Winter Tips You Won't Want To Miss!

Car Help:

  • Now that you live off-campus and potentially have a car, here is something you should definitely know how to do, or at least have saved somewhere in your phone in case of emergency: How to jump start a car. You’re welcome.

  • Since you’re probably in a rush every time you leave the house because your bed is extra comfy and extra hard to get out of when it’s negative whatever degrees out, try covering your windshield with a towel overnight to prevent that inch thick layer of frost and ice forming and slowing you down. If you don’t want to torture your favorite towel, there are other defrosting methods proved by science to be the quickest. Or just bring a glass of lukewarm water out to your car with you to pour on your frozen windshield and melt the frost in no time.

 

Homes & Heat:

  1. If you have a radiator, tape tin foil to the wall behind it to prevent all of your heat from escaping into the wall. Similarly, if you have wall or floor vents, make sure they are not covered by carpet or furniture.

  2. Space heaters can be a safety hazard and should be used with caution. Space Heater Recommendations can help you use them safely and efficiently.

“Portable space heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything potentially flammable. Never leave space heaters on when you leave home or go to bed. Because it is expensive, inefficient, and dangerous to heat with space heaters, many landlords specifically forbid their use. Instead, turn up the furnace thermostat (or ask your landlord to do so) and dress appropriately for the weather.”
- What Renters Should Know About Fire Safety

  1. Next time you’re at Walmart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, or confirming an Amazon Prime order, make sure to grab a door sealer. These are only $5-$10 and can stop the draft from sneaking in through your front door. Also, if it’s a REALLY old door with an open keyhole, plug it up with some cloth. (You can also get a pattern/stylish doorstopper on Etsy). If the cold weather has you feeling extra lazy, grab an extra blanket or towel to close the gap between the door and the floor.

  2. Your biggest enemy against the cold, especially in older student houses, is the windows. Window seals are $5-$10 at Home Depot, Walmart, or Target and $5 on Amazon. Another way to keep the cold out is to replace your blinds with some heavy duty curtains, or even layer up your current curtains. Thermal heat trapping curtains are only $10-$15 dollars at Target and can be found here! (Pro Trip: keep your curtains and blinds open during the day to allow the sunlight to heat your room, then close them at night to keep the heat trapped in).

 

Contributed By: Olivia Soja