Winter is fast approaching, and with it comes the challenges of getting through cold weather, frosty windows, freezing locks, cold beds and, for some, snow. Often, when bad weather hits, you have to get up early to deal with the unpleasant consequences, giving your day a rough start.
Rather than feeling like you’re just responding to what winter sends your way, you can actually get ahead. Below are 14 great winter survival hacks that can take the sting out of inclement weather.
1. Go solar. In a “green earth” world, nothing is friendlier than to use solar. Use the sun to your advantage during the winter. Open your curtains and let the sunshine in to heat your home.
2. Face east. Here’s another “green” solution. If you have the ability to park your car so that it faces east in the morning, you can let the sun do the work of defrosting your windshield as it rises.
3. Reverse your fan. People seem to think that fans are only good for summertime use, but what they don’t understand is that fans simply circulate the air. During the winter, reverse the direction of ceiling fans so that hot air (which rises) is pushed back down to the floor, keeping a room toasty warm.
4. Pre-warm your bed. If you’re cold or your house is cold, then take the time to warm your bed before climbing in. Use either a hot water bottle or an electric blanket to take the chill off your bed.
5. Create a hand warmer. Create your own hand warmer by using two Ziploc bags and some sidewalk salt. Place the sidewalk salt in one bag and water into a smaller bag inside the salt. When you need a warmer, simply pop the inner water bag and shake. If you have a microwave handy, a DIY hand warmer is easy. Just put rice in a sock and microwave it.
6. Defog your windshield. Nothing is more frustrating than having to wait for your windshield to defrost. Spray shaving cream on the inside of your windshield and wipe it off. This is supposed to keep it from fogging on cold mornings.
CLICK NEXT PAGE BELOW TO CONTINUE READING …