Preparing for Winter

valk_scot

jcr16 wrote: »

i've had an idea about the fleece lining of curtains. I am going to sew a strip of velcro to curtains just under header tape then a strip on the top of the fleece ( once cut to right size) so i can then just velcro together. so i can add for the winter and remove for the summer.

i'm not sure yet if this will work, but in my head it will. so i will experiment with it. What gave me the idea was in the argos book they had a thermal curtain lining which just hooked on to the exsisting header tape of curtains. so i was thinking i could adapt this method to suit.

Has anyone tried this idea ? does it work ?

It might end up making the top edge too stiff to gather properly. TBH the good old fashioned method of stitching curtain linings tape along the top of the fleece blanket and attaching it to the main header tape would work better, cost less than Velcro, be far more secure and you could still take the linings off easily.

Confuzzled

ktpie wrote: »

Our new house has ceiling fans in the bedrooms and apparently these can help even out the temperature in a room, if you put them on reverse then the air doesn't blow straight down onto you but encourages the warm air to circulate. Not tried this yet I should add but will have a go this winter. Not sure how much they cost to run so might not end up saving much money but if having it on for a couple of minutes when the heating has just come on helps the room heat up it could be useful.

i'm not sure how energy efficient they are either but this is quite common in the states. i think not enough people realise they can be used in either direction depending on the season. in the uk having ceiling fans is infinitly more practical then investing in air conditioning if you live somewhere that gets quite warm during the summer (no comments from the peanut gallery, i've seen it get warm in england at least!)

you could probably try looking on some american websites to get an idea of their efficiency for winter usage, they may have tips on how to use them most effectively, not all americans are energy hogs

Glamazon

I picked up some fleece blankets in Au Naturel - 2 blankets were £8 were down to £4 but when got to checkout had 20% off so £3.20 :money:

Now have 6 fleece blankets so two will def be going between mattress and bottom sheet next time I change bedsheets. It is soooooo cold atm!!!!

Found an old pair of lined curtains so have fitted a rail up by front door and put one curtain up there along with draught excluder so hoping that works well.

Most of my curtains aren't lined so am debating whether to line them myself or just try and attach a fleece blanket - am 2 mins from IKEA so can easily pick up the IRMA ones which I already have 2 off.

I previously posted about having a baby on the way and being worried about keeping him warm - well, he arrived 3 weeks early and I'm more worried about him being too hot!!

Can't believe how chilly it is and how quickly the nights are drawing in!

MrsBartolozzi

Congrats on the birth of your baby Glamazon!!

greenbee

zarazara wrote: »

greenbee I expect the curtain will reflect the heat back into the room but it isnt insulation.

Their description, not mine! I don't need them, as I have blinds and thermally lined curtains at all my windows (and thermally lined curtains on the front and kitchen doors), and have done all the draught-proofing I can.

Confuzzled wrote: »

if it didn't work in the windows you could probably glue it to cardboard and shove it behind your radiators

actually, it may well work but if it's what i think it is it would look hideous!

That's what I thought, but I guess if you have a very cold house, and don't have thermal linings to your curtains, you could string them up on curtain wire behind the main curtains to prevent some heat loss. As they're probably very thin, they should pull back behind the main curtain. The same place does radiator reflectors too.

Confuzzled wrote: »

not a nice situation to be in is it?

want to trade? i've got spiders moving en masse into my house this week, and i'm not talking small spiders, nooooo these are industrial size spiders! the kind that make a loud chinking noise when their dessicated little bodies are carried in a glass outdoors to be disposed of, the kind that actually make me a little squeamish about spiders again after about 15 years of being over that fear!

actually they really are the largest spiders i've seen for the decade i've been in the UK, the bodies are about the size of my ring fingers nail if that gives you an idea, and really really long legs too!

i know it's cold and beasties want in (also this seems to apply to all the neighbourhood cats that previously would have been to shy to walk in my back door when it's open but now seem to see it as an invitation to have a nap on my sofa!) but i think i'd prefer the mega spiders wait til i've moved out to move in themselves... it's only a few weeks, honestly, arachnids have no manners these days :rotfl:

Do you live near me? We have mutant spiders trying to move in... I think we need a nice cold winter to kill them off! In the meantime I've got conker & clove extract to spray round the doors & windows, which seems to be deterring them.

kittiej

I was just wondering what it's like in other areas as it's still quite warm here in S Wales. I still wear my summer pj's and find myself chucking the quilt off each night.

northwest1965

Here in the North West its been lovely today, just clouding over now. Managed to get the washing dry. Noticed it does get chilly in the evenings but just wearing an extra layer.

slm6002

Its lovely and warm here in suffolk. I have 2 loads of washing drying in the garden. Did haveto get the blankets out of the airing cupboard the other evening though as it was a little chilly whilst watching telly.

Glamazon

northwest1965 wrote: »

Here in the North West its been lovely today, just clouding over now. Managed to get the washing dry. Noticed it does get chilly in the evenings but just wearing an extra layer.

I'm in the North West too and it is def colder in the evenings.

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Congrats on the birth of your baby Glamazon!!

Thanks!!

Am liking the sound of thermal lined curtains - trouble is I'm crap at doing this kinda thing!

elisamoose

On the Lincs/Cambs border . 25c yesterday and today.Not a cloud! Cooler at night but still summer bedding.Don't think it ever gets cold enough to need fleeces under the sheets!
Tried out the woodburner last night just to be sure no leaks/cracks etc . Got so hot had to open all the doors! Cats loved it though!