the ice man cometh! (merged with keeping warm)

MoaningMyrtle

Ooh, I've just remembered, when we used to live in a flat, we bought a second-hand dehumidifier, this was to help cure the awful condensation. We soon discovered it also dried our washing very quickly too, we put the clothes horse next to it and it was brilliant.

Quasar

I have become a great fan of fleecy stuff. I have 7 fleece jackets/jumpers, 2 pairs of fleecy socks for house wear, and 5 fleecy blankets. I bought most of these in Primark over the last 3 years. They are cheap but very warm, wash reasonably well, and don't take that long to dry.

I also have no central heating because I don't want it as it aggravates my sinus problems, so I have a small wall mounted gas heater in the main room which is not really adequate for harsh weather, and a halogen heater which I keep near me at the lowest setting of 400 w, and turn it off now and then.

Then again I live alone and have no kids, and on top of that I thrive in a cooler temperature, so I appreciate it is easier for me to cut back on heating. However, the fleecy stuff is really really warm and doesn't cost a fortune.

**purpleprincess**

what's that window cling film stuff called and where can I get it?? Don't have a Wilko's here.

Ta!

cattie

Polycell make a window cling film. Sometimes you can pick it up in the Poundshop if you have one near you. Otherwise any decent hardware or diy store will sell it, or try Robert Dyas if there is a branch near you.

A cheap solution for windows that you don't need to see out of, such as bathrooms, is to use bubblewrap & seal it around frame with double sided tape.

dolly_day_dream

Velvet curtains can be expensive so one way to have curtains that are as warm is to double line them. We used to cope with just one gas fire (broken central heating) for a 4 bed house and I kept that small amount of warmth in by lining my basic curtains with curtain lining and some old woollen blankets from the local charity shop. It worked a treat. I treat draughts with papier mache - chopped up free newspaper mixed with water and swished in the food processor.

cattie

Want to add that electric blankets are a brilliant way to keep warm. They cost pennies to run & really help keep the heating bills down.

If you have tv in your room you can snuggle down & watch your programmes in comfort. All night ones are great as you can sleep with them on too if you are feeling particularly chilly, or wake in the night feeling cold.

flutterbyuk25

this may sound a bit bonkers but our spare room used to be the bathroom, when it was ripped out we left up the shower rail (no idea why!) a new radiator was then put on same wall. We now put all our wet washing on hangers and hang on the shower rail over the radiater and shut the door and curtains so room gets toasty. clothes tend to dry in 3-4 hours and it's great for draping (sp?) big things like sheets over.

So, if you have somewhere to put it, maybe you could do the same/similar. Cheaper than one of those ceiling airers!

x

flutterbyuk25

Another thing re electric blankets is too have a look on the Boots thread somewhere on here (sorry not technically minded enough to put a link on!) as I read other day that if you buy one of the electric blanket for £30 there are ways of getting 3000 points using various vouchers which equal £30. so technically free, then you use the points to "buy" your toilettries. Just a thought.

x

joannasmum

Sassamac wrote: »

We have a huge thick blanket under our bed sheet on top of the matress. Cant do the same for the kids unfortunately as if they were sick etc in the night it would.

I have put a single layer of fleece blanket under dd bottom sheet, the difference it has made is unbelivable she is deffinately waking less at night, she has wet it once and I stuck it in the washer and it came out almost dry

HTH

Ches

It would be worth checking out the heaters designed for greenhouses and caravans as these are lower voltage than normal and are therefore cheaper to run.