Cozy and Cost-Effective Hacks to Keep You Warm All Winter Long

Whether you’re a fan of winter or not, cold weather brings its own set of challenges that we don’t have to think about in the summer season. Hot chocolate and Christmas movies are accompanied by higher electric bills and ice covering your driveway.

Most of us will agree that shoveling snow is one of the worst parts about the winter time. Interestingly, cooking spray is all you need to make this task an easy one. 

Santa doesn’t want to slide down the chimney to a floor full of soot, but more importantly, you don’t want dust and ash spread all over the place from your fireplace during the winter. Using tinfoil is a great way to make cleanup easy.

You might be wondering how eating more pasta is going to save you some grief this winter, but really it’s all about the garlic. Garlic has antioxidant properties which help boost your immune system. 

What if we told you all you needed to make your own space heaters was a glass bowl, a small candle, and a ceramic flower pot? Place the candles in a small bowl, light them, and place the ceramic pots over them.

It might sound counterintuitive to keep your windows open in the winter, but there’s a way to do it to save some money on the electric bill. If you have a sunny day, even in the winter, the sun will warm up your home the same way it warms you when you stand in it. 

Not many people are aware that the fan has a reverse setting, but you can probably guess what it does. When the fans go in the opposite direction they bring the cooler air upwards and push the warm air back down.

Whether you’re camping this winter or just ran out of lighter fluid at home, this DIY fire starting technique is easy and effective. Duct tape is actually extremely flammable and can be used to start a fire in a pinch.

Slipping on ice can be very dangerous (and not to mention very embarrassing). So, take a lesson from the penguins to avoid slipping on icy sidewalks. The penguins walk on their toes with their arms out.

The pool noodles are usually stowed away for the winter, but you can actually break these out before next summer and repurpose them to insulate your doors. Cut down the center of the noodles and slide them underneath your doors.

Another way you can repurpose your summer toys is by using the pool noodles in the garage. If you have lived in the snow, you know how messy the garage can get when the car tires track in snow that melts into a muddy slippery mess.

Anyone who has spent time cleaning up muddy shoe tracks in the house should try out this hack. Take your shoes off and wrap them in newspaper or some old sheets. This will soak up the excess water.

Those wool and cotton coats and pants are the best for keeping warm in the winter but as most of us know, they are prone to pilling and collecting fuzz. Fortunately, there’s an easy hack to get rid of the fuzz.

Cotton socks might be slightly more comfortable but believe us when we say that nothing beats good old wool! It’s the reason people have been wearing it to keep warm forever. 

As much as it might seem counterproductive to keep the windows open in winter, you should open them up every once in a while to let the air circulate. 

One of the most effective ways to scrape ice off your windshield is to not scrape it at all. Fill a ziplock bag with warm water and simply slide it back and forth on your windshield and watch the ice melt away in front of your eyes.

We are all probably familiar with snow chains on your car tires, but you can make some DIY snow chains for your bike right at home with nothing but one simple item. All you will need are some zip-ties.

We know how daunting this might sound in the winter but cold showers serve many great purposes. They’re good for your body in general because they shock it awake and have benefits for your memory.

Break out your old soccer cleats because these are a great way to make your way around in the snow. They might not be the most fashionable but they sure do give you some grip on slippery streets.

Shoveling the driveway is a huge pain in the winter. Fortunately, this hack will help you clear some of that ice in no time. Sprinkle some cat little over the pavement to provide some grip beneath your shoes. 

Hot water bags are your best friend when it gets cold in the house. They can be used for all sorts of things, not to mention they just keep you really toasty. They help with muscle soreness or upset stomachs as well.

This is something you can do to preserve the shape and form of your winter boots. Cut up some pool noodles and stuff them inside so that the boots keep their shape when they’re not being worn. 

Here’s a simple concoction that will clear some ice from your doorway. Mix together a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol and dish soap in a bucket with some warm water. Give that mixture a good stir.

If you’re sitting at home with freezing cold hands and no idea how to warm them up, we’ve got you! All you need is a pair of socks you don’t mind taking a pair of scissors to. Don’t worry! You’ll still be able to wear the socks, they will just look a little different when we’re done with them.

If you’re stepping out to walk the dog or take out the trash, it can be frustrating to have to wash the mud or snow off your shoes after each brief trip outside. 

Unfortunately, if your heater is facing away from the room then most of the heat is going towards the wall and you’re losing most of it! However, aluminum foil can act as a great conductor for heat to bring it back into the room. 

Most of us can expect to get at least one cold every winter, and probably more than once if you have kids. But, there are a few things you can do to set yourself up for a successful and healthy winter season.

Scraping the ice off your car windows is a time consuming endeavor. And, it can be quite a workout in the cold weather! Use window covers instead to avoid this grueling process.

Calcium chloride might sound a little scary but it’s nothing to shy away from. This is actually an easy way to keep your hands warm. 

If you’ve ever fallen victim to the windshield wipers sticking to the window you know how frustrating it can be on a cold day! Use some long socks to prevent this from happening and wasting your time.