Struggling to get my compost pile to heat up

segovia1

I've got a compost area at the bottom of the garden - 3 large bins made of slatted wood - each bin about a square cubic metre.  I'm new to composting so up until 6 months or so ago was just throwing green and brown material in without worrying too much about it.  Of course, in so doing I've been adding loads of green material (mainly grass clippings) in the spring and summer, and loads of brown material in the autumn and winter (mainly deciduous leaves nut also plenty of cardboard).  Having realised the error of my ways, I've spent some time digging out the entire bin, aerating and turning it and then filling it up again.  The old grass clippings had become very matted and anaerobic (as had the leaves).  I'm pretty confident now that I've got a better mix of ingredients and they are not too wet or dry.  I don't cover the compost, but then it's been very dry in the last few weeks anyway so keeping rain off hasn't been a problem.

Despite all that my compost thermometer is saying it isn't getting warmer than 25-30 Celsius.  I know it will break down eventually, but I'm keen to try and speed things along.  Any tips or tricks people can share?  Is a compost accelerator worth trying?  
Thanks

-taff

If you have any males in your life, get them to pee on it or in a bucket that you throw on it [ that's an accelarator]...Turning it regularly will compost it quicker, once or twice a week will give you compost in six weeks.

To be honest, I leave mine alone for the summer and the winter and then just hoik out what's there in the spring.

twopenny

I use a bought product called Garotta on mine. Seems to work a treat in the absence of a male or me having enough muscle to turn it.

Grass clippings in bulk are notorious for not composting down easily. A smaller amount between other stuff is ok but it's hardly worth fiddling with.

I've also used surplus windfall apples which rot quickly and that would get it going. Adding some soil to a compost bin works well.

Bottom of the heap should be a few twigs to allow air to circulate and worms to get in, other stuff on top.

Do you put other things in apart from grass and leaves?

DiggerUK

Here is a recent composting thread which I posted a contribution to. After turning our compost heap I found that the compostable 'plastic' take forever to rot and I don't plan to use them anymore.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6085578/composting-advice/p1