In July you’ll find markdowns on many items, including dehumidifiers, gas grills, and several household appliances. A big shopping day to keep in mind is Amazon Prime Day, which is expected to take place in the middle of the month, so set an alert to watch for an announcement. On that day you can often find discounts of up to 40 percent on items such as coffee makers, blenders, electronics, and outdoor gear.

Consumer Reports tracks the prices of the products we test, so we can tell you, month by month, what to buy on deep discount. If you are in the market for these items, we have shopping tips and advice to help you find the best deals.

To see more items on sale in July—and the rest of the year—check out our Calendar of Deals.

Dehumidifiers

Make the dog days of summer a little more bearable with a dehumidifier, which can not only provide comfort but also cut down on mites, mildew, and mold. Because all newer models must comply with recent federal energy standards, you’re likely to see savings in operating costs if you’re replacing an older dehumidifier. The damper and larger your space, the higher-capacity dehumidifier you’ll need, but a bigger price tag doesn’t always mean better.

Also, think about where you will place it. You’ll want the dehumidifier to be where humidity can do the most damage. But there are other concerns to think about, such as noise. Our noise measurements from 3 feet away usually range from about 55 to 67 decibels for the models we test. That’s about the difference between the sound of a loud conversation and the din of street traffic.

You can read more in our dehumidifier buying guide.

Gas Grills

If you’ve been thinking about taking your barbecues to a new level this summer, you may find some great prices on grills this month. Look for a gas grill that gets high marks on the temperature-range score in our ratings, particularly if you’ll be cooking more than the basic hot dogs and hamburgers. You can read more in our grill buying guide.

Shopping Tips

• Check the construction. The more stable, the better. Stainless steel carts with seamless construction and welded joints are usually sturdier than painted steel carts assembled with nuts and bolts. Wheels or casters at all four corners make a grill easier to maneuver, and wheels with a full axle are better than those bolted to the frame.
• Look into the warranty on the grill’s burners. Those that come with a warranty tend to last longer, but if you need to replace a burner, it’s a 10-minute do-it-yourself job.

Laundry Appliances

If your washer and dryer aren’t up to handling all the swimsuits, towels, and picnic blankets that your family may use this time of year, this is a good month to upgrade. While matching sets may look nice, they’re not always the best choice. Learn more by reading our washing machines and clothes dryer buying guides.

Washing Machines
Prices on washing machines can run from just under $300 to more than $2,000, depending on the style, capacity, and features of the appliance. If you need enough space to wash a king-size comforter, you’ll need a washer with a capacity of more than 4.5 cubic feet, but measure your space because larger-capacity machines can be 2 to 3 inches wider than the standard 27 inches.

In our brand reliability survey, we found that Speed Queen stands out as a reliable brand for agitator top-loaders. Among high-efficiency top-loaders (those without an agitator), LG is tops in reliability, although statistically speaking, its estimated breakage rate is not meaningfully lower than that of most other brands. As for front-loaders, LG is tops in reliability but is not meaningfully better than most of its competitors.

Clothes Dryers
The best dryers get the job done quickly and efficiently. The size and type of dryers vary greatly. So do prices: Dryers range from about $350 to $2,000. Electric and gas dryers tend to perform equally well, so purchase the one that your home can most easily accommodate. An electric dryer needs a 240-volt outlet, while a gas dryer requires a 120-volt outlet and a gas hookup.

You can find more information in our washer and dryer ratings for information on other brands.

Kitchen Appliances

You may spend less time in the kitchen this time of year, but getting a good deal on an appliance could pay off all year. Read our ratings and buying guides for dishwashers, freezers, and over-the-range microwaves for tips on what to look for.

Dishwashers
Expect to see dishwashers selling for about $225 to $2,200. You can get a dishwasher that does a decent job for less than $500, but it may be noisy, with fairly basic features and long wash times. At the higher end of the price range—above $1,000—you’ll find more bells and whistles, such as WiFi connectivity and special wash zones for the dirtiest items.

You can read more in our dishwasher buying guide.

Freezers
You can choose between a chest freezer and an upright freezer. Chest freezers are a better choice if you tend to lose power, because they keep food frozen longer without electricity. Uprights, by comparison, take up less floor space and come in more finishes, including slate and stainless steel.

Shopping Tips

• Most manufacturers say their freezers can operate in a room where the temperature can reach up to 110° F, but check product specifications if you plan to put the freezer in an area that’s not air-conditioned or heated, such as a garage.
• Don’t expect your new freezer to be quite as energy-efficient as its yellow EnergyGuide label implies. On average, our latest tested models used 17 percent more energy. Read more in our freezer buying guide.
•  If you plan to keep the freezer in a living area, consider how noisy it is.

Over-the-Range Microwaves
Over-the-range microwave ovens are a good choice if you have limited counter space and prefer a model with a finish that matches the rest of your kitchen suite.

And if your OTR microwave needs to be replaced, it’s good to know that you can get a new one for as little as $200. (Installation often won’t cost much more than that.)

Look for a model with a steam sensor, which automatically turns the microwave off exactly when cooking has finished, and a turntable or tray that keeps food moving for uniform heating. One feature that’s less handy is the ability to switch over to a convection oven. Most models don’t consistently provide the same results that you’d find from a regular oven.