Preparing for winter III

Grimbal

Apologies for making you guys repeat yourselves, but does anyone know the best/cheapest place(s) to get a tension rod & a very cheap fleece to insulate the front door? We've just realised that the builders will be taking our porch away tomorrow which means that it'll be blowing a gale through the very old front door. I've had a quick google, but the size of throw I'll need is 120x230cm - would sewing two together work?

Eenymeeny

Phew! If you miss a day on here you fall right behind don't you?
Thanks for the helpful advice for the cold hall, which seems to be the same as some of yours, no room for visitors! That's why we put the door in to the kitchen, at least we can 'overspill' into there.
I've added a curtain to the door using a wire and shower curtain rings. Great idea and it seems to be working as a temporary measure. I lit a couple of lanterns on the landing last night (only place there is any safe space, and the temperature went up from 12 to 14 degrees so that's progress if we get really cold weather. I think that the main problem is outside walls and a loft opening above the stairs. (I can feel a draught if I sit on the stairs. (Not that I make a habit of doing Kermit impressions!) Thanks again for all of your useful ideas though and the reminder that I have some of those cosy-toe socks which I'd forgotten about and am wearing now...:D:T
Btw for some strange reason Winter Solstice is listed as the 22nd... at least it's a move towards lighter nights:)
How did your trip go Confuzzled? Hope that you had a nice time:)

Eenymeeny

Grimbal wrote: »

Apologies for making you guys repeat yourselves, but does anyone know the best/cheapest place(s) to get a tension rod & a very cheap fleece to insulate the front door? We've just realised that the builders will be taking our porch away tomorrow which means that it'll be blowing a gale through the very old front door. I've had a quick google, but the size of throw I'll need is 120x230cm - would sewing two together work?

If you can get to Ikea or Asda I think they are the cheapest Asda sometimes do 2 for £4. Hth.

Eenymeeny

Have just measured and the Ikea Irma ones (unhemmed) measure 130x170cm and the Asda hemmed ones measure 124x170cm:)
Sorry for multiple posting:o

Dustykitten

kittie wrote: »

Quite possible, insulation may have blocked any vents or spaces to the outside. Ventilation is really necessary in any house and makes for a healthier house. House air should be changed between 0.5 and 1.5 whole changes per hour. Some houses have too many changes and are cold and draughty and others have too little and are in danger of damp and dangerous mould

Thanks Kittie. Downstairs is draughty but not upstairs. I do open all upstairs windows for about an hour per day, does that sound enough? How on earth do you know how much air is changing per hour?

singlestep

I'm not too sure about rods or fleeces as I've not needed them all winter but I think that Ikea do a 170cm x 130 cm one for £1.59. I don't see why they couldn't be sewn together. I saw some in one of the less expensive supermarkets a while ago but I haven't been there recently. ETA: Somebody got there first

I was actually dropping by to rave about my Heat Holders, which I got in Matalan too. There's a stall selling them at the Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow and at the Christmas Market in St Enoch Square too. I'm going to have to buy some more as I almost can't bear to be parted from them - but they are just a wee bit too thick to allow me to zip up the ankle boots I've been wearing to work.

My winter trax have been a lifesaver over the past few days. Icy pavements in my area and even ungritted railway platforms on my commute again. I got there from the station yesterday much quicker than the speedwalkers for once! Although, once I got in, I almost slipped on a tiled floor because of them before I could get them off my feet, so do be careful.

toottifrootti

I have done most of my origianl list - the things that are left will just have to be missed or maybe I will still manage the odd thing here and there

Winter Checklist

Clothes
[STRIKE]Find cosy jumpers and cardigans
Polish all shoes and boots[/STRIKE]

Food
[STRIKE]make a list of what you have [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Make a start on your Christmas food shopping list, allot of it can be frozen.[/STRIKE]

House and garden
[STRIKE]get chimney swept and checked if suitable for using
get electric fire for sitting room[/STRIKE]
Clean your home - Including Washing all light units and glass shades in the house
[STRIKE]get door curtains hung[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Clear away all fallen leaves[/STRIKE]
get draught excluder for the front door
Clean windows inside and out
[STRIKE]Launder all your throws and cushions[/STRIKE]
keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.
[STRIKE]Buy in Flannelette sheets. wash and dry your sheets to remove the preservative that the manufacturers use to keep them damp and mildew free.[/STRIKE]
Oil all shed and gates locks, it will prevent rust and stop them seizing up when you most need to open them.
Wash your vacuum cleaner filters out. It will help with your HEPA filter and keep your home cleaner as well, it will also make your vacuum work and perform better.
[STRIKE]make sure that your seat covers and cushions are washed and put away[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful.[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]make sure that the battery in your bathroom scales is new after the Christmas blast [/STRIKE]
Paint the gates and the hand rail
Clean and polish wheelchair - remember to charge even when not in use
Finish tidying in the garage
[STRIKE]find leaks in garage
deal with leaks in garage[/STRIKE]
fill in holes/ cracks etc
Clean windows
[STRIKE]find torches[/STRIKE]
rug for kitchen
rugs for both bedrooms ( just the spare room needed now)
rug for conservatory
rug for the hall
batch cook for freezer

Left To Purchase that I know of!
hot water bottle covers
compost
[STRIKE]potatoes[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]flannelette sheets[/STRIKE]
rugs
[STRIKE]Cosy socks for boots[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Hammerite black paint to finish off the gates!
food and cleaning materials and loo roll:eek:[/STRIKE]


got the chimney swept today - been booked for 7 weeks! so thats ready to use but I have promised only to use it in emergencies:(

there are some great buys out there in the outdoor shops - like base layers and fleeces and hats, gloves, neck warmers, gloves etc etc so if you get Christmas money you might like to think of these. Lots of stuff was half price in Mountain Warehouse today and Trespass or BOGOF.

toots xx

Fruball

Eenymeeny... got an image of you doing kermit impressions now

happy35

i have reserved some new curtains at Argos but they are unlined, as they are 90" by 90" I am struggling to find thermal linings in stock anywhere that I can pick up before Christmas

I noticed today that Primark have some big fleece throws for £10, I wondered if I lined the curtains with these would they hang right? I am finding that the heat is hitting my double glazed windows and bouncing back in as cold air

thanks

lizzyb1812

Re fleeces as linings - have a look at post 3326 on the previous page to this. Fleece is soft material and folds/hangs quite well.