Adelaide has had a very chilly start to winter this year with a sudden cold snap that has seen torrential rain and flooding in many parts of the city.
With the temperature plummeting to the low teens, now is a perfect time to think about staying warm over the colder months. What can you do around your home to keep the cold out? What are some things you can do personally to stay cosy? And what can you do to help others fight off the winter weather?
1. Let's start with your home.
There are plenty of ways to keep your home warm. A few simple things will have your home warm all winter.
Heating: Whatever heating you have in your home, make sure it's working to optimum performance. Have your heater regularly serviced if you don't already. Turning the temperature to a comfortable level (around 20℃) will have your heater running more efficiently and save you money on your energy bills. If you can, heat only the sections of the house you're using. And, finally, switching it off when you go to bed will mean you'll feel safer and save money.
Draughts: Stop all that lovely warm air escaping by sealing the bottom of your doors with door seals or snakes. If you've got any visible cracks, seal them up as well. Draughty windows can be covered up at night with curtains or blinds. Remembe r to close off any rooms that aren't being used.
Insulate: Your home can lose as much as 35% of its heat through your ceiling, so make sure your house is properly insulated with quality insulation. The added bonus is that it will save you hundreds on your heating bills and help keep your home cool in summer.
Rugs: If you've got polished concrete, hardwood, or tile flooring throughout your living areas, an effective way to keep the cold away from warm tootsies is to put down rugs and runners. And if you haven't already, consider laying carpet in your bedrooms.
Let the sunshine in: On those rare days you get some lovely winter sunshine, throw open the curtains and invite the winter sun into your home. There may even be a bit of a warm breeze as well to wash away the stale air. Just don't forget to close up again at night.
Reverse your ceiling fans: We all know hot air rises, so a simple but effective tip to keep the heat closer to ground level is to reverse your ceiling fans. To create a breeze in summer, most ceiling fans spin in an anti-clockwise direction. Switching it to clockwise at low speed will push the warm air towards the ground in winter.
Open the oven: Got a roast in the oven that's been cooking for a few hours? When you're done and the family is settled around the dining table, open the oven and let the heat fill the room.
2. Still feeling the cold?
The house is sorted, but there may be times when you're just not warm enough. Here are a few things you can do to keep your body warm.
Layer up: Your Mum was right. If you're cold, put a jumper on! You might want to add thick woolly socks and slippers and even wrap yourself in a blanket. A hat, coat, scarf, and gloves will keep the cold away if you're heading outside.
Cold feet? Put a hat on: Common sense this one. Insulating your head by wearing a beanie or a warm hat means more blood flow to the rest of your body, especially your extremities. Ergo, warm head, warm feet.
Throws, blankets and Oodies: Make sure to have snug blankets on hand for the living room and get the whole family inside before shutting the doors and cranking the heat. Staying warm can be an excellent excuse for a bit of family time. Want to get even warmer and support a South Aussie company? Get yourself an Oodie and wallow in cosy sherpa fleece. Check out the Oodie here.
Warm up your bed: Electric blankets are great for heating your bed. Just remembers to turn them off before you go to sleep. You can also swap your cotton sheets for flannelette and use hot water bottles or heater packs to keep you toasty as you sleep.
Get active: An easy way to heat up is to get the blood pumping with some cardio. Try going for a brisk walk, run, or a bike ride. How about a virtual Pilates class, gym session, dancing, or if you're really keen, cleaning the house. Any exercise will have you working up a sweat in no time.
Soups on: What better way to warm up than with a big bowl of hearty soup. Think thick minestrone, pumpkin, chicken or whatever your favourite soup is accompanied by just-out-the-oven crusty bread. Colder weather also means your body is burning extra carbs to stay warm. Load up on complex carbs like brown rice, whole wheat, beans, potatoes, legumes and more to stave off the winter hangries
3. Helping others stay warm
You may be warm, but there are others who are less fortunate. Many charities around Adelaide help the needy and homeless. You can help by donating any blankets and warm clothes, food, and your time to these incredible charities. There are also organisations where you can volunteer to cook (Meals on Wheels, Cook for a Cause) and cafés where you can 'Pay it Forward' and help provide a meal or hot drink for those less fortunate.
We also urge you to check in with any elderly neighbours who may be feeling the cold. Invite them in for a hot cuppa or a hearty bowl of soup and make sure they're comfortable and have what they need to fend off the cold.
At McGrath Real Estate, our office is warm and dry, and we love getting winter woollies on at every opportunity during winter. If you're feeling the cold, drop in and warm up.
Phone our office on 8350 4200, drop into 42 Brighton Road, Glenelg, or visit us online at mcgrathgroup.com.au.