Preparing for Winter V

Greenglockenspiel

I think it does depend on how you use them - the link I posted has some advice on things like how to store them so they don’t get damaged. 

I would definitely advise against leaving it on unattended or while you’re asleep but I wouldn’t leave any other appliance on while I was asleep or out either. Years back, a friend’s aunt’s washing machine caught fire while the family was out and they came back to a destroyed house! We don’t have a tumble dryer (partly due to the running costs, but partly due to it being an unnecessary fire risk for me) so I always make sure I am around to hang out the washing when it’s done anyway. 

Laura_Elsewhere

@Primrose - I knew a policeman once who (after making sure all his family had smoke-alarms fitted) used to pop the right type of new battery into everyone's Xmas presents every year and then ring them up to make sure they'd put the new one in! Of course nowadays many are mains-wired (ours are, in our rented flat), but for the kind that has batteries, I always thought what a sensible way of ensuring it's changed once a year every year!  

silvasava

 Never had an electric blanket always a hot water bottle, wouldn't be without it especially to soothe aches and pains. I did buy a heated blanky last year because I'm on some medications now that make me feel the cold and I have difficulty getting warm. DH is always toasty so it made sense instead of putting the CH on just for me and heating the whole house. Must admit it's only on when it's over me though! The cat likes it too

Laura_Elsewhere

@Greenglockenspiel - we're in a rented flat so no clothesline - I could put clothes on an airer but we started here with an existing damp problem in several rooms and I'd hate to feed that! If you started putting heating on to counter the damp from air-drying, I suspect it'd use just as much electricity as the highly-efficient tumble-dryer that I use only as necessary (and yes, always when I'm here and awake!). 

We hope someday to build our own place, and my designs for the separate laundry room are quite detailed For a start the washer and dryer raised up so that as I age I don't have to get all the way down there to put things in or take things out - but also the fire safety aspect will be an awful lot better than most... 
Oh, and for the repairmen, my Intended came up with the brilliant idea of having a little access-corridor running behind the laundry, scullery, kitchen, bathroom with all the gubbins in there, nice and brightly-lit and comfortable and easily-accessible! Can you tell he's done more than his share of crawling awkwardly into tiny uncomfortable spaces trying to find the leak or change the cabling?! 

missychrissy

I have had an electric blanket all my life and never had a problem. Mine has a timer so I only need it on long enough to fall asleep. I think that I might just have it on to warm the bed and switch off before I get in.   I’ve always checked it over every time I change the bed. Are those heated over blankets just as dangerous? 

I’ve had a tumble dryer for over 40 years and never had a problem with them either (I’ve had 2). I don’t use it much. I hang my clothes on an airier in utility room and sheets and towels on the line on a fine day.

Greenglockenspiel

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Greenglockenspiel - we're in a rented flat so no clothesline - I could put clothes on an airer but we started here with an existing damp problem in several rooms and I'd hate to feed that! If you started putting heating on to counter the damp from air-drying, I suspect it'd use just as much electricity as the highly-efficient tumble-dryer that I use only as necessary (and yes, always when I'm here and awake!). 

We hope someday to build our own place, and my designs for the separate laundry room are quite detailed For a start the washer and dryer raised up so that as I age I don't have to get all the way down there to put things in or take things out - but also the fire safety aspect will be an awful lot better than most... 
Oh, and for the repairmen, my Intended came up with the brilliant idea of having a little access-corridor running behind the laundry, scullery, kitchen, bathroom with all the gubbins in there, nice and brightly-lit and comfortable and easily-accessible! Can you tell he's done more than his share of crawling awkwardly into tiny uncomfortable spaces trying to find the leak or change the cabling?! 

We have a line in our garden but use airers indoors otherwise (like this week!). We put stuff on the radiators if they are on (which would be never if I had my way 😂) but otherwise I find it dries after about a day which is fine for us. We have got a dehumidifier because we had a damp issue in one room too but haven’t been using it lately as it’s been warm enough for the windows to be open despite the rain. I’d love a sheila’s maid but our ceilings are too low!

Cheapskate

Morning everyone, I used to post in this thread a LONG time ago and need to get my act together again!
A couple of years ago we had new windows and doors put in (whole house) and it's made  much more difference than I believed it would! We still had the original 30s doors and windows (last house on our street) which, whilst nice to look at, were all but useless at keeping the warmth in and cold out. Our gas/electric bills went down a fair bit, from £70 a month to about £57 (pay the same all year), and I'm aiming to get it down further before the weather changes. We have a multi fuel stove which is really efficient, downstairs is open plan so it warms the whole area. We chopped down a tree last autumn, might be dry enough to burn this winter, but I'm also putting the word out to folks I know for any unwanted wood.
I've also got a huge wool stash that I'm slowly working through, crocheting blankets for beds and sofas, and some for the car, too.  No electric blankets here, either, got new HWB last winter and might get a couple more for me and DH.  Tend only to have the CH on for an hour in the morning sometimes, and then for a couple of hours after tea (upstairs only), but turn it off before the littlies go to bed or else it's too warm.
Re food, I've been working my way through our stores during lockdown, but will start slowly stocking up again from August. I got a new allotment early this year, but it's horrifically overgrown so all I've been able to do is hack down some of it, and only managed to grow a few herbs in my garden. I'm hoping to chuck some cardboard over all the weeds at the lottie, and plan properly for next spring. Maybe I could put in some winter root veg? Any advice would be very welcome!
We have a TD but only really use it for heavy stuff like towels, bedding and jeans, peg out in fine weather and use a clothes airer if it's raining - with the window open things still dry fairly quickly.
Looking forward to keeping up with you all this time.

A xo

walkers60

I was given a small heated pad that I use to heat up my back or feet.  Prior to that I made lots of wheat and lavender bags which I heat for about 3 minutes in the microwave.  They keep really hot for a long time.  I have been known to use three at one time - very cosy.  They can also be put into the freezer to use as a cold bag instead of a bag of peas on bruises etc. 

nannygladys

Took the stone bottle downstairs the other day and filled it up with water and it didn't leak or anything but by gum its heavy no wonder you cant kick it out of bed!!! Anyway over the weekend (or when its a bit colder as its supposed to be nice) Im going to test it with hot water and give it a good clean!

Thanks to whoever mentioned hm blankets I can feel a crocheted one coming on that will be made of all the little odds and ends of wool that I have in a bag, it may not turn out pretty but at least it will be warm. Ive also started a jumper for me and bought some wool for a thick cardigan as well. I have been worrying about C pressies, but I reckon I should perhaps look to looking after myself in the cold weather, its no good giving nice pressies if Ive got hyperthermia!!! I hope my offspring would rather have me well than nice pressies!

I think I have all the usual stuff now in preparation and theres not much I need but I think I could be better organised with where stuff like candles,matches etc are, perhaps a box to keep in the hall, what does everyone do?

Well going to carry on with my jumper and also make a drink. Oh just thought I will need a new warm coat this winter, Ive lost some weight and my usual one hangs off me now, even with thick jumpers on underneath and Ive just thought my boots developed a hole in the bottom last year so Id better start saving -  the boots were nearly 8 years of and so comfie I will really miss them.
Nannyg

Eenymeeny

I think I have all the usual stuff now in preparation and there's not much I need but I think I could be better organised with where stuff like candles, matches etc are, perhaps a box to keep in the hall, what does everyone do?
I keep candles, matches etc in a vintage tin on the windowsill in the utility room. Once dark nights are here I keep torches or those led push lights behind the curtains in main rooms. That way if you get a power cut you know to head towards the light!
I sometimes pop one of those lights in my dressing gown pocket and beside the bed. (They give a softer light so don't disturb my OH  if I need to get up during the night!)
Remember to check batteries before you need them!