From TikTok hacks to eating Suet Pudding, an expert weighs in on hacks to help keep your home warm during these freezing temperatures.
As temperatures plummet across the country, the Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow and ice.
Nick Drewe, a trends expert at the online discount platform Wethrift, has shared winter-warming tips, including viral TikTok hacks to help Brits stay warm while saving money on their energy bills.
Radiator Maintenance
Maintaining your radiators is essential to ensure they are functioning as efficiently as possible – especially important when energy prices are high. Radiators that don’t heat efficiently require more energy to maintain the desired temperature, and a simple way to ensure their longevity is through regular cleaning and bleeding.
You should bleed your radiators at least once a year, ideally before winter, but it is also perfectly fine to do it now.
Additionally, you should bleed them if you hear strange noises when they are in use, such as squeaking or gurgling.
To bleed a radiator, ensure it is turned off. Place a bucket and towel underneath the bleed valve, then, using a radiator key or screwdriver, open the valve to allow the air to escape.
You will hear a hissing sound, but once it stops and water begins to flow, close the valve. Your radiator is now bled, and you should repeat on all radiators in your home.
It is also important to clean the exterior of the radiator, as well as any gaps where dust or even sludge can accumulate.
Radiator Foil
Radiator foil is an excellent way to maximise heat efficiency, as it works by reflecting heat back into the room.
Radiator foil is a cost-effective investment, sold in rolls that can be cut to size and then attached behind the radiator. Many varieties come with self-adhesive tabs, making this a quick and easy DIY task.
According to this TikTok video, kitchen foil can also be used as a lower-cost alternative, although it lacks the padding that radiator foil provides. Regardless, using foil is an effective way to ensure heat doesn’t escape through external walls, allowing you to reduce your heating usage.
Residual Oven Heat
According to this TikTok tip, when you’ve finished using your oven, turn it off but leave the door open.
The residual heat from the oven can warm up the kitchen, and if the curtains and windows are shut, the warmth can gradually spread throughout your home.
Draught Proofing
Although draught proofing may sound like an expensive job, it is, in fact, a quick and affordable way to fix any draughts coming through windows or doors.
Draught-proofing materials can be purchased at hardware stores, and six metres of draught-proofing strips are available on Amazon for as little as £4.99.
All you need to do is measure and cut the strips to size, then apply them using the pre-installed adhesive to door or window frames. This ensures no cold air enters your home and prevents any heat from escaping.
Curtains and Blinds
Closing curtains and blinds during winter is an effective and simple way to help keep your home warm. When closed, they act as an additional layer of insulation, trapping warm air inside the room and preventing heat from escaping through the windows – especially at night.
Keeping them closed also helps block cold drafts that may come from poorly insulated or leaky windows.
On sunny winter days, you can keep your curtains and blinds open to let the sunlight warm your home. Once the sun sets, close them to trap the warmth inside.
Bubble Wrap
TikTok influencer Ann Russel suggests using bubble wrap to help insulate windows. She recommends opening all the windows to ventilate your home and allow the windows to dry out. Then, apply bubble wrap to the windows to prevent cold air from entering.
She also suggests that there should be one heat source in the room, such as a radiator or a small fan heater.
Interestingly, she also recommends eating warm food, such as suet pudding, as this will warm you from the inside out.
Thermal Pet Mats
Most importantly, for any four-legged family members, consider investing in a thermal mat. These mats are relatively inexpensive and will keep your pets warm during the winter months.
A thermal pet mat or self-warming pet bed uses the animal’s own body heat to create additional warmth and comfort. It works by using a layer of reflective foil material that reflects the pet’s body heat and retains it with the insulating layer.
