It’s no secret that home heating costs are rising, and many people are trying different ways to stay warm.
A wise woman shares the best tricks for renters who don’t have double-glazed windows and want to keep the cold air out.
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This trick is perfect for cold weather and doesn’t cost much Credit: Instagram/jenlishfixitchicks and electrifycanberra
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Bubble wrap acts like another layer of glass on a window to retain heat Credit: Instagram/jenlishfixitchicks and electrifycanberra
There’s no need to buy expensive products either. All you need is some good old bubble wrap.
Jen took to Instagram to share her tips and show how to make things renter-friendly, surprising other DIY fans.
All you need to do is buy a roll of bubble wrap. You can buy a large roll, big enough to cover most windows in your home, for £8.49 from Amazon. Alternatively, you can simply use the windows you already have. You can get it from the package and it won’t cost you a penny.
Cut a piece of bubble wrap to fit the window pane and use tape to stick it on, or make the most of Jen’s rental tips.
“I don’t know if I want to leave it like this, so in this case I just use a wet cloth or a spray bottle[of water],” she explained.
Attach the black flat side of the bubble wrap to the glass and the bubble wrap should stick to the glass.
However, if you use tape, make sure the air bubbles are facing outward, the DIY guru added.
After the window was completely covered with bubble wrap, Jen shared an update from Isaac of the bedroom where the window was located.
“I woke up in the morning and my nose was hot!!” And the whole house took away its cool edge! It was really amazing,” he told Jen.
I tried drying clothes using Aldi’s warm air dryer.
The video caught the attention of other DIYers, one of whom revealed that he had also used the hack in his old house.
“I did this in an apartment I rented in 2017,” they wrote.
“Two issues with large windows have been resolved: privacy and window condensation.
“Mold no longer grows around the frame, and we have seen a big change due to the temperature.We now have plenty of light and privacy.Now that our rental contract has ended, we have to remove it and pack it up for moving. I used it to wrap.
Another person also liked the hack, commenting on the clip: “I tried this in my glass greenhouse and it worked great.”
“I do this every winter since the bed in my kids room is near a window. It really works,” wrote another.
Another person chimed in and said, “I did this and all the condensation stopped during the winter. It was great!”
Other techniques to keep your home warm
Real estate expert Joshua Huston previously shared tips for keeping your home warm on a budget this winter.
1. Curtains
“Windows are easy places for cold air from outside to enter your home. Close the curtains as soon as it gets dark, as air can come in through small gaps,” he said.
This simple method can provide a kind of “insulation” between the window and the curtains, thus increasing the warmth even more.
2. Rug
“The floor is also where heat is lost in your home, making it feel colder,” he continued. “On cold days, you may find that the floor is frozen to your feet and difficult to walk on.
“Putting a rug in an area that doesn’t already have carpet creates an insulating layer between the bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check insulation
Check pipes, loft spaces, subfloor spaces, and under floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very suitable for this and is a more affordable type of insulation, with large bags available for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Please keep interior doors closed.
“Families often gather in the same room in the evening, usually in the kitchen or living room,” Joshua says.
“This means you can only heat a small area of your home, and closing the door prevents heat from entering and cold from entering.”
5. Block Draft
Don’t forget to check your cat flap, chimney, and mailbox, as cold air can get in if they aren’t securely secured.
5 tips to save money this fall/winter
1. Protect your home from drafts
Heating your home takes time and money, so it’s important to keep it as warm as possible. Close doors and windows and fill any gaps with draft suppressant.
2. Turn down the thermostat dial
According to Energy UK, lowering your thermostat temperature by just 1°C can cut your heating bills by up to 10%, saving you around £85 a year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save you up to £70 a year.
3. Move furniture
Check if large, bulky furniture, such as a sofa, is blocking the radiator.
4. Wash clothes at low temperature and also dehydrate.
Unless it’s bedding, towels, or something very dirty, reduce the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees and rotate twice to remove excess water.
5. Warm people, not homes
Be careful which radiators are turned on, as there is no point in heating a room where no one is sitting.
