Preparing for winter IV

moments_of_sanity

hoglet121 wrote: »

I use damp absorbing crystals in the wardrobe and bedrooms and whilst they don't get rid of all the damp they do certainly help protect clothes. I'm not sure what brands would be available in the UK but here in NZ we buy a brand called Damp Rid, and they have ones especially for hanging in wardrobes. The amount of water they collect is staggering.

We also run a small dehumidifier at night. I know this isn't the most MSE approach, but it does a good job of keeping on top of the damp in our bedroom at least. We have struggled on in the damp in the past and wound up with lots of coughs and colds. We are fortunate that we are able to afford the small increase in our electricity bill, I know this isn't an option for everyone.

Thank you Hoglet, I will have a look and see what we have in the UK as they sound really good. DD's rooms don't seem to get as damp but we have our bedroom over the garage so it could also be a problem from having nothing but cold air below us and 3 external walls.

hoglet121

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

Tit could also be a problem from having nothing but cold air below us and 3 external walls.

I feel your pain - we have 3 external walls in our bedroom too!

krustylouise

Hi all,

I'm after a little advice..

I have a front door then a porch door which is also the kitchen door. The door threshold is wooden, and as the property is rented I don't want to start putting curtain poles up where they weren't before.

Do you think that white wire would be strong enough to hold a curtain on to keep out at cold draughts? I would use this in conjunction with a sausage draught excluder.

I'm trying to reduce my fuel bill as much as possible as it's just ridiculous. Luckily I haven't had my heating or fire on for atleast the last 4 months, and I'd like to keep it that way as long as I can but given that we live in lovely Cumbria it won't stay warm for much longer!

Thanks in advance. {if you have any other winter prep advice I'd be grateful too}

moments_of_sanity

hoglet121 wrote: »

I feel your pain - we have 3 external walls in our bedroom too!

Thanks Hoglet, I have just bought 2 rechargeable wardrobe dehumidifiers which get 5* reviews so will try them and see how we get on. Without your info, I wouldn't have known such thinks exist

hoglet121

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

Thanks Hoglet, I have just bought 2 rechargeable wardrobe dehumidifiers which get 5* reviews so will try them and see how we get on. Without your info, I wouldn't have known such thinks exist

Aww thanks - really glad to help!

Now I'm going to google rechargeable wardrobe dehumidifiers... something I didn't know existed either so you've helped me in return! :A

OurLass

I've not heard of rechargeable de humidifiers either!..............off to Google it too!

pigpen

krustylouise wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm after a little advice..

I have a front door then a porch door which is also the kitchen door. The door threshold is wooden, and as the property is rented I don't want to start putting curtain poles up where they weren't before.

Do you think that white wire would be strong enough to hold a curtain on to keep out at cold draughts? I would use this in conjunction with a sausage draught excluder.

If you have 2 walls like a front door in a hallway you could use a tension curtain pole.. This is what I did above my front door.. or if you can put up a curtain wire you can use one of the telescopic metal poles, they sit on 2 little hooks just the same, of on adhesive ones if you have PVC doors They are more substantial for holding the weight of a heavier curtain. I have a couple of cheap fleeces sewn together and put on poles over my 3 external doors, they did make a big difference.

If it is a wooden frame could you just staple or drawing pin a curtain to the frame? If you do it on the top no one would ever see. ..

you *could* use 2 big hooks and a length of wooden dowel and in winter hook on a curtain and in summer a beaded blind or long net curtain to keep out flies!

pigpen

Are those 'rechargable' dehumidifiers just filled with bicarb?? or the silicone beads which you replace?

krustylouise

pigpen wrote: »

If you have 2 walls like a front door in a hallway you could use a tension curtain pole.. This is what I did above my front door.. or if you can put up a curtain wire you can use one of the telescopic metal poles, they sit on 2 little hooks just the same, of on adhesive ones if you have PVC doors They are more substantial for holding the weight of a heavier curtain. I have a couple of cheap fleeces sewn together and put on poles over my 3 external doors, they did make a big difference.

If it is a wooden frame could you just staple or drawing pin a curtain to the frame? If you do it on the top no one would ever see. ..

you *could* use 2 big hooks and a length of wooden dowel and in winter hook on a curtain and in summer a beaded blind or long net curtain to keep out flies!

Thanks for these suggestions - they're fab! It's glass doors, wooden frames and then to the left of the doors is another glass panel, so it's larger than a standard door and I'd like to cover all glass with the curtains as glass lets in the cold something chronic!

Thanks

pigpen

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

I have a question which I hope you don't mind me asking. How do you stop the house from getting damp and mildewie? I had terrible problems last winter with the damp, even if I opened the windows for a couple of hours it didn't make any difference.

I found items in the wardrobe that had mould on them including shirts, tops and shoes. How do you all prevent this from happening?

I do like our room to sit at about 10-12 degrees

I aired rooms.. moved all the furniture from external walls.. they get air behind them which is colder than room temp so any moisture in the air condenses behind them.


Less worn stuff I hang in bags which protects from bugs and mould/damp. I left wardrobe doors open to increase air circulation too, or had hanging rails rather than wardrobes.