Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

Hootie19

chloe99 wrote:

can anyone remember about that cling film stuff you put on single glased windows andthen blow it with a hardryer? is it any good, is it cheap and where can you get it from?

don't know if anyone else has replied to this yet (just working my way through the thread at the moment), but I looked high and low for this last year. It was made by Polycell, and they don't make it any more unfortunately.

Someone told me that Wickes did their own version of it, but the lady I spoke to in there had never heard of it.

Shame, cos my parents in law used it, and it was brilliant. I could really do with it here. Our windows are sellotaped up every year in a vain attempt to stop the draughts!

katieowl_2

I haven't read through the whole thread, but in answer to the last two posters I would suggest covering the windows in bubble wrap. The effect on the room temperature is almost instant. We have Victorian wooden sashes, so I drawing pin a sheet over each window in the corners and middles, then seal the edges with masking tape. You can see the wrap billow out as it catches the drafts! You can hardly see it from the inside, if you have nets or voile curtains, and it doesn't seem to cut out much light. If you can't get a sheet wide enough you can join it with sellotape. You can usually by a roll for around £3-4, try a decent garden centre, they sell it for insulating greehouses sometimes, or a stationers that sell it for packing.
Well worth the effort!

Regards

Kate

Kool_Kool

I hope I have not missed this if it has been already posted, but I have a
tip to make hot water bottles last longer: add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the water. Sodium retains heat (that's why sea water is warmer than fresh water).

I pick up fast food salt sachets that I find in the street and keep the for this purpose, as I only use Lo-Salt in my food.

exlibris

[
Finally - can anyone tell me how to achieve soft towels without using the tumble drier? Our water in this area is hideously hard, and I've tried line drying towels, I've tried drying them over the wire hangy things at the radiators, I've tried a freestanding clothes airer, I've tried part line, part tumble drier, and they still always end up stiff as a board. It's like drying yourself on sandpaper.

So the only time I ever use the tumble drier is to dry towels. With 5 of us in the family, all showering at least once a day, it's a lot of towels, and I'm sure it accounts for the majority of our electricity costs! All tips welcome :-)

[/QUOTE]

Have you tried drying the towels the way you normally do and then putting them in the tumble drier for about 10 - 15 mins to soften? Not as expensive as a full tumble dry

silverchair

Hootie19
I bought some yesterday from Wickes. It was in the same aisle as the sealer and door brushes. Its in a small blue and red packet and is just called Double Glazing Film. Hope this helps.

Does anyone know where I can buy the thermal linning for curtains?

mandy_moo_1

Hootie19 wrote:

Finally - can anyone tell me how to achieve soft towels without using the tumble drier? Our water in this area is hideously hard, and I've tried line drying towels, I've tried drying them over the wire hangy things at the radiators, I've tried a freestanding clothes airer, I've tried part line, part tumble drier, and they still always end up stiff as a board. It's like drying yourself on sandpaper.

So the only time I ever use the tumble drier is to dry towels. With 5 of us in the family, all showering at least once a day, it's a lot of towels, and I'm sure it accounts for the majority of our electricity costs! All tips welcome :-)


Oh, and finally (for now!) how do you put the smileys into your posts. I can't find any, and my posts are looking very dull!

i always put a tablespoon of vinegar in the 'conditioner' drawer in the washing machine...don't use fabric conditioner cos that'll make the towels feel like cardboard!

For the smilies, when you're typing your post to go on here, there should be a grey box on the right hand side of your screen...just click on one of the little smilies to make him appear in your message!! it won't be 'moving' tho till you submit your post HTH

Quasar

MIRRY wrote:

also what about candles ?

I dont know if they work out more expensive than electric

For the amount of light you get out of a candle, it works out more expensive, even for the cheapest candles you can buy. If you are happy with just one candle, and take it with you when you move around the house and have ALL lights off, then it may work out marginally cheaper - but think of the safety issues. A candle does not shed much light and you could easily stumble.

HomeJames_3

Has anyone suggestions for a very slim heater for our hall we did have a dimplex one but the only place for it is behind the front door and the door bangs off it we only have electric heating so wed also need one with a timer for the cheap heating during the night also any suggestions for door curtains and where to buy them.

I cant get smiles on my messages either when you click on them nothing happens also i keep getting error on page and bits missing!!!

Jolaaled

silverchair wrote:

Hootie19
I bought some yesterday from Wickes. It was in the same aisle as the sealer and door brushes. Its in a small blue and red packet and is just called Double Glazing Film. Hope this helps.

Does anyone know where I can buy the thermal linning for curtains?

I"ve spent today, lining a pair of curtains..it's been a big success and i'm now planning to do the rest of the house before the winter. Initially, I checked out the cost of thermal lining from our local fabric retailer, but it was so expensive. So, instead, this morning, i bought 2 blanket/throws from the car boot ( 2 pounds!), gave them a wash and line-dry..and now they're cut up and hemmed into the back of bedroom curtains...fab!!

MIRRY_2

i went to car boot this morning too!

got really large candle for 10p.

we have a street light outside of our house which does light up our front room, however I will be wanting to close the curtains to keep the heat in....
sometimes you just cant win.