Preparing for winter IV

Princess_kate

My torches arrived from Amazon today, Kittie posted a link a few pages ago. 1 is now in my bedside table & 1 is in the car, just want to put some cash in the car for emergencies then the car is ready for winter. It had a health check yesterday to check the tyres & top up the levels & I intend to not go below half a tank of petrol from now on. In the awful weather of 2010 I nearly ran out of petrol on my way home in 2 foot of snow, not an experience I want to repeat! Picked up 2 phones from argos, non electrical ones, 1 for us & 1 for my mum. Feeling much more prepared for the upcoming winter.

LadyDee

babyblooz wrote: »

I re-use all my margarine tubs for freezing as well, they are just so much more durable and pliable than others I've used. I just stick a strip of masking tape on the top and write on that so I know what is inside. Masking tape is great, it doesn't come off in the freezer.

Margarine tubs seem to stack better and make better use of the space as well.

No point spending money when you don't need to is there lol!

I use (and re-use!) the Pour & Store bags from Aldi for homemade soup and milk that I buy in 6 litre containers. The milk I freeze in 1litre quantities as I only use it for porridge. These bags fit very well in the freezer and are easily washed in the dishwasher.

I use ice cream tubs for things like chopped onions, celery, leeks, peppers etc. which I first freeze loose and then put in the tubs - stops the vegies ending up as one big lump! Any vegies I see on special offer I stock up as much as I have room for in the freezer. Sometimes I go to the supermarket thinking "I hope I don't see any bargains, there's no room in the freezer":rotfl:

babyblooz

Haha, we must be kindred spirits I think! My life improved so much when I discovered that masking tape idea! I always had lots of things in the freezer but I didn't always know what they were lol!

Thriftkitten

Finally dry here in Cornwall, I have just nipped out to get smallet DD and noticed the temp in the car has dropped right down to 7 which was a shock because we have had higher than mid teens late evenings here for the past few days.... Hmmm I feel a cold spell coming on!;)

babyblooz

We're expecting temperatures of 3 degrees all day on Tuesday! Yikes!

cattysmum

Morning, hope you all dont mind me joining in, just read last few pages and must say you all are very organised in thwe run up to winter. Im going to pinch lots of your ideas and be prepared, thanks.

bossymoo

I'm going to sort my car box today and put my power cut kit all in one place. The torches have been with the camping gear all summer, but I think we are done sleeping under the stars for this year

I sorted the kids coats during half term and still debating about DD footwear. I'm thinking if the weather is bad she can walk to school in wellies and change there (she's in school nursery) rather than buying black boots just for the 3 days she is there. She always wants to go in puddles anyway.

pjran

Great thread. I'm feeling sorry for myself, full of cold and a hacking cough! But I'm not wasting my time as I'm busy reading this forum.

Couple of questions to ask you experienced lot. Has anyone fixed the reflective panels behind their radiators? If so do you think it helps the room warm quicker and can you see it? I'm hoping you fix it lower (if possible) to be out of sight.

Also, I like the idea of adding more insulation to curtains and blinds. Can this be done with existing lining already in situ?

Thanks everyone x

sparrer

pjran wrote: »

Great thread. I'm feeling sorry for myself, full of cold and a hacking cough! But I'm not wasting my time as I'm busy reading this forum.

Couple of questions to ask you experienced lot. Has anyone fixed the reflective panels behind their radiators? If so do you think it helps the room warm quicker and can you see it? I'm hoping you fix it lower (if possible) to be out of sight.

Also, I like the idea of adding more insulation to curtains and blinds. Can this be done with existing lining already in situ?

Thanks everyone x

pjran feel better soon. I just wrap foil round a sheet of cardboard cut 1" smaller than the radiator gap, and stick parcel tape around the four edges to hold it together then slip it behind the radiator. It works well and mine has been in place for 3 years now. You can see it at the bottom of the radiator and if anyone asks what it is I tell them and they think what a good idea.

Re curtains, I tack a fleece to each curtain tape, over the lining, as they're very lightweight, very warm, very inexpensive, and if need be they can be cut down to size as they don't fray.

Before putting a shovel in the car spray it with WD40. It stops the metal rusting if it's going to getting wet, and helps the snow/ice slide off without sticking.
Use rubber car mats rather than carpet. They can be used for gripping under tyres in the snow and dry out quickly. Don't do what I saw last winter, someone put his jacket under the tyre which then wrapped itself round the wheel and got stuck there. D'oh!

pjran

Thank you sparrer, I need some large pieces of cardboard and turkey size foil! I'm sure that'll be cheaper than the radflex boards I saw at the DIY store.