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Arizona Desert Must-Haves
25
items After living in the desert southwest for 15 years, I’ve compiled I list of some things that make living here just a little better. Learn why I recommend an oven mitt for your car, see my favorite sunscreen, and find out why a comb is necessary for de...
Sections
4
For your home and yard
For your car
For outdoor activities
For you
For your home and yard
Could not survive without my ChiliPad! Keep your bed cool in summer and nice and warm in the winter, saving on heating and cooling costs.
Chilipad
Sometimes one room is unbearably hot even if the air is turned down. A portable air conditioner helped me a lot when my bedroom was one of those rooms!
Portable Air Conditioners for Bedrooms & Home Offices
A Thermacell is vital for your patio if you want to spend time outdoors when there are mosquitoes around!
Thermacell
I added window film to my windows for two reasons: to keep my home cooler in the summer and for added privacy. Note that the privacy part only works when it is brighter outside, so close your curtains at night!
Heat Blocking - Window Film
The sun in the desert is not only strong, it’s bright! Blackout curtains can ensure you get a restful night’s sleep.
Thermal Blackout Curtains
Wildfires are now more common here, so an air purifier will help. Remember to replace the filter every few months!
Levoit Air Purifier for Pets & Allergens
I buy these filters for the air purifier to help with the smoke if there are nearby wildfires.
Levoit Core® 300-P 4-Stage Smoke Remover Replacement Filter
Help keep your humidifier clean with these cleaning “fish”. You still have to clean your humidifier, but less often.
HIHEPA Humidifier Cleaner Fish, 6 Pack Blue
A humidifier is necessary due to the dry air. It can also help with dry eyes and brings some relief when you are sick.
Bedroom Humidifiers - Heating & Cooling
For your car
Keep an oven mitt in your car! Steering wheels and seatbelts get hot when your vehicle has been sitting in the sun all day.
Oven Mitts: Home & Kitchen
When parking in the sun, a sun shade can keep your car from getting too hot. It will still get hot, don’t get me wrong, but a sun shade will keep it from getting even hotter.
EcoNour Car Windshield Sun Shade for SUVs
I have something like this to hold my water bottle by the handle. I keep it on the passenger side seat and face it forward. For water bottles that are too large to fit in a standard cup holder but have a handle, this is a good alternative.
4-Pack Car Headrest Hooks, 55lbs Capacity
The sun seems to kill car batteries once a year, so along with jumper cables, I would recommend keeping a car battery charger at the ready.
Car Battery Jump Starter 4500A 150PSI Air Compressor
Car batteries fail often due to the heat! Make sure you are prepared.
Jumper Cables and Car Battery Jump Starters
For outdoor activities
The comb isn’t for your hair, it’s for hikes. If you run into or fall on a cactus, it can be difficult to remove the cactus thorns. Surprisingly, a fine toothed comb can help. Keep one among your hiking gear and hope you’ll never need to use it!
Professional Black Carbon Fiber Teasing Comb
Invest in a good pair of hiking boots. Hiking is a common hobby in the desert southwest!
Women's Hiking Boots
It’s not the most flattering look, but the sun here is brutal, and it’s important to protect your skin. This sun hat can help keep some of the sun’s rays off of your face and neck. But I’d still recommend using sunscreen too!
Outdoor Sun Hat with Detachable Neck Flap UPF50+
After monsoon season, there are mosquitoes everywhere! I bought this jacket so I could spend time outdoors without being covered in mosquito bites.
ShrugBug Mosquito Net Jacket | Bug Repellent Jacket | Insecticide-Free
Duct tape is another option to keep in your hiking gear to help remove cactus spines. It’s particularly helpful for the smaller spines that are hard to spot.
Duct Tape, 2 Pack
For you
Find a water bottle you like and carry it with you everywhere! It’s so easy to get dehydrated in the desert!
Hydro Flask
Dry deserts lead to dry skin! Make sure you moisturize (and don’t forget the sunscreen!)
Body Lotion & Creams for Dry Skin
Most people in the desert southwest have a Vitamin D deficiency because we stay out of the sun. I like gummy vitamins when possible!
Vitamin D3 2000 IU Gummy - 150 Gummies
This is next on my list to help with gardening outdoors during the summer months!
Portable Neck Fan
Spring allergies in the desert are no joke! Make sure you are stocked up on allergy medicines to help relieve your symptoms.
Allergy Medicine & Relief
My favorite face sunscreen! It’s from South Korea, where they are experts on sun protection!
ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Daily Sun Gel SPF 30