Keeping warm?

[Slatterna]

Any ideas on keeping warm in the event of power cuts?

My flat is very old and cold anyway even with heating on! Usually I have a small electric fire going.

I have a real fireplace but have never used it and don't feel brave enough to try. Is there anything I can do with candles to increase heat? I bought a merino top recently and it's quite cosy but looking for other options. Thanks.

[Bluebell9]

Thick socks and blankets.
Do you have gas? You can heat up water for a hot water bottle.

[Slatterna]

Yes I do have gas. But I've read that some appliances require electricity as well in order for the gas to work?! Not sure if mine is like that or not or how to check...

[BlackeyedGruesome]

hat
fleece lined curtains,
scarf,
wrist warmers,
stuff the gaps in windows with either proper draught excluders or bits of kitcehn roll or twisted newspapers.
make draught excluders for the bottom of the doors from old tights, stuffed with other old clothes etc. or a towel folded along the bottom.
lots of layers,
lots of blankets on sofas,
rugs on the floor, you can make tshirt yarn and crochet or plait into rugs.
hand warmers to wram up toes and fingers.
slippers
there is a thread somewhere detailing lots of ideas to keep warm, it might be in classics.
wear more than one layer on your legs. (merino base layer/ordinary base layer or both )
keep moving

[whymewhyme]

Power cuts?

[IsabelleSE19]

I was in a museum at the weekend with an exhibit about Anderson shelters in WW2, and there was a public information film that recommended putting a candle inside two flowerpots put together. The cheery RP voiceover said it was all the family would need to heat the shelter in winter. No idea if that would work!

[BlackeyedGruesome]

My living room is significantly warmer when the computer is running. It does not take my to make a difference.

[Evidencebased]

Gas cookers usually only use electricity for ignition - just get matches.

[Evidencebased]

Gas central heating won't work without electricity.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

Lots of gas cooker ignition (all of them?) run from an AA battery on the underside of the compartment at the bottom of the cooker - have a look for it. No mains electricity needed. Boiler won't work though.

[bellinisurge]

As I've said a few times I don't envisage power cuts with a no Deal Brexit unless in NI.
I have managed to get dh it invest in the installation of a multi fuel stove but that was entirely his non-prepper idea and absolutely not anything to do with prepping .
Meanwhile back in tbe real world where people can't do that , I would make sure you keep your head throat and fingers warm. I'd also invest in hit water bottles which we have in abundance.
Wool is the best heat retainer so wool blankets if you can.
There are second hand ones on eBay that a bit of a dry clean would make fine. I randomly found a massive and very clean one in a charity shop recently for about £8. Tbe dry cleaning bill wasn't bad either.
I used to live and work in Russia so head and throat were priorities.
You can make a good insole heat retainer from a cheapo reflective camping mat /windscreen reflector cut to fit your insole/slightly inside your shoe outline size. Ideally you put it under your insole but whatever works. Reflects the heat from your foot back.

[BlackeyedGruesome]

wool blankets can be washed in the bath. (but only if you do not mind having a bath for a couple of days.)

it involves a lot of walking up and down on wool blanket. in the washing and rinsing stage. a lot of leaving it to drain with gravity and squeezing water out with feet.

It took me three wash rinse cycles to clean the blanket.

to dry the blanket, I put an airer in the bath. as the blanket is too heavy to carry, I pegged the first part of the blanket to the bottom rung of the airer, let the water drain from the first foot or so and every half an hour peg it one more rung higher so the water drains out gradually.

I left mine to drip dry over an airer standing in a builders tray but if you have outside space it could go out there once it has drained enough to carry.

[BlackeyedGruesome]

we have a builders tray that goes under the indoor sandpit.

[cloudtree]

Stay in one room if possible and heat that. If it was seriously cold and there was a power cut a real prepper tip is to sleep in a pop up tent in the warmest room. Again its about keeping the heat close to the people.

OP - Candles do make a difference to the temperature of a space. You should have a couple of tea lights in your car if you drive in very snowy conditions since that would increase the temperature of the car in the event of a breakdown.

I would investigate your fireplace further though. Why wouldn't you use it if you have it? Do you have your chimney blocked up at the moment?

[bellinisurge]

If you have a fireplace, op, get a chimney sweep to check it out. Get a cheap but good fire guard off eBay if you are looking to have an open fire. Use only smokeless fuel (like specialist coal or proper kiln dried wood) for it.
I have a fire blanket and a carbon monoxide alarm near my multifuel stove.

[WatcherOfTheNight]

I saw the flower pot heaters on the film I Daniel Blake a few weeks ago ,looks a good idea .

[bellinisurge]

I have the stuff to make a flower pot heater. It is for a small space so, if you use them, remember that. There are various mods and ideas for using them available on YouTube.
Please make sure you have fire safety as a priority if you do use them.

[EyesUnderARock]

We use cot quilt duvets instead of blankets, up to 9 tog, neat and very cozy if you are sitting on the sofa and don’t want to heat the rest of the house.

[lubeybooby]

just use the fireplace - check smoke goes up the chimney with a folded and lit piece of paper and if all is well, get a fireguard

[DoodleLab]

Wool blankets - I've just chucked them in the washing machine on the easy care cycle and they've been fine. Disclaimer - they're ancient ones that my mum bought for me to go to guide camp in the mid 80's of no other worth than their warmth utility.

Clothes - woolly hat, snood and fingerless gloves around the house. I usually do this anyway to keep the CH a bit lower and save money Thermal vest... I have an M&S one (but from charity shop) with a slightly fleecy inner side that makes it much cosier than my ones bought from Primark. Two pairs of socks (no more, as the constriction cancels out the air layer that keeps you warm).

Be super careful with the flower pot candle warmer. I think I read on here it's strongly disadvised by the fire service. Don't use if you have boisterous kids/pets. Have an extinguisher/fire blanket/sand bucket to hand.

[ElyElyOy]

I think a proper chimney sweep needs to clean and check any chimney/stove/burner before use: people shouldn’t just test it with a piece of lit paper.

Flower pot heaters are ok if they are done safely (and lots of people use them already in the UK). There is a tutorial on Budget 101 which is quite comprehensive.

With any fire/candle use it’s important to have CO monitors, smoke alarms, and use them safely (preferably with an appropriate fire extinguisher and a safe way to dispose of any embers/burners).

[CarolinePooter]

My feet and lower legs are always chilly, so knee length socks are lovely in cold weather. I have made some cosy calf warmers to wear under my trousers too. I cut the sleeves off an old cashmere jumper and elasticated the non-ribbed ends. I always save old jumpers if they feel nice, you can make all sorts with them. Also, re layering, I wear two vests rather than one. I remember the liberty bodices from my childhood...they were a great idea!

[BlackeyedGruesome]

ooh caroline, I have two cardis that are more hole than wool. I was going to unravel one to mend the other. (they are only part of the base layer and never normally see the light of day. ) I shall use the sleeves of one to make leg warmers!

how 80s!

tents in warmest room sounds very aspie friendly.

if you are all together in a room as well it helps. more than one body giving off heat.

[aethelgifu]

Flower pot heaters are ok if they are done safely (and lots of people use them already in the UK). There is a tutorial on Budget 101 which is quite comprehensive.

This! I use them often. But only on the big dining table and I put old roof slates under them. And of course I'm always in the room when I use them.

[CarolinePooter]

Good luck blackeyed, of course do a quick try-on before you wield the scissors if in any doubt about fit! I've also made wrist warmers out of skinny wool sleeves. Honestly, I just hate wasting things!

[OVAgroundWOMBlingfree]

When cold I pin Ikea fleece blankets to the lining of my curtains. They are dirt cheap and really help retain heat in the room.