14 Effective (And Cheap) Ways to Warm the House This Winter:
Truth be told, everything seems much more difficult when the cold winter comes calling. The easiest tasks are now a burden; you have all these extra things to do, and on top of that, you’re cold almost all the time! Well, wait a minute. Back it up.
If you’re cold all the time, then there must be something you can do about it, right? I mean, 3 or 4 months spent like this is no way to live. We’ve made a list of things you might want to try to warm your winter days, and if you haven’t tried any of these before, well, now’s the perfect time to do it.
Park facing the sun
You could easily harness the passive solar power of the sun and reduce that icy windshield scraping by adopting a rather important habit. You could park your car where the sun hits the windshield.
In the coldest temperatures, the morning rays of the sun will melt away the light frost if you park your car facing east the night before. Throughout the day, choose a parking space with southern exposure so you can fully take advantage of the winter sun’s warming rays.
Reverse ceiling fan blades
You probably know that most ceiling fans have a switch that rapidly changes the direction of the blades’ rotation. Well, during the summer, you can set the blades to rotate counterclockwise and make a cooling draft.
In winter, you can just flip the switch so the blades will rotate clockwise, pulling cold air up and circulating warm air right onto the walls and down the floor. Well, that’s exactly where you want them!
Stay hydrated
People who don’t drink the required amount of eight glasses of water a day might feel colder than those who drink enough fluids. As it turns out, your body will be better equipped to deal with the cold if it’s properly hydrated.
You can keep a bottle of water on hand throughout the day and enjoy your herbal tea, cider, and even clear broths to make sure you get enough liquids. Also, it would be advised to limit coffee, unless we’re talking about decaf, to only 2 cups a day. As you probably know, caffeine is also dehydrated.
Close the fireplace flue.
A roaring fire will definitely heat up the room, but when the fire goes out, that warm indoor air will rapidly drift up and out of an open flue. You can make a habit of closing the flue manually if your fireplace doesn’t include an automatic damper. Your rooms will be warmer, and you will save a couple of bucks on heating bills.
Stock the car for the cold.
No one really wants to get stuck in a snowstorm, but it gets particularly miserable during the winter. You could put together a cold-weather kit and keep it in your car at all times.
If you’re ever caught in the middle of a snowstorm, you are prepared. Also, stock some extra blankets, dry clothes, hats, and mittens, too. Also, like Joey Tribbiani’s emergency box, add bottled water, calorie-dense snacks, a flashlight, and tons of air-activated heat packs.
Nix the booze
We’re all too familiar with those depictions of Saint Bernard carrying little kegs of brandy for travelers found in the snow. Well, in reality, booze-toting canines don’t exist.
And more than that, even if drinking alcohol might feel good going down, it will drop your core body temperature, putting you even more at risk of suffering from hypothermia if you’re already cold.
Alcohol might also increase perspiration, and that layer of extra moisture on your skin will further decrease your body temperature.
Switch to heavy curtains.
When the cold hits again, take down your thin and sheer curtains and pack them until next summer. In winter, heavy drapes are what you need. You could opt for flannel or even fleece to add a layer of insulation between you and the cold glass.
Layer bedclothes to maximize warmth.
Did you know that the weather in which you put your blankets might have something to do with how warm you will feel when you’re tucked under the covers? I wouldn’t have thought, either!
But lightweight, fluffy blankets should go over the sheets, with a dense and thick blanket on top. More than that, dense blankets will offer a proper insulating thermal surface barrier, which will keep you warm.
Use the dryer to heat clothing.
This will change your life: if you put your pajamas in the dryer for no more than five minutes before getting ready for bed, you will make them toasty warm when you put them on. It’s a wonderful way to warm up mittens, hats, socks, and even scarves before going outside.
Stop window-chilling with bubble wrap.
If you’re currently dealing with old and inefficient windows, then it probably gets bitterly cold in the winter. Well, now is definitely the worst time to replace your windows, but you could temporarily block out the cold with proper bubble wrap.
You can cut a section of the bubble wrap to fit the window glass or even piece together smaller sections to cover your windows. Then, you can spritz the bubble wrap with a bit of water to make sure it sticks to the window. The air-filled bubbles will efficiently insulate the windows and keep your space cozy and warm.
Make rice bag warmers.
Here’s another trick that you might find highly efficient: as rice retains and radiates heat for an hour, it is highly recommended to use homemade heating pads.
You can make your own heating pads by seeing two 8″ x 10″ pieces of flannel together on three sides. Then, fill the bag with four cups of dry white rice (here’s a good deal!) and sew it shut.
When you need extra heat, just place the rice bag in the microwave for two minutes, then tuck it between your sheets or on top of your shoulders or slippers while you’re watching TV.
Block the drafts.
You can probably confirm by now that the slightest draft from a door or window could make any room chilly. You can easily block the draft by making your own stopper with towels or even pool noodles, or you could buy one!
Make your own hand warmers.
If you’re looking for something toasty to tuck in your coat pockets, make your own hand warmers. You only need a couple of ziplock bags, water, and ice-melt pellets (calcium carbonate).
Then, fill the bag with one-half cup of ice melt pellets and add one-half cup of water. Make sure you seal them tightly, then place the ziplock in another bag for more spill prevention. The chemical reaction of the calcium carbonate and the water will create the needed heat for over two hours.
Bake some treats.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff! You could indulge yourself with a treat just because you have to put up with this weather for so long! Use the oven to heat up the kitchen and enjoy those warm goodies at the end!
And speaking of treats, you might want to start by baking this delicious cookie dough that’s better than anything else you’ve ever tried!
If you found this article useful, we also recommend reading: 5 Painting Projects That Will Improve ANY Room
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