Preparing for Winter V

Wednesday2000

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@Wednesday2000 - we're lucky in having windows on both north and south, so we can open those wide and get any through breeze there is. Sometimes there just isn't any breeze but we've got excellent insulation above us in the roof, free to us under a govt scheme, and that has definitely made a difference. We also bought a tension-pole, those curtain-rods that don't need wall attachments, and put it into the window on the south, with very very lightweight pale curtains so we can pull those across so the sun is reflected back but the breeze still comes through. (Heavy winter curtains don't help in summer!)

Thanks for the info. I definitely have done that curtain trick on the south facing side of my house during the last heatwaves and it worked well.

Laura_Elsewhere

My trusty old bicycle is in for a full service today- it lives outside year-round, so I like it to be checked completely each year before the cold weather starts. I am lucky in having a really good local independent bike shop who are happy to work on my old-fashioned sit-up-and-beg second-hand Pashley, now around twenty years old iirc…

Our car is new-to-us and having been stung before, when we bought it as a seven-yr-old earlier this year, we paid our own local
mechanic to go over it looking for the kind of thing that a second-hand car might have wrong with it- sure enough, clutch and air-con! So we were able to tackle the selling-dealership on those as pre-existing issues covered by their warranty. They were not pleased
But it means we know that it’s in good order for the coming cold months. 

Our family live a few hundred miles away in each direction and some are elderly so we want to be able to go and help them if anything happens like a slip on ice or whatever.

Laura_Elsewhere

Today we made a start on the windows- not cleaning the glass but the frames and hinges and the seals and catch and the sliding tracks (the windows are designed so that the hinged side can be slid sideways to allow cleaning of the outside of the opening-part). As we keep our windows wide open, day and night, for weeks on end (top floor flat!), a lot of dust and grit builds up in the frames and tracks, so Mr E spent ages getting everything cleared and cleaned today on the bedroom window, and we plan to do the two sitting room ones tomorrow. 

We have meant to do it for years so I feel pleased that we have done! 

I also gave the insect-screen a quick wash before putting it back up- they catch a huge amount of dust and grit also!

Primrose

These window tracks and hinges are a regularly overlooked annual task in our busy lives we ignore at our peril, especially when you start to get stiff/ damaged hinges on elderly Windows which would have still been ok with a little more care and attention. Sadly becoming elderly and disabled forces you to take your eye off the ball but it,s one of those chores you can do a room at a time, with a diary reminder note to get it done!

Laura_Elsewhere

Well said, Primrose!

I have funny parents (!)- both grew up feeling frustrated by their parents’ attitudes of being very careful with things, avoiding needless damage, minimising wear&tear, etc. The reason I say I think they’re funny is that because they took a completely opposite approach, it means I grew up with everything not working properly or with needing to know exact knack to getting things to work.
As a result, although I am very untidy and disorganised, I am terribly keen on *trying* to look after things so that they work! 

I still (after 11 years here) marvel at how the windows here can just be opened or closed, and when closed all the weather stays outside! Extraordinary…!

dreaming

My preparations at the moment is mainly replacing my bedding. I prefer sheets and blankets to duvets but most of my sheets are beyond repair now (some are positively see-through), and are probably well over 20 years old. I also invested in a real wool blanket and new quilted bedspread - all bought on offer and very good quality. I am also having new storage cupboards which will hopefully take all of this bedding as well as my stores of tinned goods/bulk toiletries/craft supplies/candles/batteries etc. No more having to stuff things where they fit then wondering where on earth I've put things. Probably not so much winter-prepping as life-prepping!

Van_Girl

I've been helping clear my Nan's house, and snaffled some wool blankets that had been on my Mum's bed as a child. I adore them, but nobody else was in the least tempted. I also got some good quality flannel flat sheets that my Nan had made little repairs to. So I'm rather looking forward to trying those out in winter. Much nicer than my cheap B&M sheets. 

You have made me think about my windows though. I have one window which really doesn't shut well, and it's been like that for years. They are decent windows that haven't been cared for, and I'm also very guilty of that it my ownership. Time to have a look at those I think and avoid the drafts this year! 

Chloepad1

I haven't had a lot of free time recently to look at winter prep but I've made a good start this weekend.  I've got several freezer bags full of harvested blackberries which I picked then washed before popping them into freezer bags and tucked away in the freezer ready for winter crumbles.  I've made appointments for flu and covid jab boosters for me and Mum. I've made a start on the autumn garden trim back and our garden bin is steadily being filled up.  I've been crocheting some blankets as well.  I must get a boiler and car service booked.  The nights are starting to drawn in a bit and it's getting a bit cooler at nights after the sun sets. We had our gutters soffits and fascias replaced earlier this year and they were long overdue.  Not a bad start but still some bits to get done before autumn winter starts.

ET22

I bought a dehumidifier in preparation for the winter months when I’m trying to dry washing indoors. The humidity levels can get quite high in my apartment and I noticed there were mould spores on my window frames and air vent. It’s not a major issue but it’s because of the humidity levels. Hopefully I can get my washing dry more quickly too! 

WickedLady4

Yes, we've also bought a small dehumidifier and plan to use it this winter. It's currently sitting in the bedroom.