, and shoppers consistently give it 5-star reviews, praising how quiet, powerful and easy to use it is.

And the best thing? Argos has next day delivery available, which means you can get your hands on it before the next heatwave really takes hold. That’s a big advantage over Amazon and other sites, where delivery is often pushed back by days, or worse, products are just sold out by the time you hit checkout.

This model is packed with features, too. It’s height adjustable for one, making it perfect as a desk fan as well as a pedestal fan. It’s also got 12 fan speeds, an energy-efficient motor, wide oscillation, an eco mode, a timer and a remote control.

With fans and air conditioners almost impossible to find right now and the temperatures rising by the day, this 5-star rated Meaco fan is a solid, smart buy. It’s sleek, sturdy and far quieter than a lot of pedestal fans we’ve tested – and crucially, it’s still available.

At the time of writing, it’s still in stock, but I recommend you move fast.

If you find it’s sold out, all is not lost, people. I’ve rounded up a few other top-rated fans to shop from Argos with next-day or two-day delivery.

Alternative fans at Argos

Lidl is selling a portable air conditioner for less than £150 – run, don’t walk, as this is going to sell out fast

by Furnishly | Jul 10, 2025 | Design Inspiration

With another heatwave set to hit the UK, it’s no surprise that we’re all looking for ways to stay cool and comfortable, and right on time, Lidl has arrived with an affordable portable air conditioner.

The best portable air conditioners are a godsend when temperatures soar, so it comes as absolutely no surprise that these babies have been selling out fast. If you haven’t managed to find a good deal online, Lidl’s Silvercrest Local Air Conditioner (£149) has arrived in the Middle Aisle today (10 July).

But with portable air conditioners selling like hot cakes right now, I suggest you act fast if you want to get your hands on one, as when it’s gone, it’s gone.

The Silvercrest Local Air Conditioner works as a three-in-one unit, cooling, dehumidifying and ventilating a room. It has two fan speeds and an automatic oscillating feature that blows air horizontally around the room.

The Lidl air conditioner works best for rooms between 30 and 45m³, and the dehumidifying function collects up to 1.5L in a room that’s 30 degrees with an 80% relative humidity.

The unit also has a control panel with soft-touch buttons for ease of use, a remote control with batteries and a 24-hour digital timer. With side grips and transport wheels, this air conditioner is easy to move around, whether you want to cool a bedroom in the evening or keep it in your living space during the day.

Air conditioners have been selling out fast because they work more effectively than other cooling hacks. Because of this, they’re a great investment to make. The Midea 5L Air Cooler is one product that hasn’t sold out yet, and right now it is £84.99 down from £109.99 on Amazon. It’s technically not an air conditioner, but it is a powerful air cooler with rave reviews to match.

Alternatively, BLACK+DECKER BXAC40005GB Portable 7000 BTU 3-in-1 Air Conditioner (Was £449.99, now £269 at Amazon) is also currently in stock. Take it from me, for this unit to be both in stock and on sale is a rare occurrence, so snap it up fast.

I haven’t tested the Lidl air conditioner yet, but I do have high hopes for it – Middle Aisle products have never let me down, and in this heat, I’m willing to try anything. However, I expect this product will fly off the shelves, so if you don’t have the chance to grab one, here are a few more alternatives to choose from.

The Lidl air conditioner is worth a try in my book. It’s affordable, available where other air conditioners are not, and will help combat sweltering heat.

I’ve found a ‘secret’ stash of discounted fans and air conditioners on Amazon – this is where they’re hidden

by Furnishly | Jul 9, 2025 | Design Inspiration

If you haven’t noticed, it’s hot outside. And inside, for most of us. And that means that all things cooling-related are selling out faster than you can eat a Mr Whippy ice cream.

Yep, if the heatwave has driven you to search for one of the best portable air conditioners or the best cooling fans recently, you may have discovered that stock is *very* hard to come by. In fact, in the case of air con, it’s virtually impossible to find in-stock models this summer.

However, in the process of scouring Amazon for the best Amazon Prime Day deals, I’ve just found a ‘hidden’ stash of cooling products, and even better, many of the options are currently on sale.

Yes, I stumbled across BLACK+DECKER’s Amazon storefront, and lo and behold, there is a virtual treasure trove of fans, air coolers, and even – cue jaw drop – in-stock portable air conditioners on sale.

If you’re looking to bag yourself some cool, fresh air, then I recommend shopping before these too sell out. (Especially now I’ve spilled the beans to the world). At Ideal Home, we’ve been tracking in-stock air conditioners all this week, and you better believe they’re a rare sighting.

Plus, if customer reviews are anything to go by, these cooling devices deliver. Average reviews are around the 4-star mark, which seems in keeping with the fact that these perhaps aren’t top-of-the-range machines, like the MeacoCool MC Series Air Conditioners, but instead mid-range products that offer decent overall performance.

‘Very impressed,’ says one reviewer of the BLACK+DECKER 12,000 BTU Portable 3-in-1 Air Conditioner. ‘This unit is not quiet, but very few portable ACs are unless you’re buying into the expensive price range. Within 20 minutes, the room went from 25°C to 21°C, which is a noticeable difference. After no more than an hour, we were down to 17°C.’

‘A bit loud, but for the power it’s completely fine,’ says a reviewer of the BLACK+DECKER 2-in-1 High Velocity Circulator Fan. ‘Remote works well too. Glad that I’ll be cool in my room all summer.’ ‘Brilliantly powerful floor fan,’ shares another reviewer. ‘After 20 mins of having it on, my entire room was cool. Brilliant size for a brilliant price. Doesn’t look cheap and easy to pick up and move about if needed.’

Stock levels do keep fluctuating, so check the main BLACK+DECKER Amazon storefront to see what’s still in stock when you come to shop, but these are three of my top picks.

Best BLACK+DECKER cooling deals

If you’re struggling with the heat and looking for ways to cool down a bedroom or living room, fast. These in-stock products could just help you to beat the heat.

Portable air conditioners are selling out fast – here are the units we rate that are still in stock

by Furnishly | Jul 8, 2025 | Design Inspiration

As the UK prepares to swelter through another upcoming heatwave, it’s no surprise that we’re all on the lookout for cooling solutions for our homes.

And with another wave of muggy, sleepless nights on the horizon, the best portable air conditioners have been flying off the virtual shelves. In fact, many of our top-rated models are already fully out of stock across key retailers. All is not lost, though.

If you’re quick, there are still some solid-performing units worth snapping up.

I’ve been tracking the product availability of our most popular models like Meaco, AEG and Russell Hobbs, and it’s clear that demand has outpaced supply. However, they may well return as demand shifts. If you’ve got your heart set on one of these, though, it’s worth signing up for stock alerts at major retailers and bookmarking our guide, too.

After checking stock across major retailers this morning, I’ve managed to find a handful of highly rated options that are still available, including models we’ve either tested ourselves or have been shortlisted based on user reviews or value for money.

Here are my picks of the air conditioners you can still buy now.

With demand showing no signs of cooling off, if you’re considering a portable air conditioner, don’t hang around. The next hot spell could see the remaining models above disappear just as quickly. There are, of course, lots of others on the market too, but hunting them out can be a challenge.

Just remember what to look out for: Check the BTU rating: this tells you how powerful the unit is; look for quiet modes or sleep settings, especially if you plan to use it in a bedroom; and don’t forget a window kit: Most models include a window sealing kit, but make sure your window style is compatible.

And if your quest for buying the ultimate cooling gadget has been unsuccessful, we’ve also rounded up the best fans for staying cool this summer.