the ice man cometh! (merged with keeping warm)

[Deleted User]

Amatheya81 wrote: »

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

Your skylight curtains sound a great idea. I also wear gloves in the house - just thin ones which mean you don't feel too encumbered. I did try fingerless gloves but they never seemed to make any difference. You soon find your hands have warmed up and you can take them off for a while. Another thing which makes a big difference to me, is to have a flask of tea made up and drink small cupfuls throughout the day. That really warms me up and yet saves electricity on continual kettle boiling.

LittleMissAspie

I find wearing a hat or hoodie makes a big difference to feeling warm. That and keeping your feet warm and drinking lots of hot drinks.

I saw a house the other day with bubble wrap on the windows so I've tried it with the patio door in the living room. I can't quite work out if it's made a difference though. I did feel less cold yesterday but I also had the fire on for longer... so not sure.

nsp33

Read this thread with interest as my DD1's bedroom is north facing and v v cold.

She has lined curtains which are pulled as soon as it starts to get dark, these are tucked behind her radiator. But still her room is cold.:mad:

The only option I can think of is changing to a double radiator in there, but obviously this would cost.

Any other ideas/advice would be great!

Justamum

grandmasam wrote: »

I've safety pinned cheapo fleece blankets as curtain linings [2 for £3] A*DA They have made such a difference!Also using black larger ones clipped to bamboo canes as door curtains [£4 each from dun**m mill] looks expensive, and works well.
caz

I bought pair of curtains from the charity shop the other day for our front and back doors. They helped, but as the draught through those doors is icy I sewed a couple of old spare duvets to the backs of them. We still have draughts in the house though - I'm sealing them up as I find them, but it's an old house and is damp which doesn't help.

Justamum

knithryn wrote: »

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.

I've made one of those for our front door, using some spare curtaining from the childrens' room, and an old duvet cut up! My floors aren't carpeted so it slides nicely, but I would have thought it would be difficult if you have carpet

knithryn wrote: »

Find the drafty areas by going around with a lit
candle and watching for the flame flickering.

What a good idea.

I'm going to have to buy some slippers next time I'm in town - I've got chilblains from standing in the kitchen! My toes are really sore!

exlibris

I find that putting more effort into housework keeps me warm.

eg. - instead of using the vac on the stairs carpet I use a hand brush. By the time I get to the bottom I am toasty warm and it lasts till I am into the next job - maybe a bit of ironing (which I hate)!

kippers

exlibris wrote: »

I find that putting more effort into housework keeps me warm.

eg. - instead of using the vac on the stairs carpet I use a hand brush. By the time I get to the bottom I am toasty warm and it lasts till I am into the next job - maybe a bit of ironing (which I hate)!

Lol thats what i've been doing. Going to hoover in a minute, that always warms me up!

buxtonrabbitgreen

Where I work is very cold so I have gradually been adding more layers of clothing. A pair of baggy leggins under my work trousers and legwarmers, make a huge difference. Also fingerless gloves.
The house is warm though with a calor gas fire at one end and a coall fire at the other and the central heating on low it is lovely and warm.

esio_trot

I accidentally came across a handy idea for keeping cozy in bed if you don't have a hot water bottle etc. If you lay a fleecy blanket (just the cheapy ones will do, none of mine are expensive) on top of the sheet, then lie on it under your normal duvet/covers, it seems to store more of your body heat to give back to you through the night. If nothing else, pop one down the foot end of the bed to keep your toes warm. Sure it must be something to do with the material. Another plus is that when it comes to changing the bed, they're easily washed and dried within a couple of hours in a warmish room.

calleyw

I have just been looking up solar heat catchers.

I might have a try at making one to put in the windows and see what happens.

Google it very interesting and not to hard to make by the looks of it.

Yours

Calley