Stay warmer for free this winter
Keeping out the cold gets harder each winter with the costs of living and electricity going up. But here are ways to keep yourself cosier at home without spending an extra cent – saving some electricity as well.
Warming a cold winter house starts with the sun. Open the curtains on the sunny side and close them as soon as the rays don’t hit those windows anymore. That traps the heat before it escapes through the glass panes.
Related article: Easy ways to keep your home warmer in winter
Dress down
Loose clothes trap more heat. The way to dress is to wear three layers of natural fibre. Try polyester, which can absorb, closest to your skin. Fleece, sweaters or sweatshirts are good for the middle. Go one size up from your usual for the top layer so it fits comfortably. This should be something that blocks rain and drafts and not cotton, which doesn’t hold warmth once wet.
Pull up your socks
Cold feet make your whole body feel chilly. Make sure everyone in the family has slippers or thick socks to wear inside.
Body heat
Gather the family in one room as your bodies will help raise the temperature, so you can use only one heater, if at all. You should also wrap everyone in blankets while watching TV, since you can get shivery when not moving. Get the blood pumping now and then with a one-minute chore around the house. Assign one to every family member – make it a challenge.
Heating up
Electric and gas heaters are good – just remember to turn them off when you leave the room and keep small kids away. Kerosene and propane heaters are flammable, so don’t use them indoors.
Functional home decor
If you have rugs, put them down on the coldest parts of the floor. They insulate and keep your feet warm. Move couches and tables away from outer walls and windows where cold might be seeping in.
Related article: A DIY guide to winterproofing your home
Best drinks
Water helps to regulate your internal temperature. In winter, you might think you’re not thirsty and drink less fluids. This can cause dehydration, which makes your temperature drop and can lead to hypothermia.
Hot tea or coffee, ciders and broths are delicious ways to feel warm. Ginger tea is good for digestive health and will help your body warm from the inside out.
Bath and bed
Leave hot bath water in the tub to spread the warmth, unless you have small kids around. It increases humidity, which makes the air feel warmer and helps prevent painful winter skin.
A hot water bottle under the blankets a few hours before bed will warm it nicely. And if the night is really icy, get everyone and the pets into one bed for a cosy sleep and a happy family memory!
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