Preparing for Winter

mandy_moo_1

angelkissingdevil wrote: »

Ok yes you're right you heat them in the microwave, from 1 min to 2 depending how hot you like them.

Ingredients
1 bag of cheap long grain rice - UNCOOKED
cotton material
outer material (fleece or flannel - type they use in bed sheets)

with the cotton you need to make a bag (this is to seal the rice in) - to make fold material in half sew down both sides and a section in the middle to make two sections for the rice to go in. Once this is sewn then tip rice into the sections and sew the top so the rice is sealed inside. this is now complete and just needs a pillow case style covering with the flannelette. The reason why we use a covering is so that it can be washed.

all you do now is pop it into the microwave and the rice gets hot and keeps you toasty

If you need further help on my lousy instructions pm me and i'll email you a diagram x

Hope these are clear x

Obviously don't use cooked rice otherwise it'll smell and go rancid etc...:rotfl:

hope you don't mind me saying....DON'T forget to put a cup of water in the m-wave next to the rice bag, as it can easily get too hot and burst into flames...the cup of water makes the air and rice moist to stop this happening.

there was a story in my local paper recently about an old lady who suffered severe burns when her rice bag burst into flames in her bed whilst she was asleep......i don't want to frighten you, but i just thought you should know the dangers

i've always used rice bags, and they're perfectly safe if you remember to put the cup of water in the m-wave with it

Caterina

pigpen wrote: »

Most LJ's dye really well as they have a high cotton content.. so if you can only get the white.. tie dye them!!!!!!!!! lol

Hi all

I have finally dyed my thermals with onion skins at my textile class, the top with yellow onion skin and the bottom with red onion skin.

It is really interesting to see the difference in colour, the top is much more orangey, the bottom more delicate and more yellow-green. As soon as I see my DD I shall ask her to take a pic on her mobile and I shall show them here (not sure I want to model them, though! :eek: ).

Thanks Pigpen that was truly an inspirational suggestion!

Caterina

bellaquidsin

I've bought some new vests today, not thermals but a nice snug extra layer.

Mind you I am finding that the shops are so hot I shall soon be needing to take clothes off to go out.:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Bella

BallandChain

I've been reading that a few people have experienced burst hot water bottles. I don't know if you are aware but you should put a bit of cold water into the hot water bottle before putting in the hot water. Do not overfill, I usually just put in hot water to halfway and then press the air out of the top before putting in the stopper. Always throw your hot water bottle if it shows signs of wear and tear.

Somebody mentioned Primark sell hot water bottles. Aaaaarrrggghhhh! I was in Primark today hunting down a hottie bottle and couldn't find one.

T J Hughes are selling long janes for £4 and vests (short sleeved and long) for £4. The same thermals were in Primark for £5 each item. I forgot to add T J Hughes are selling men's long johns for £3! Thermal vest is £3 (think they are short sleeved, not too sure). Why are men's thermals cheaper than women's! Like the poster above mentioned, the shops were absolutely boiling today. I was glad of the cold air after getting that hot.

Can I just ask about damp. We have a problem with damp in our home and I'm drying out the clothes now that got damp in a chest of drawers. I've been keeping the heating off as much as possible and think that maybe this contributed to the problem? How long should I have the heating on to warm up the place without putting it on for hours at a time and keeping the damp out? I'm not sure about the crystals from Wilkinsons as some people say the crystals accumulate water and others don't notice any water in the bottom of the tray, which makes me wonder if they work. Any help greatly appreciated!

Fruball

We have a de-humidifier in our house - we used to have 2, one upstairs and one down.

If the one downstairs is not on then our conservatory grows mould on the windows and frames - its disgusting.

Now that we don't have one upstairs, we have mould around our bedroom windows - MrF cleaned down the frames with BLEACH and now the rubber is corroding so I am well mad with him - I have always used dettol spray and that keeps the mould away much better than bleach.

I would invest in a de-humidifier if you can - much better than damp and mould, which will cost you more than the de-h and heating in the long run.

Just my opinion - hope it helps

ps - I haven't tried the crystals but we are going to get some as soon as we see them, just to try rather than get another de-h which takes up valuable space.

BallandChain

I've read about dehumidifiers and just wondered what they are like for running costs? I think you have to get one that is the "right size" for the room in order to get the most out of it? I was hoping if I did get one I could get away with a smaller one if possible.

Justamum

BallandChain wrote: »

I've been reading that a few people have experienced burst hot water bottles. I don't know if you are aware but you should put a bit of cold water into the hot water bottle before putting in the hot water. Do not overfill, I usually just put in hot water to halfway and then press the air out of the top before putting in the stopper. Always throw your hot water bottle if it shows signs of wear and tear.

It's probably worth it, for safety's sake, to replace hot water bottles every year. They are cheap enough.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Frugal wrote: »

We have a de-humidifier in our house - we used to have 2, one upstairs and one down.

If the one downstairs is not on then our conservatory grows mould on the windows and frames - its disgusting.

Now that we don't have one upstairs, we have mould around our bedroom windows -

Just my opinion - hope it helps

ps - I haven't tried the crystals but we are going to get some as soon as we see them, just to try rather than get another de-h which takes up valuable space.

We live in a large old victorian house with very thick solid walls.When we moved here in 2006 in the middle of that very hot summer,we were shocked when we saw what had been left behind,that had been hidden by the previous owners furniture.There was mould in the corners of the rooms.When we took off the wallpapers there was mould in the upper corners of the rooms near the ceilings.We got a damp company out and were told it was condensation which had been caused because all the windows(which were covered in mould)had been nailed shut and even the heavy curtains had been pinned to the sides of the walls to prevent draughts.Seems house was never ventilated.
We now have not one bit of dampness or condensation as I open the windows daily first thing for a couple of hours and use moisture crystals(hidden) in every room.
It's a fact of life that ventilation is your main weapon against mould,unfortunate in the winter I know but true.At least it does'nt cost anything.

BigMummaF

Our house is roughly north>south facing with the kitchen, bathroom & one double room in the [n]front. We had a very pathetic hot air heating system for a few years & the bedroom especially used to get awful condensation down the double glazed windows. I used one of those 'traps' & was shocked at just how much water accumalated in one week, but by gum! I do not hesitate in recommending them now.

It has only just sparked a :idea: now! today! that maybe I should get another one to put in our bathroom...it was 'updated' & now includes the added charm of lovely black mold where previously we had nowt :mad: even though I do nothing different & there's a ruddy great electric vent sticking over the bath!

titus.a.duxarse

Justamum wrote: »

It's probably worth it, for safety's sake, to replace hot water bottles every year. They are cheap enough.

You can't be serious, Justamum! How wasteful is that? My hot water bottles are in use constantly throughout the year and I still manage to get 4-5 years safe use out of them.I never put boiling water in mine as that is the main cause of the rubber becoming perished.