Winter’s Coming: The Best Hacks To Know For The Season

There are many things to do to prepare for the winter season. It’s a time when people are gathered together and ready to get into the holiday spirit. Even though the weather varies depending on where you live it can still be one of the harshest seasons of the year.

If the idea of preparing for winter seems too intense you no longer need to worry. These are some of the best winter hacks that deal with staying warm, weatherproofing, and more. Winter will have no idea what hit it.

It’s Time To Break Out The Bubble Wrap

bubble wrap covering a window

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One of the main ways people lose heat in their homes is from insufficient window ventilation. If the windows aren’t installed properly and there are gaps between the frames and glass, cold air can seep through. Instead of replacing all your windows you can turn to bubble wrap.

By attaching bubble wrap over all the edges of your windows it can keep the warm, heated air inside your house. Bubble wrap will trap the cold air pockets, while still allowing all the outside light to shine through the glass.

Change The Direction Of Your Ceiling Fan

a ceiling fan with a bear and forest design

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Fans aren’t just for cooling off from hot weather, but they also have the capability of heating a room. Most ceiling fans can spin both clockwise and counter-clockwise, which can be changed either manually or from a remote.

They should spin counter-clockwise in the warmer months because that creates a cool breeze, whereas they should go clockwise in the colder months because that pushes warm air into the room. It’s probably a good idea to invest in one because they can be used all year round.

Use A Straw To Melt Ice In Your Keyhole

Blue straws sit in a cup.

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Your keyhole is a very small cavity but is really inconvenient to have frozen over. If you have a straw, by blowing into the cavity you can slowly melt the ice away until you can get your key in to unlock the door.

This hack won’t get your door open in 30 seconds but is faster than waiting for the sun to come up. The bigger straw you have the better so that you can cover more space.

Make Your Own Space Heater

a flower pot covering tea lights on a wooden holder

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It’s important to stay warm during the winter because loss of body heat can contribute to several issues. According to Healthline, being in cold weather inhibits the ability of mucus and nasal hairs to work disease agents out of your nose. It can also trigger the harsher symptoms of asthma and other upper respiratory problems.

One quick and easy way to bring a little heat to your home is to create a personalized space heater. All you need is a flower pot and some tea candles to put underneath.

Tube Socks Have Come Back In Style For Winter

tube socks over the windshield wipers of a wet car

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It can be severely dangerous trying to navigate the roads during winter. When roads are icy and snow is coming down it can increase the risk of losing control of a vehicle and road accidents. One way to make it a little easier may be found in your sock drawer.

Putting a pair of tube socks over your windshield wipers will protect them from the ice and snow. It also helps to have a rubber band or clothespins to secure them to the wipers.

Don’t Let Your Car Windows Freeze

a spray bottle next to a green car window

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When a car is parked for an extended period of time in cold weather the water vapor condenses on the glass. This causes the window to cool very quickly and form frost and ice, which can lead to cracking. Luckily, there’s a simple solution that can prevent this from happening.

All you need is to mix some vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle. The mixture can either be sprayed on the already icy window or prevent it from forming ice in the first place.

Your Pipes Won’t Burst After Doing This

a technician working under a kitchen cabinet

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This one may seem a bit strange, but it can actually save people a lot of time and money in the long run. It’s recommended to leave your cabinet doors ajar, especially the ones with under-the-sink units and pipes inside.

This will allow warm air to circulate and prevent your pipes from freezing. When water freezes it expands, so if the water in your pipes drops below 32 degrees it can cause them to burst.

Here Comes The Sun

a woman opening blinds in her room

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The sun may not shine as bright during the winter, but it still should be utilized for the whole year. During the day people should open their blinds, drapes, curtains, and whatever else is covering their windows to let the sunshine in.

The energy from the sun will heat up the house, so people won’t need to waste money or unnecessary power from their heaters. This should be the opposite at night. Close up your windows when the sun goes down to hold the heat in.

Shave The Fuzz Away

a disposable razer getting the fuzz off a sweater

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Sweaters are a staple of the winter wardrobe, but they can start to deteriorate over time. Instead of buying more than you need or throwing away ones that look a bit worn down, try this quick fix. All you need is a disposable razor.

Running a razor over the areas that have fluff or fuzz will easily scrape it away. This also works well for knitwear including gloves, hats, scarves, and socks. If a kid is doing this try to make sure they have some kind of adult supervision.

Say Goodbye To Cold Drafts

a striped door draft stopper under a door

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Cold air has its way of creeping in through any open cracks in doors and windows. In order for them to close all the way there needs to be a little extra space, but that can also lead to feeling a cold breeze during the winter.

Door draft stoppers or draft snakes are perfect for fixing this problem. They can either be bought or turned into a DIY craft. In order to do it yourself, all you need to do is roll up mats, rugs, socks, or anything else soft that can fit under a door and put it where the air leaks out.

Don’t Waste Energy With Your Thermostat

a woman using a thermostat attached to the wall

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Running a thermostat in your home can lead to a high energy bill. While some may feel the need to turn their thermostat up high during the colder months, it doesn’t need to be that way throughout the season. People with thermostats should know that there are certain instances when they should be turned on.

If you are away from your home for a long period of time or going to sleep make sure to turn the thermostat down. This will save you money and won’t use up unneeded energy. There are plenty of programmable and green thermostats that can help with this.

A Simple Trick For Gaining Tire Traction

a red car piled under a lot of snow

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The snow can give people a massive headache because it’s one of the toughest weather conditions for driving. Some cars without the right tire protection can easily get stuck, but there are some inventive ways to gain traction in the snow that won’t damage your tires.

Sprinkling kitty litter or sand in front of the drive tires, or behind if you’re backing out, allows the tires to tread on the road. Some other things that can help the tires gain traction are cardboard, plywood, or vehicle floor mats. It’s crucial that people don’t use antifreeze because it’s toxic.

Walk Like A Penguin

two penguins standing on some pebbles

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Penguins are commonly associated with winter, so it seems like a good idea to try some of their winter survival techniques. They have a special way of walking to prevent themselves from slipping on the ice, which is something that can happen to humans during the winter as well.

In order to safely walk on the ice, people should walk like penguins by pointing their feet out, holding their arms near their sides, shuffling, and taking short steps. Whenever you have to walk on ice make sure you’re wearing gloves, use a backpack, stay on a designated walkway, wear footwear meant for traction, and be cautious when entering and exiting vehicles.

Keep Your Feet Warm

wool cut out to put inside shoe insoles with a pair of metal scissors

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Walking through the ice and snow can do some damage on your feet if you’re not careful. It’s usually best to wear protective shoes or boots that are weatherproof, but insoles can also make a big difference. When felt or wool is placed over insoles it can keep your feet warm for hours.

These insoles can make any pair of shoes feel like comfy slippers on the inside. These can either be bought or if you’re thrifty enough you can make your own with some fabric, scissors, and an adhesive.

The Perfect WD-40 Hack

wd-40 being sprayed on pipes

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WD-40 is one of the most popular brands of oil and water-based lubricant. There are numerous uses for WD-40 and many are extremely helpful during the winter. The cold weather can lead to household pipes freezing and possibly bursting open.

By applying a generous coat of WD-40 to the outside and joints of the pipes and taps it can prevent them from erupting. It also has the capability of defrosting the stuck taps to become loose.

Cover Up With An Electric Blanket

a woman under an electric blanket in bed

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Heating a home can sometimes cost a lot of money and use up energy, but there are various cheap fixes that will keep you feeling warm all winter long. Investing in an electric blanket may be the perfect solution to either save money or be used as a replacement if you don’t have a central heating system.

The price varies on them, but people should consider getting ones that have timers. In some cases, the electric blankets will overheat and could start a fire or harm the person using it. With an automatic timer, the blanket will cool down after a certain period of time.

An Unusual Place To Store Food

three chili peppers halfway buried under the snow

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A strong winter storm can knock the power out of many areas, so it’s best to know how to utilize your resources when that happens. One of the most important things to have when the power goes out is extra food, but if it’s stored in the refrigerator or freezer it can go bad quickly.

Those who live in places where it snows can use that as a hack for storing food. If you place the refrigerated or frozen food in a cooler or container and bury it under the snow it can prevent the food from perishing.

Dry Your Shoes The Right Way

wet shoes filled with newspaper on a wood floor

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The harsh weather conditions during the winter can leave your shoes completely soaked. Since it’s colder this also means that they will take a lot longer to dry. Some suggest throwing them in the dryer, but that doesn’t always work. The dryer can shrink or damage the shoes and it also uses up a lot of energy.

A quick tip that practically costs nothing is to soak up all the water with newspaper. You can crinkle it up and place it inside or wrap it around the top of the shoes.