In this post, I share 25 ways to keep warm this winter without using the heating. Some of the suggestions are things you’ve probably tried. However, stick around until the end; you may learn a few new tips. Share any additional things that help you keep warm without the heating in the comments section at the end.
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25 ways to keep warm this winter WITHOUT using the HEATING
With gas prices in the UK surging to an all-time high and temperatures simultaneously plummeting below zero, the struggle to afford to stay warm is real!
I’ve been trying everything in my power to avoid turning on the heating while still trying to stop freezing while working from home.
On one of those cold days, I created a reel about my plight, so many of my followers took to the comments section to share their tips and struggles. So many of us are in the same boat, and I got a lot of great advice from the comments section alone.
The feedback prompted me to conduct further research to see if there was anything more I could do to stay warm at home without switching on the heating.
To my surprise, we can do loads to combat the cold at home without turning on the heating. I’ve compiled the ultimate guide with 25 ways to keep warm this winter without using the heating.
I hope some of these tips will help you as much as they’ve helped me over the last couple of weeks. If they do, be sure to share them in the comments section below.
1. Wear multiple layers of clothing
It was when I became an adult and had my bills to pay, I appreciated how privileged we were growing up to be wearing shorts and t-shirts around the house in the winter months. That’s not the case in my house. Before I even consider turning on the heating, I ensure everyone in the house is layered up. Thermals, jumpers, tracksuits and woolly socks are a must in this house.
Wearing clothing layers can help trap heat and keep you warm during these long winter days.
Amazon has some great and affordable thermal clothing for the whole family:
2. Use blankets and throws
Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of a good thick blanket to keep you warm on these cold winter days. Keep a selection of blankets and throws in the living room to wrap yourself in when you feel cold.
3. Warm up with The Oodie blanket hoodie
The Oodie blanket hoodie is the perfect blend of points one and two. With this product, you get the best of both worlds, a blanket and a hoodie in one for the ultimate comfort and warmth generation.
You can grab an authentic The Oodie on Amazon here, though there are plenty of other affordable dupes. Check the reviews before making your purchase to ensure you’re getting the best product for your budget.
4. Close those curtains and blinds
Closing curtains and blinds in the winter will help retain heat inside your home and reduce the amount of heat loss through the windows. This will result in a more comfortable and efficient heating of your home and can also lower energy bills. Furthermore, closing the curtains and blinds can also reduce cold drafts and improve insulation.
5. A good old-fashioned hot water bottle
I love using a hot water bottle to keep warm when working from home on frosty winter days; it really works. It will provide warmth and comfort and is also a simple and effective way to warm up a cold bed or soothe sore muscles. The hot water bottle’s heat can also help increase circulation and relieve pain. Additionally, hot water bottles are portable, reusable, and relatively inexpensive, making them the perfect choice for the cold winter months.
There are hundreds of water bottles for sale on Amazon. Here are a few of my favourite hot water bottles:
6. Cook and bake
As much as I hate spending time in the kitchen, I can’t deny that cooking and baking in winter can help keep you warm on a cold winter day. This is because the oven and stove generate heat and warm up the kitchen. Not to mention that cooking, baking and eating are a form of physical activity that produces heat and can help raise your body temperature.
7. Get your body moving
The last thing you probably want to do when you’re feeling cold is exercise. However, exercise helps warm you in the winter by increasing your metabolism and body temperature. Moreover, when you exercise, your muscles contract and relax, which generates heat and warms up your body. If that didn’t convince you to get up and move, did you know that regular exercise can also boost your immune system and help you better withstand cold and flu viruses that are more common in the winter months?
8. Candles and oil diffusers can make a difference
Ok, so candles and oil diffusers may not directly keep you warm in winter, but they can create a warm and cosy atmosphere which will help to raise your overall sense of comfort and well-being. The soft light and pleasant scents from candles and oil diffusers can create a relaxing and calming environment, which can be especially inviting on cold and dark winter days.
9. Use rugs and carpets
I have carpet upstairs in my home and wooden floors and tiles downstairs, and the difference in temperature between the two floors is undeniable. It’s so cold downstairs, whereas upstairs is nice and cosy even with the heating off. That’s probably thanks to the luxurious carpet that I bought on credit a few years ago (that’s a story for another day!).
Anyway, I can attest that rugs and carpets will keep you warm in the winter by providing insulation and reducing heat loss. Hard floor surfaces, like tiles and wood, are good conductors of heat and can make a room feel colder. Rugs and carpets, on the other hand, provide a layer of insulation that helps to retain heat and prevent it from escaping through the floor.
10. Insulate your attic
Insulating your attic in the winter will help retain heat in your home and reduce heat loss. Thi is because during the winter, warm air rises and can escape through the roof if the attic is not properly insulated. By insulating the attic, you can create a barrier that helps to prevent heat from escaping, keeping your home warmer and reducing the amount of energy you need to use for heating.
Keep scrolling for 15 more ways to keep warm this winter WITHOUT using the HEATING
11. Seal gaps and cracks
Heat can easily escape through gaps and cracks in your window, which is why it’s important to make sure they are properly sealed. Cold air can also enter your home through these gaps and cracks, making your home less comfortable and increasing the need for heating.
12. The power of a humidifier
Did you know a humidifier could make your room feel warmer? A humidifier can keep you warm in winter by increasing the relative humidity in the air, which can make the air feel warmer. The reason for this is when the air is dry. It can cause the skin to feel dry and uncomfortable, making it feel colder even when the temperature is actually the same.
13. Have a hot drink
Good news for my fellow coffee lovers, drinking a hot drink can keep you warm in winter. Hot beverages, such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, can help to warm your body from the inside out. The heat from the drink warms your insides and raises your body temperature, which can make you feel warmer overall. Please don’t overdo it, though, as these drinks are calorific, and you don’t want a caffeine overload.
14. Use a heated blanket
I learnt about these brilliant inventions from my amazing Instagram followers. Heated blankets will keep you extra warm on these cold winter days. If you’re unfamiliar with them, heated blankets use electricity or battery power to heat up and provide warmth.
Amazon has a great selection of heated blankets at different price points, so you’ll be sure to find one that fits your budget.
15. Be mindful of your body posture
Who knew that the way we stand or sit has an impact on how warm we feel? I certainly didn’t realise until researching this article!
Posture plays a part in how warm you feel in the winter, but it is not the main factor determining your body temperature. The main factors determining body temperature are clothing, insulation, and heating. However, having a good posture can help to improve circulation, which can help to distribute heat more evenly throughout your body and increase the feeling of warmth.
16. Invest in thermal curtains
Thermal curtains can keep you warm in winter by providing an extra layer of insulation for your windows. The reason for this is thermal curtains are designed with materials that help to keep heat inside your home and block cold air from entering. This added insulation can help to reduce heat loss through your windows, making your home feel warmer and reducing your need to turn on the heating.
17. Carry out a home energy audit
What’s that you ask? It’s where you get a professional to come and inspect your home and assess its energy use to determine areas where heat is being lost. The audit will include a review of insulation, heating systems, and air sealing, as well as a review of your home’s windows and doors.
18. Close door and vents in unused rooms
Growing up, my mum always told us to close the doors behind us whenever we entered or exited a room. As an adult, I now understand why. Closing doors and vents in unused rooms can keep you warm in winter by reducing the amount of heated air lost to those rooms.
When doors and vents are open, heated air can flow into the unused rooms, where it is lost and doesn’t contribute to the warmth of your home. Closing the doors and vents to these rooms will help contain the heated air in the rooms you use, making your home feel warmer and reducing your need to turn the heaters on.
19. Use a firewood-burning stove
Yes, this may feel like a return to the Stone Age. Firewood-burning stoves have been used for centuries for heating and date back to ancient times. If you’re unfamiliar with what these are, in short, it’s a type of heating appliance that uses firewood as its fuel source. The stove has a firebox where the firewood is burned, and a chimney or flue to vent the smoke and other byproducts of combustion outside the building.
They can be a very cost-effective and eco-friendly way to heat a home in the long run, as firewood is a renewable energy source that can be harvested from local forests. However, the initial investment is quite costly. Prices on Stoves Are Us start from £600.
They are available in a wide range of sizes and designs, from small, portable units, to larger, more permanent installations. They can provide a warm and cosy ambiance and a source of heat for your home during the winter months.
20. Invest in thermal window film
Thermal window film can keep your home warm in winter by reducing the heat lost through your windows. Window film is a thin, transparent layer applied inside your windows. The film reflects heat into your home and reduces the heat lost through the glass.
The film creates a barrier between your home’s interior and the cold glass, trapping the warm air inside. Helping reduce the lost heat and making it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
You can purchase this film online. Amazon has a wide variety of films of varying quality, thicknesses and price points.
21. Heat retention panels make a difference
During winter, warm air inside your home escapes through the walls and roof to the outside, which makes your home feel colder and increases heating costs. Heat retention panels help to reduce this heat loss by creating an additional barrier between the interior and exterior of your home.
Heat retention panels are insulation materials installed on the interior or exterior of a home, made from materials good at trapping heat, such as foam or fibreglass, and fit snugly into a home’s wall or roof space.
22. Use a door snake
A door snake, also known as a draft stopper, is a long, cylindrical object placed at the bottom of a door to help keep your home warm in winter. The door snake blocks air drafts that can enter your home through gaps and cracks around the bottom of a door.
You can purchase door snakes on Amazon, but you can also try your hand at a simple DIY project. YouTube has great simple tutorials for you to follow along with.
23. Use a window insulation kit
A window insulation kit is a type of home insulation product designed to improve the energy efficiency of windows. The kit typically consists of plastic sheeting and double-sided tape.
The sheeting is applied to the interior of the window frame, creating an airtight seal that helps to reduce heat loss and improve insulation. Helping keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, reducing your energy bills and improving your comfort.
While window insulation kits can be more challenging to install than other insulation products, they can provide significant energy savings over the long term.
24. Use a dehumidifier
A dehumidifier does not directly keep you warm in the winter, but it can improve indoor air quality, which can help to make your home feel more comfortable.
During the winter, the air inside your home can become very dry due to heating systems that remove moisture from the air. Low humidity can cause skin dryness, irritation, and other discomforts. A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air, helping maintain a comfortable humidity level in your home.
25. Portable electric heater with a thermostat
A portable electric heater with a thermostat can provide an effective and convenient way to keep you warm in your home without having to turn on your central heating system. The thermostat allows you to set the desired temperature and maintains it by automatically turning the heater on and off as needed.
By using a portable electric heater, you can heat individual rooms or areas of your home as needed, without having to heat the entire house. This can be more energy-efficient and cost-effective compared to turning on the central heating system, which heats the entire house regardless of whether all rooms are being used.
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