Autumn in all its glorious golden red tones is here and winter is fast on its way - And if it is anything like last winter (which seemed to never end) house preparations are in order. This is especially true for my house, which felt like an artic freezer for around 6 months due to the wooden floors and 200 year old beautiful but airy stone walled rooms. Not great, and really not great if you have toddlers wandering about who have a fierce aversion to socks and slippers.
So how can you beat back the chilling grab of winter and whistling drafts that creep under doors and through windows? If you can't afford to ride out the winter months by disappearing off to more tropical climbs then here are a few sure fire quick fixes that can help make this winter more bearable.
Rugs
Adding a rug to your floor is a quick and easy way to add to the warmth of the room and to the style. I truly believe that there is a rug out there that fits each and everyone's individual style - be it something traditional, a massive and colourful Turkish rug to something a bit more modern. There is something out there for everyone. Rugs are usually discarded as an idea because they can be a bit on the expensive side, but there are such things as good quality cheap rugs.
Draft Excluder
Draft excluders can make all the difference, especially if you live in an old and drafty house like mine, they can also look quite funky. Do you remember the draft excluders shaped like sausage dogs and snakes...retro cuteness! There are tons of great ones out there, just waiting for a new home and if you want a return to something retro then Etsy is definitely the place to find something like this.
Service Your Boiler (check your service provider deal)
Boilers are a real pain when they decide to stop working, or to spring a leak or do all the other types of things that they do when they break. It is a good idea to get your boiler serviced before the cold weather sets in and just have a quick check that your heating works. It is also a good idea to check that you are getting the best deal from your service provider and switching if not. There are so many deals out there to save those extra pennies - Having a look into what is on offer is good plan.
Also...don't forget to bleed your radiators.
Protect your pipes
If you plan on going away for any length of time and the weather is likely to drop below zero, make sure you set your heating to run for a couple of hours a day. Leave your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open so the warm air can circulate which helps the pipes from getting too cold.
And if you are planning on going away for a really long time, you may want to turn your water off and drain your system.
Line Curtains
Lining curtains is easy and great for blocking out nifty drafts that come in through the window...though of course is only useful when they are closed.
Treat Your Windows
You can pick up strips of self-stick rubber weather sealing at most hardware stores and then easily cut them down to fit your windows. They attach easily, but be careful when you go to remove them as sometimes they can remove parts of the paint or leave a very sticky residue.
Treat Your Floors
Wet feet, clomping across your nice laminate or wooden flooring, along with damage done by the freezing cold can result in nasty scratches and the lifespan of your floors being shortened. The easy way to stop this from happening and to prolong your floors life is by giving them a good clean and easy treatment. It is amazing what some good floor cleaner can do.
You also need to be strict on maintaining your floors throughout winter, sweeping and hovering will go a long way to keeping them protected and in order. That way when spring rolls around, your laminate flooring or whatever medium your flooring is will be nice, clean and above all healthy.
Get Out The Fluffy Socks And Snuggly Blankets
Dress warmly and use the cold winter nights as an excuse to snuggle under a comforter on the sofa in your PJ's and fluffy socks with a nice cup of hot chocolate. Also an extra blanket on the end of the bed and a hot water bottle are never a miss on bleak wintery nights.