the ice man cometh! (merged with keeping warm)

knithryn

Draft excluders are a pain when someone opens the door and the excluder moves.
My way around this is to make a superbig (ie fat but not too densely stuffed) draft excluder, then run a row or two of stitches along the centre line, lengthwise, to make two sausages joined lengthways.
Open the door and slide the draft excluder under the door so you have one sausage each side of the door. Now you can open and close the door, the excluder moving with the door.

We also find that keeping internal doors closed helps.
Find the drafty areas by going around with a lit candle and watching for the flame flickering.
Keep your feet up off the floor when sitting. Warm air rises, so the coolest air will be at floor level. Putting them on a footstool or up on the sofa will be a little warmer than leaving them on the floor.
If you have been using the oven, leave the oven door open as it cools (only if there are no children around) to let the warmth out.

Butterfly_Brain

I have hardwood floors downstairs and I have put down lots of cheap rugs that I bought last year from the Argos sale. It really does make the place feel cosier.
I def think that heavy curtains are a must - I also have roller blinds which help too (layering for windows, doors and peoples is a real must)
A blanket or quilt on top of the mattress, then the sheet and a thick duvet is a good way of being snug.
Also a throw on the sofa that you can wrap yourself up in is snuggly warm.
Last night I kept the heating on a very low setting which helped to keep the chill off - sod the cost I refuse to be cold.
xx

Rebekah24

I keep the heating off genrally, so I try to keep myself warm rather than keeping the house warm!

Thermals, hot water bottle, slipper boots, blankets! brrrrr!!

paddy's_mum

Two pairs of socks can make your feet colder unless the second/outer pair are larger than your normal ones. Too tight and they slightly compress your feet and impede the warming blood flow. Loose layers is the rule for all clothing during bitterly cold weather.

I'm a great believer in double tracks and curtains at all windows. In winter, the extra layers can make a huge difference. I once measured with a thermometer and there was a 20F disparity between the glass of the double glazed windows and the temperature on the room side of the curtains. Charity shop curtains (lined is best) used on the glassed side of your 'best' curtains so that you don't see them when pulled back are more than adequate and can be taken down and stored for the summer.

I think the suggestion of safety pinning extra layers to existing curtains is excellent. In exceptional weather such as this is, towels, spare sleeping bags, old bedspreads .. great idea! It is also not difficult to sellotape cut to size cardboard against the glass of windows of rooms not in daytime use.

I try to throw open windows to air the house for five minutes every day to prevent that 'fuggy' atmosphere which in itself is depressing. Bedrooms and bathroom usually seem to me to be most in need of a freshen-up. Shutting all the doors means you won't lose too much heat in that short time.

My most important things though [substitute your chosen articles here] are a crate of good books and a large tin of sweeties. I can face anything then

exlibris

Amatheya81 wrote: »

With the foil behind the radiator, how would I attach it, to the wall or the radiator?

Thank you soo much everyone for your help

We cut card to fit the back of the radiator with gaps for where it fastened to the wall. Covered this with foil and slipped it behind. Y ou don't have to take the radiator off the wall or fiddle to much to get it fixed.

If you are renting this can be taken with you when you next move.

manicgiraffe

Make your pets earn their keep by hugging them at regular intervals. You can even take turns! Our furry friends are fortunate enough to have all that extra furcoat heat, so make them share. (Plus many will relish the extra attention.)
MG

mrsclarkie

[QUOTE=knithryn;28544199

If you have been using the oven, leave the oven door open as it cools (only if there are no children around) to let the warmth out.[/QUOTE]

lol or cats i did this last night and found both our daft cats curled up inside
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Emuchops

I have found that despite the current bitterly cold temperatures my house has been substantially warmed by the sun shining throught the South facing windows. I would often keep the curtains closed in weather like this to keep the rooms warmer but whilst it sunny its much warmer to open them up.

I have only noticed this this week as working from home/snowed in.

Downside-windows in urgent need of cleaning ...

Amatheya81

Well, I've got the layers soted today I was wearing 2 pairs of socks, legins, jeans, 2 T-Shirts, a jumpers, a small hoody and a wacking geat Canadian extra thick hoody and the bed already has 2 dovet, a sleeping bag and a big fluffy blanket.

I'm not sure about the animal cuddling idea of cuddling my pets, they tend to be squiggly and more interested in exploring and having a good nibble of the skirting board, the only time they do come and cuddle is when I'm trying to type lol (I keep rats)

You have however sold me on the curtains. I will be looking for some curtain rails tomorrow. I bought some fabric for curtains when I moved in (Only 2 years ago!) So I'll get some curtain rods at the weekend and get the curtains up. I'll also see if I can get my hands on some fleece to line them in. As I own a modern appartment all the doors are fire safe so not much for letting the cold through so I don't think I'll need door curtains. My only concern is that I have 3 vlux (sp) skylights, how would I go about putting up curtains for them? I did think about putting up a skinny rail at the top and bottom and making curtains with loop at either end to go over the rails. I could then use a ribbon to decorativly tie them in the middle during the day. What do you think?

Oh and I like the foil on cardboard behing the radiator thing. I'll give that a go too I guess it just stops some of your heat being lost through the wall.

Oh and I've just realised I do have lyno in the kitchen so maybe I'll spend some of my winter making a rag rug to cober it

Thanks again, keep the ideas comming

shelovestobuystuff

manicgiraffe wrote: »

Make your pets earn their keep by hugging them at regular intervals. You can even take turns! Our furry friends are fortunate enough to have all that extra furcoat heat, so make them share. (Plus many will relish the extra attention.)
MG

:TI use my labradors as foot warmers.They are very heavy dogs though so I can end up with warm but bruised tootsies.