Is it just us, or is this winter really, really cold. Maybe not if you’re from the sunny Northern states, but down here in NSW it’s been cold snap after cold snap. We love winter fashion, but we’re not as big a fan of the actual temperatures. While running the heater feels like a good idea, it’s not exactly the cheapest way to stay warm in winter (or very environmentally-friendly).
That’s why we’ve scoured the internet and asked around for the best tips on warming up during the colder months. From warming your body to warming up a room, these are the best tips for (cheaply) staying warm in winter.
1. Seal Cracks
If you live in an older-style house, walk around and check there aren’t any little cracks or gaps in the walls. Over time these can appear and yep, they’ll let cold draughts in. Speaking of draughts, it’s definitely a good time to buy a draught stopper – you know, those long snake-like things you put at the door? They’re to keep cold air from seeping in, and they’ll do wonders when it comes to keeping warmth in, and cold out.
Adairs Moroccan Tufted Natural Draught Stop, $29.99
2. Invest In Thick Curtains
The thicker the curtains, the more useful they are for preventing loss of heat via windows. Bonus – they’ll be equally as useful for preventing rooms from overheating in summer.
3. Buy A Wool Quilt
Okay, so this is an expensive sleeping purchase but the warmth will mean you can switch off your heating for the night, and if you buy a quality one you’ll have it for years, decades even.
Wool quilts act as natural insulators as the fibers maintain even body temperature, keeping you warm in the winter months.
Woolstar Ultimate Wool Quilt, Queen, $449
4. Use An Underblanket
Another way to make your bed feel warmer, and also maintain heat through the night, is to use an underblanket. These go underneath your fitted sheet to add another layer of insulation through the night. Like a wool quilt, a wool underblanket will regulate your temperature as you sleep.
Woolstar Washable Underblanket, Double, $319
5. Keep Column Heaters Clear
If you’ve got a column heater, make sure there’s room around it for the heat to travel. Putting a couch or other furniture around it will see those items absorb a lot of the heat, instead of pushing it around the room.
Kogan Premium Column Heater, $54.99
6. Shut Unused Rooms
You’ll get more efficiency out of your heater if you shut off all the rooms not in use, especially rooms that are often more prone to heat loss like bathrooms and laundries. The less rooms open, the more the heat will remain in the spaces you’re using.
7. Use A Fan Heater
Fan heaters are almost always more efficient energy-wise than those that radiate heat. You can opt for a cheap one (there are plenty of popular ones in market, such as this Goldair one) but a global favourite, including on independent review sites such as Choice, is the Dyson Hot + Cool. It can warm up a small room in minutes, and once it reaches the right temperature, will maintain that quietly and efficiently. The bonus is that it’ll work to reduce pollutants in your air as it’s heating.
Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool Formaldehyde, $999
8. Cover Hard Floors
Unless insulated underneath, floorboards, tiles and other hard flooring will result in heat loss. To fight it, lay rugs – the floor will be much more pleasant to walk on barefoot, and they’ll also work to fight that heat loss for you.
Miss Amara Blake Orange Rainbow Rug, from $189
9. Choose A Lower Heat Level
We often want to blast our heaters at maximum, say 30C. But when you think about it, no one wants to sit around in 30 degree heat. That’s why you should set your heater to a lower heat level, such as 20C. Most heaters will still pump out super warm air to reach the level, they’ll just pause or emit heat on a lower setting to maintain it. Set yours at 30, and you’ll have it running full blast all night (your wallet will not be happy).
10. Add Spices & Chilli To Meals
We all know a hot soup (and a hot bath) will warm us up, but if you want to maintain heat, add chilli and other spicy spices. It’s actually been proven that chilli can help your body heat up, thanks to thermogenesis.
