Preparing for Winter

sammyjig

I think that we are all a bit OTT regarding cleaning/bacteria etc today. My mum always reckoned that a bit of dirt did you good :eek:

They say that hoovering your matress removes the dust mites. Perhaps you could hoover the duvet?

nicki_2

That reminds me, I need to get new pillows... *adds that to shopping list* I daren't hoover my mattress to remove the dust mites. It was my grandparents one and is falling apart and desperately needs replacing (I think its about 15 years old :eek: ) BUT its got a mattress protector (regularly washed every 2-3 months or more in the summer), 3 blankets and a summer quilt on it, all under my bottom sheet to make it more bearable to sleep on so I just air the blankets & wash the quilt on a regular basis instead.

pigpen

mardatha wrote: »

In the old days they can't have done that --they were all feathers. Maybe hanging over the line on a nice hot summer (hollow laugh) day would be enough. if we ever got one.

They used to shake them every so often.. it fluffed up the feathers and shook out all the dust and such like. Or take them outside and give them a beating.. the same as they did carpets!

I do wonder if freezing them would work.. you know like they suggest you do with children stuffed toys every so often?

I think a bit of dirt does you good and the reason peole are so susceptible to illness now is a) they like to whinge when in the past peole would shut up and get on with it we whine and want medicine and sympathy. b) We are so fanatical about 'dirt' being bad we forget it is what builds our immune systems and makes us healthier.. bogies are the best antibiotics you could want.. they boost the immune system because they are full of dead bacteria which stimulates our body to create antibodies against those bugs.. fabulous creation the human body!!

Caterina

I also think that a bit of dirt does you good, but nevertheless, after owning my quilt for 5+years and never having washed it, I washed it at the laundrette before Autumn, and also did our pillows (2+years and never washed before). I did this because I had been coughing a lot in the night and in the morning. I have to say that the cough has not completely gone BUT has improved considerably. Perhaps there was a lot of dustmite poo in my bedding, after all, that was giving me troubles!

Caterina

lauren_1

We hoover our matresses every month now after dd started to come out in rashes and coughing fits during the night, we figured it was dust mites and seeing the dust going round and round in the dyson made me a bit :shocked:

She is ok now so i am not going to become the Mrs Domestic Goddess that Mr Lazy Butt wants me to be:rotfl:

miggy

I thiought it was about time I had another look at my list to see wheether I've made any progress:

miggy wrote: »

1. Buy fleeces for kids' beds, to go under the sheet. Yes!
2. Buy a fleece for the computer chair, or rather for whoever sits here! Am even wondering about buying slippers for whoever's here, as kids tend to put their feet on a hot water bottle which all adds up in terms of hot water. Will have to give a bit of thought to that one. I found an old fleecy cushion cover which goes on there nicely, cost me nothing and is much warmer than the plastic seat.
3. Get a couple more hot water bottles. Turned out we had enough - though a spare always comes in handy.
4. Get a timer for the immersion heater.
5. Get insulating film for single-glazed windows.
6. Work out what to do about kitchen door.
7. Get key hole covers.
8. Get sausage dog or equivalent for the back door.
9. Investigate slipper socks for those children who don't currently wear them.
10. Sort out insulation for rabbit hutches - I did them in part a few years ago: an extra layer of plywood on the outside, with roofing felt on the sides. The hutches are drier inside and have to be warmer. I might freecycle for a couple of bits of old carpet to drape over them as well, as current plastic sheeting isn't thick. Am using an old rug which probably won''t last long quote]

So that's as far as I've got to date. Does anyone have any ideas about keyhole covers for key holes that are in metal plates - so the ordinary covers don't go on easily? Or do I have either to drill the metal (not sure if it is deep enough to fix well) or revert to using bluetack?

bertiebots

Regarding draughty key holes...simply scrunch up some kitchen roll and stick it in the hole...obviously leave a bit stuck out so you can remove it when required!!

parsonswife8

The sun is shining here today, but I am FREEZING.
Had my flu jab yesterday and feel fine, but I am so cold, I have put the two bar heater on in the front room.
BBrrrrrrr!!!!!
:snow_laug

FairyElephant_2

Have told my friend who is coming to stay next weekend that she needs to bring warm clothes for her, hubby & littlun, 'cos my heating is not going on until November! (unless the weather gets to zero degrees) - luckily she is a very good friend and doesn't mind! If the weather does get chilly though I will probably relent for a little while - don't want my little godson to be cold in the night (although my friend is looking forward to putting him in his new fleecy PJ's and dressing-gown she's bought him for the Winter - he's gonna look so cute!).

sammyjig

I got myself DS (10) and DD (7) some fleecy PJ's from Primark as recomended earlier on this thread. We still haven't got the heating on and I showed DS the new PJ's but he just said "no way, its much too hot for those" He hates having the heat on in his room and is quite happy we haven't put the heating on. DD just thinks it will be great fun to snuggle under huge new duvet, fleecy blankets and fleecy PJ's with a hot water bottle although she has only got to the huge duvet stage at the moment.
It is quite cold here today but I think we have just got used to it. No-one has complained yet. Maybe we will make it past November 1st