Even if you don’t like winter, you have to admit that there’s something relaxing about the colder months. When we think of winter, we think of hot chocolate, thick blankets and campfires. There’s nothing more appealing than that. Of course, winter is also a time of high energy and electricity bills. Winter can also take a toll on your home, especially if you live in an area that gets a lot of snowfall. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to save money while keeping your home comfortable.
Keep your garage dry and tidy
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, it goes without saying how difficult it can be to keep your garage clean and dry. Even if you don’t live in an area with a lot of snow, winter rains can wreak havoc on your driveway. However, there is a very simple DIY solution to keep your garage floor clean. All you need is a pool noodle and a tarp or cloth.
Simply lay the mat or cloth on the floor and place the pool noodle on the edge under the mat. Once the car is parked on the mat, the melted snow and mud will fall onto the mat and the floor will be as clean as it was before you put the car in.
Insulate your doors.
No matter how you heat your home, there’s a chance that some or most of the heat will escape from under your doors. To solve this problem and save money on your electric bill, you can use the pool noodle as insulation. Simply cut an opening in the length of the pool noodle. Then, slide the noodle vertically under the door, which should stop some of the comfortable heat from escaping.
This also acts as a doorstop to some extent. However, there should be a small gap under the door to allow the noodle to slide.
To avoid slipping on icy sidewalks
Why can penguins walk on ice? One reason is their webbed feet, but there is actually a bigger reason hidden in the way they walk. Penguins stand on their toes and walk with their arms (wings) outstretched. If you’ve ever seen someone trying to recover from a slip and fall, they’ll extend their arms in the same way.
The next time you walk down an icy sidewalk, try walking like a penguin. If anyone asks, just say you walk like a penguin and you won’t slip and fall.
DIY fire starter.
Duct tape is one of the most versatile items you can have in your home. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that duct tape can be used as a fire starter. To be honest, this came as a surprise to us. But the next time you want to start a fire in your backyard, fireplace or camping, why not roll up some duct tape and use it as a fire starter?
Duct tape is highly flammable, so it will catch fire quickly, plus you’ll have plenty of time to throw branches to keep the fire going.
Use a fan to keep warm.
Not many people know that fans have a reverse rotation setting. And even fewer people know why. The reason is simple. When the fan blades are turned in opposite directions, cool air is pushed upward and warm air is pushed back downward. This saves you money on your electric bill because you don’t have to use the heater and the floor is warmer.
Of course, if you’re still wearing the warm slippers you bought last Christmas, by all means do so. But if you prefer to walk barefoot or in socks, this DIY solution will save you.
Make good use of the sun
This DIY method may sound counterintuitive, but you’ll have a similar experience. Keeping your windows open on sunny winter days will help keep your home warmer. If you’ve ever felt warm in the winter while standing or basking in the sun, you might be interested in this hack. The heat from the sun’s rays will keep your home warm whether it’s cold outside or not.
However, if it’s really cold outside and there’s not much sunlight, this may not be the best solution. It’s also a good idea to close your windows at night to keep warm air inside.
Insulate your garage
If you’ve ever stepped into a garage in the winter, you know that it can feel like a freezer in the winter. While most houses are insulated to keep the air warm during the winter, this is not usually the case with garages. This leaves one of the largest rooms in the house uninsulated and leaking warm air. So, to solve this problem, try insulating your garage door this winter.
If you step on your garage floor without shoes, you won’t get frostbite, and you’ll save money on your heating and electric bills.
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