Preparing for winter IV

quidsy

I use a fan, put the washing on horses & racks in a semi circle, put a fan in front of it tio rotate, open all the windows in the room & then close the door. It gets really blowy in the room & after a few hours the clothes are dry or dry enough for a 20min blast in the tumble.

Pips_Mum

I have a stand up clothes horse £10 from Argooos and stick a £2 sports d!rect golf umbrella over the top! It drys, is outside so less moisture inside and is also protected if it rains :-)

b_girl

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at this thread for a few years now and love the inspiration you all provide to get sorted and prepared for winter. We've just moved to a new house and I have a DD and a new baby on the way in November so there is plenty to be done! I'm lucky not to have to work at the moment while the children are tiny but it means we have to watch the pennies extra carefully so need to get organised this year.

Working on a list of things that need to be done in the next month or two!

WantAnOrange wrote: »

I guess, there is no way we can afford a new machine though but might be able to get the old one repaired. It works but it doesn't get hot. We have plenty of space to hang stuff up and don't really have any problems with mould/damp. It's been easy this summer and winter is ok because the heating is on but autumn and spring are a nightmare. I am considering replacing some of my nappies with quicker drying types. The bamboo ones and terry towelling take days to dry but this has obvious benefits too. The quicker drying ones are more likely to leak and need changing more often. Swings and roundabouts.

Hi WantAnOrange I'm in almost the same position as you, I have a DD (18months) in cloth nappies and will have another in them come November! I use the bambino mio prefolds and wraps and find them pretty good to dry. With the recent weather I've been experimenting with getting them dry as best and quickly as I can in prep for the new arrival. Because they're in two parts they seem to dry pretty quickly. On wet days I put them in the TD for 10 mins just to get some of the wetness off and then hang on airers on the radiators (that are off) overnight and by morning they are dry. Maybe you could have a look at two part nappies? I got mine (second hand but had never been used iyswim) on ebay for a very good price and I'm also on a few Facebook pre-loved nappy selling groups which are a good source of good condition second handers

As you say - winter is much easier as the heating is on but autumn is a bit of a nightmare time for laundry!

FairyPrincessk

Wantanorange,

Just a thought--might this be the problem with your TD?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWtRXie82oY

bossymoo

I've just sorted through DD wardrobe and got her school uniform back out. I've made a big CS pile of things she has grown out of, and got some more autumnal stuff to hand. I've even found some winter boots for her, although they are a size too big but you never know, she might go up another size by then (she's nearly 4 and growing fast).

I've kept some summer things out too, as I see the forecast for next week is warm again - hurrah!

Also found our hot water bottle stash

I just need to go and do the same with DS wardrobe now.

Toonie

Now I want Hot Pot and Crumble for pudding!

I've dug out my lovely winter coat and given it a good brushing and it's currently outside having an airing. Dressing gowns and blankets are washed. I made soup yesterday, lentil, barley and carrot. Often for soup I save the water after simmering carrots, green beans etc. as it makes a great base, add to that chopped carrots, a handful of barley and red lentils and a squidge of tomato pur!e and some allspice or mixed spice.

It's looks to be mostly dry for the next few days so will sort any leftover big wash loads (got a pile of towels to do). I'm also going to need to find some new thermal leggings as mine have holes which whilst I patched them last year, many more holes have appeared.

pigpen

New list for 2014/2015


The winter prep list of Pigpen.

1. Coats for everyone who needs them. B, D, M, J, A, F, P, GS1
2. Shoes/Boots for everyone who needs them C, Da, M, J, A, F, E, De, GS1, GS2, GS3
3. Get a little ahead with gas payments as my Dec bill comes Christmas week and cripples me every year.. I WILL be prepared this year!
4. Kitchen 'stock up' list. Make sure we have lots of non-perishables in case it is too cold/snowy/etc to get to the supermarket.
5. Medicine cabinet refilling. Cold/flu caps, calpol, calpol melts, ibuprofen, calprofen, anbesol, canesten, metanium, cough medicines, throat lozenges, lip balms.
6. blinds up in kitchen .. finally!! the 3rd one was finished on 1st July 2014.. only took 3 years!!
7. curtains.. french door, I have thin ones up but need something more substantial for freezing days!... shower curtain rings to put them up, so I can take them down more easily!! .. knew I'd had an idea for these when I found a pack the other day.. now, where did I put them??.. on the bathroom cabinet!!!
8. Draught snakes.. French doors, front door, back door.
9. Service for electric fire in middle room.. it has been cutting out after half an hour or so.
10. Car service & MOT.. December
11. Car bits.. antifreeze spray, screen wash, blankets for tiddlies,spade, cardboard for traction.. it is also used to protect the carpet in the boot from muddy pushchair wheels!
12. in the house activities for the children. I might actually have them doing stuff like stuffing draught snakes etc. I wonder if I can have them knitting squares so they can knit a blanket for themselves!!
13. Replace drip thing on back door to stop rain sneaking in.
14. New cat flap!!!
15. boiler service... booking that NOW!.. pooheads didn't turn up ...ggrrrrr!!!!!!!!

WantAnOrange

Fairyprincessk I have taken the back off the tumble drier but there is no red switch. Have googled but no luck, the Hoover website just suggests cleaning the filter (well duh!). It is a Hoover VCH680F-80. I have given it a good clean out all round and will try it, there was a lot of dust in the back.

B_girl I have a few different nappies. By far the best are the Mothercare Smartnappies. I think they are very similar to Bambino Mio, a prefold with a wrap? I thought Bambino Mio needed to be folded like an old fashioned terry nappy though, and pinned together with a Nippa or pin? Smart nappies are just rectangle pads that fit into the wrap gusset. They are genius except Mothercare have discontinued them! I am keeping a close eye on ebay for Large size ones. Other wise, the baby has Lil Joeys which are all I ones and dry really fast and I have a set of Bumbles which I use as night nappies, these are the ones that take forever to dry, and a few Bambinex in there too. I also have some ebay cheapies which I am going to ditch. I have used them for DS and DD and managed to build up quite a collection, really need a good sort out! Good idea to look on Facebook groups!

kboss2010

My OH is currently staying in a flat with a drying room (!!!) It's AMAZING but sadly he's moving back home so we're back to using my clothes horse on the dining room table and stuff taking days to dry. I'm dreading winter for that reason alone. If it's as bad as it was last yr I'm tempted to make use of the laundrette down the road to tumble dry at least the jeans and jumpers.

FairyPrincessk

Afraid I can't help beyond that video, just thought it was worth a shot--if even for one of those "its been raining and too hot for heating for three weeks" emergencies. You may get some help on the DIY board, although I must say when I posted about a boiler problem a few years ago some of the responses were a bit mean-spirited and laughed at my expense, so perhaps put your thick skin on if you're venturing over!