Ways to stay warm(er)

Oh, the weather outside is frightful . . .
But the fire inside's delightful . . .

I've always loved that song! It brings to life that feeling of warmth, coziness and love. Winter is such a beautiful season! But sometimes the heating bills can be overwhelming. Here are twenty-two hints to help keep you warmer while paying less.

1) Put that plastic-wrap stuff over your windows. It's a little bit of work that results in a lot of additional comfort and lowered expenses. My power company actually hands this out for free, so you might want to check with yours to see if they do as well.

2) Put some form of draft-stopping on or around your doors. There are various types of draft-stoppers, ranging from the foam rubber you stick to the door, to metal plating you screw onto the periphery of your door. Different doors need different types. I have a steel door; I can't (easily) use the type that's screwed on. But for someone else, this could well be their best option. (I also get this from my power company.)

3) Also thanks to my power company - there are little foam rubber pads that go on the backside of light switch/outlet covers. Yeah, I know - who knew?! But most door and window frames aren't perfectly flush with their surroundings. Siding often isn't either. The air that seeps into the walls can get into your house through your light switches and outlets, because they're also not flush. You put this little foam rubber thing in behind the outlet, and the problem's solved!

4) And - the last thing I got free from my power company - a caulking gun with caulk. You read it right. This is to seal areas around window and door frames, because as I just mentioned, they have little gaps. So does the area where your clothes dryer vents to the outside. Use a bit of clear caulk on it and you'll save a lot.

5) Where does your clothes dryer vent? Did you know that there's a contraption that you can put on the ventilation tube that will keep that nice, moist, warm air in your home instead of putting it outdoors in the winter? Come summer, you can change a few settings and it goes outside again.

6) Another option is to allow your clothing to air-dry on an indoor drying rack. Because the humidity level is lower, they'll dry quickly.

7) Check your insulation. Getting new insulation is a large investment, but over time it pays off.

8) Change the filter in your furnace! I'm bad about this one. The filter should be changed every month to keep your furnace operating smoothly.

9) Get the humidity levels up. Humid air holds heat better than dry air does, and it somehow transmits the warmth to our bodies better, too. This is why 70 degrees feels colder in the winter than it does in the summer. If you have even a cold air vaporizer, this will help the air in your home to feel warmer.

10) Alcohol might make you feel warmer, but it actually lowers your body's core temperature.

11) On the same note, keep your skin hydrated. By putting on baby oil before you get into the shower, you protect your skin from the drying effects of the water, your skin feels better throughout the day, the oil helps rid the shower of soap scum, and you feel better insulated against Jack Frost's nip. Just be careful not to slip!

12) Get a time-controlled thermostat. Some thermostats can be programmed to make your home warm for when you're just getting up, cool for when you've gone to work, warm again when you come home in the evening, and cool during the night while you sleep.

13) If you use the oven, leave it open after you're finished. On the same note, if you hand-wash your dishes, wait till the water's room temperature before you drain it. There's no reason to send all that warmth down the drain right away - let it go into the air.

14) How long are the showers in the morning/evening? You need enough hot water to last for that time frame, not more. If you're having to balance your hot water with cold water by the end of the last shower, consider turning down the heat on your water heater.

15) Obviously, wear layers. The heat stays between the layers, giving us a barrier against the cold. Use wool when possible. Wool is an oldie-but-goodie. It's warm and lightweight. If it gets wet, it still feels warm. And for your feet, try a pair of socks, followed by a plastic bag, followed by another pair of socks. :-) Your feet will not be cold.

16) Thermal blankets and throws are great. :-) No, they shouldn't be left on overnight while we sleep - that's a fire hazard - but many of them have automatic turn-off switches. They're so wonderful for making the bed feel warm when we first tuck in. Once we're asleep, our blankets and comforters can keep us feeling good through the night.

17) Space heaters. These are especially good if you do most of your activities in one room. You just don't want to leave them unattended. I know someone who puts shower curtains on spring rods to keep the air from flowing out of her favorite room. She put the space heater in that room, knocks the heat down by several degrees and she's set.

18) Air deflectors that go over the vent. For the rooms you wish to heat, you want to make sure the warm air spreads out a bit before it rises. Ceiling fans that blow air up can be useful, too, as long as they're left on low. For the rooms you don't need warm, consider using a vent cover.

19) Snow. If it's snowy out, leave that drift against the outside of the house. I once met an Inuit woman who discussed how as a child, her family would pack snow against the house. The snow insulated her home from the much colder temperature of the air, and it kept the heat inside as well.

20) Fireplaces . . . are not all they're cracked up to be. Just as snow can make your home warm, fireplaces can make them cold. But it depends on what type of fireplace you have. If it's the conventional sort, your flue is open. Cold air is coming down into your house and warm air is going up to the outdoors. Your home is actually colder than it was! :-( But there are some fireplaces with blowers. You light your fire, flip the switch, the blower comes on, and the warm air from the fire is blown back into your home.

21) And Ma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap . . .
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

A nightcap wasn't always a drink. ;-) It was what people put on their heads to retain their body heat as they slept. Those wonderful little hats with the earflaps do the job nicely.

22) But as long as you love me so . . .
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Saving the best for last, snuggle with your sweetie.

I hope your winter is filled with beauty, love and happiness. :-)