With colder weatherright around the corner, it’s about that time to start wearing morelayers and turning up the heat. But when the temperature starts todrop below zero, it can be hard to stay warm no matter how manyscarves and coats you wear – unless you really crank up thethermostat which can leave you with gargantuan electric bills. So forthe best ways to heat things up, and not spend a fortune doing so,check out these 9 hacks to stay warm this fall.
Plant pot roomheater.
Put a dish on aheat-proof mat, then place candles on the dish. Place a grill overit, with a plant pot on top, with a penny over the hole to closeventilation. You’ve just made your own DIY room heater.
Reverse ceilingfan.
Warm air rises, sorunning your ceiling fan in the normal direction will only keep warmair near the ceiling. Switch your ceiling fan in reverse to forcemore warm air towards the ground.
Heavier curtains.
If you have thincurtains during the warmer months, it’s a great investment to getheavier wool or fleece drapes as it gets colder outside. This willbetter insulate your windows, letting less cold air in from outside.
Baking party.
Not only will bakingmake for some great treats and fun, but it will warm your house too.Using your oven for a while will heat up your entire house, and sendthe warm, delicious smell of baked goods throughout.
Indoor plantcomposting.
Composting is knownfor being great for the environment and can actually be great forheating up your home as well. The breakdown of organic matter emitsheat, so a small compost in your house will work wonders for naturalwarmth.
More hydration.
Research shows thatwater retains heat. So staying hydrated is actually proven to helpyour body retain more heat, so keeping a few water bottles stocked athome or in your car is a handy way to warm up fast.
Less caffeine andnicotine.
This almost seemscounterintuitive since a nice hot cup of coffee would seemingly warmyou up. But experts are discovering that it can actually make youcolder internally. Caffeine and nicotine can cause your blood vesselsto constrict, which will limit blood flow and make you feel colder.
Pre-heatedclothing.
If you know you areabout to leave your house soon, you can actually give your body ahead start. Heat your clothes in preparation for the outdoor weatherby using an electric blanket, a hot water bottle or a hair dryer.
Thermostat icetrick.
If you live or work where the thermostat is fixed, it can be a real pain to not have control over how hot or cold you are. But you can trick your thermostat by placing ice near it. It will sense that the temperature near it has dropped, and turn on the heat in an attempt to heat up the entire room.
