Oh, the weather outside is going to get frightful, but staying cosy is so delightful that we’ve put together some tips to help you stay warm and toasty this winter.
Dressing in layers, wrapping yourself up in jumpers and blankets is a great way to help keep yourself warm as you can take off or add layers on as necessary depending on how your temperature changes during the day. If you know you’ll be venturing outside, try to make sure your base layer is made of a material that helps to keep sweat away from the skin such as polyester or merino wool. This is because if you work up a little bit of a sweat while you’re out and about and you’re wearing a top that absorbs sweat, then you could end up getting cooler once you stop moving.
Don’t forget to wear a thick coat, scarf, hat, and gloves when you head outdoors, too.
Wheat bags can add warmth to targeted areas, helping to bring soothing relief to aching joints or muscles. Due to their nature, they can be easily moulded to the shape of your body to provide a more encompassing heat. You could wrap it around your body or put your feet on one.
Wheat bags are safer than hot water bottles in that there’s no chance of boiling water spilling everywhere, but it’s essential that you follow the heating and usage directions closely as they can pose a fire hazard if not used correctly. Similarly, while it might seem like a nice idea to add a drop of essential oils to your wheat bag, over time the oil content in the wheat bag will build up and increase the risk of fire.
As wheat bags are so good at storing heat, it’s a good idea not to use it under a duvet or blanket because the heat can actually increase and pose a fire risk. Cheshire Fire and Rescue have put together guidelines to help.
Sitting for long periods of time can leave you feeling cold, without even realising it. Taking part in some gentle exercises can help to get the blood pumping around your body, warming you up. You don’t need to run a marathon, just making sure you move around once in a while so you don’t get stiff and cold can be helpful.
Try a rollator if you struggle with your mobility or use a pedal exerciser to move your legs while sitting. If you’re not sure where to start with exercise, read our suggestions of three exercises to try that could also help to improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling.
After exercising, consider changing your outfit – particularly if you’ve sweated a lot – to avoid having cold sweat against your skin.
There’s a lot of factors that can affect how warm your home is and how warm it stays in cold weather. Consider getting a room thermometer to help you track the temperature of your home and make sure that it’s not getting too cold.
Set when your heating comes on
It sounds almost silly, but if you can, setting your heating to come on at the right times can mean your home is warm right when you need it to be. Set it to come on just before you get up in the morning or when you’re due to come home to maximise its efficiency.
Get your boiler checked
When the temperatures get low no one wants to be surprised by a boiler breakdown. Not having heating or hot water in cold weather is not a fun way to live while you wait for a boiler repairperson to come fix it for you.
If you rent your home, it’s a legal requirement that your landlord gets the boiler serviced each year, so be sure to get in touch with them if you think yours might be due.
Check your radiators
Are they getting warm all the way up or are there cold spots? If your radiators don’t get warm at the top, then they may need bleeding to get rid of trapped air in the pipes and help the hot water circulate more effectively. It’s considered good practice to bleed radiators at least once a year.
There are plenty of guides online to help you with this if you’re not sure how to do it (search “how to bleed a radiator”), or you could ask a friend, relative, or professional to help you out.
Guard against draughts
A draughty house can defy even the best heating system to let in the chill. Try using a draught excluder on your door and making sure to close your curtains to help keep the cold out.
Winter is the perfect time to get cosy with a hot drink. Warm yourself from the inside out by having hot drinks and food such as tea and soup. If lifting your kettle is becoming increasingly difficult, you may want to consider a kettle tipper. Kettle tippers are great if you have weaker joints as they can be easily tipped in order to pour hot water into a cup without having to lift the kettle up.
If you’re not a fan of hot drinks, try drinking cooled boiled water as this can be less of an icy shock to the system than water straight from the tap.
Don’t be tempted to use alcohol to keep you warm – it’s a false warmth and may stop you realising how cold you actually are.
Treat yourself to a bath to keep yourself warm, relaxed, and to soothe any aching joints. If you’re finding it’s become a touch difficult to get in and out of the tub, there are a variety of bathroom aids available to give you a helping hand. Bath steps can help to reduce the amount you have to lift your leg up to step over the side, while a grab rail can offer you sturdy support while you get in and out. A bath lift can also help to make it much easier to enjoy a bath again as they lower you down into the water to bathe and then raise you up again once you’re done.
Be careful of making your bath too hot. Make sure to test it before you get in, so you don’t accidentally scald yourself.
If you have a heated towel rail in your bathroom, don’t forget to hang your towel on it for extra warmth when you get out. Make sure to dry off and get dressed in warm clothes again quickly to avoid catching a chill.
You may be able to get help with your heating, financially and practically. There are grants available and options for having heating products installed, such as money towards a new boiler or new insulation.
For example, if you’re born on or before 26th September 1955, you could be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment to help you pay your heating bills. You can find out more about this scheme and the eligibility criteria on the government’s website here.
It’s worth checking to see what’s available and if you’re eligible as it could save you money on your bills. The Simple Energy Advice website is a government endorsed advice service for England and Wales that has a postcode checker to find potential home energy grants available in your area. You can find their postcode checker here. The website also offers energy saving advice that could help you to reduce your bills. If you’re in Scotland, visit the Home Energy Scotland website to find out what grants and schemes are available in your area. If you’re in Northern Ireland, you can find more details of the types of grants available here.
We hope these tips help to keep you warm once the colder weather hits. Did we miss anything? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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