It's zero here tonight. I realize everyone isn't that chilly, but I've never run across anyone else who uses my tip. If you've ever had one of those fancy wool bed pads, you know how great they make the bed feel, but they are so pricey.
I make braided wool rugs, so I have this huge stash of wool blankets. I put a wool blanket (or two) under the mattress pad on each of our beds. It keeps you from losing body heat into the mattress and really makes the bed stay warm. We don't need to pile a ton of blankets on top trying to keep warm. If you use some type of mattress protector, put the blanket on top of it. They wash just fine and if they felt up a little bit it won't matter. I pick up nice wool blankets at thrift stores for less than $10 each.
I know we all know this, but just a reminder to raise the humidity levels in the house. I just keep a big pot of water on the stove with low heat. If you have forced air heat, you can put a pan next to some of the vents if they won't get kicked over. It helps.
I'm always suprised how many people with two story houses complain that the upstairs is hot but the main level is cold. If so, turn off the vents in most of the rooms upstairs and cover them with magazines. The heat will drift up as well as the rooms being warm from the ceilings. If your thermostat is downstairs, it's continuing to to get the heat up while all of the warm air is going up. This may not apply to old, drafty houses
Wool socks. I didn't find these until two years ago and I don't know why since I've always lived with cold winters. I guess I thought they would be itchy, since I don't like wool sweaters. They are not itchy, so stock everyone up. They wash great and have made a huge difference in our comfort level.
Take a warm bath right before you get in bed. The kids, too. It raises your body temp/gets your hands and feet warm and you don't have to "get" warm once you get in bed. My dh is a morning shower person and he's always cold as soon as he gets in bed before he warms his spot up. I keep telling him to take a hot bath and hop right in bed.
Time to take a walk through the house and make sure heat vents aren't being blocked. We have hot water baseboard heat which need the air circulation to work correctly and occasionally beds and other furniture end up blocking the base of the registers. Pull out that stuff and let the air move.
Don't use a traditional wood burning fireplace. It really just sucks the heat out of the house. Watch that bathroom and kitchen fans aren't left running. My oldest son is really bad about leaving his running for hours. Who know how much heat goes out the roof.
Our house was built in 1965 and is comfortable, but on these really cold nights we have to do a bit extra.
I make braided wool rugs, so I have this huge stash of wool blankets. I put a wool blanket (or two) under the mattress pad on each of our beds. It keeps you from losing body heat into the mattress and really makes the bed stay warm. We don't need to pile a ton of blankets on top trying to keep warm. If you use some type of mattress protector, put the blanket on top of it. They wash just fine and if they felt up a little bit it won't matter. I pick up nice wool blankets at thrift stores for less than $10 each.
I know we all know this, but just a reminder to raise the humidity levels in the house. I just keep a big pot of water on the stove with low heat. If you have forced air heat, you can put a pan next to some of the vents if they won't get kicked over. It helps.
I'm always suprised how many people with two story houses complain that the upstairs is hot but the main level is cold. If so, turn off the vents in most of the rooms upstairs and cover them with magazines. The heat will drift up as well as the rooms being warm from the ceilings. If your thermostat is downstairs, it's continuing to to get the heat up while all of the warm air is going up. This may not apply to old, drafty houses
Wool socks. I didn't find these until two years ago and I don't know why since I've always lived with cold winters. I guess I thought they would be itchy, since I don't like wool sweaters. They are not itchy, so stock everyone up. They wash great and have made a huge difference in our comfort level.
Take a warm bath right before you get in bed. The kids, too. It raises your body temp/gets your hands and feet warm and you don't have to "get" warm once you get in bed. My dh is a morning shower person and he's always cold as soon as he gets in bed before he warms his spot up. I keep telling him to take a hot bath and hop right in bed.
Time to take a walk through the house and make sure heat vents aren't being blocked. We have hot water baseboard heat which need the air circulation to work correctly and occasionally beds and other furniture end up blocking the base of the registers. Pull out that stuff and let the air move.
Don't use a traditional wood burning fireplace. It really just sucks the heat out of the house. Watch that bathroom and kitchen fans aren't left running. My oldest son is really bad about leaving his running for hours. Who know how much heat goes out the roof.
Our house was built in 1965 and is comfortable, but on these really cold nights we have to do a bit extra.
But we haven't put the magazines on the vents. Should we really do that? I have always been worried about putting things on vents.
Stay warm tips?
