Brilliant Wintertime Hacks That Will Keep You Warm and Cozy Until Spring

Originally published on our site toppoptoday.com

Winter is a truly magical and festive season, but all the holiday cheer and fun don’t change the fact it can also be extremely freezing and bleak. Some people have a hard time handling all the issues winter brings along, but most of those can be overcome.

Icy roads, cold homes, and wet feet are only some of the many wintertime struggles we all have to deal with, but it’s time to figure out an easy way to beat them. Make your life easier with some of the most useful winter hacks, and it may just become your favorite season!

Reverse Ceiling Fan

Do you have a ceiling fan at your house? If the answer is yes, winter is the best possible time to put it to some good use. You can keep your room nice and cozy without turning up the thermostat, as long as you use the “reverse” setting.

This is a great way to warm up a room a little bit, since the fan can send warm air to the floor level if it’s going clockwise. Ceiling fans are also super cheap to use, so you may end up saving some money along the way.

Proper Parking

Parking is a nightmare for many drivers, and things tend to get even trickier during cold winter months. No parking space is safe when it’s snowing outside – not even the one in your own driveway.

We can all think of a Christmas movie showing a person struggling to deal with a snow-covered car – it’s a mess. But you can avoid it by parking the car facing east, so the ice and snow on your windshield and around your car would be exposed to sunlight and melt faster.

Hot Water Bottles

Staying warm during the long winter nights is quite a task, and covering yourself with tons of blankets isn’t always the best idea as they can easily drop on the floor during the night. However, most people don’t want to bother with electric blankets.

If you fall under this category, you can always use a hot water bottle to keep you nice and warm. Boil some hot water, pour it in, and you’ll be surprised to learn it’s still warm once you wake up.

Sunshine Hours

Winter can take a toll on your emotional wellbeing, since it’s the gloomiest of all seasons. That’s why being exposed to a little bit of sunshine can make all the difference, and boost our mood in a significant way.

Even if you can’t afford a holiday at a tropical island during your winter break, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying every minute of sunshine you can get. If you’re working nine to five, use your lunch breaks to step aside, and check the weather forecast on the weekends to figure out the right time to take a walk.

Protect Your Socks

Keeping your feet warm and dry doesn’t come easy in winter. Investing some extra money into warm waterproof boots is always a good idea, but even they’re not immune to a little bit of moisture.

There are many different ways to protect your feet from the snow and the rain and wearing a double layer of socks is a good place to start. You can also get an extra layer of insulation by covering your socks with plastic wrap, sandwich bags, shower cap or something similar.

Wipers Cover

Taking care of your vehicle gets even more difficult in the winter, since it’s exposed to all kinds of dangers you don’t have to worry about for the rest of the year. Dealing with wiper blades stuck to your windshield is one of the biggest annoyances of every car owner.

This problem can be avoided, as long as you act on it every time a weatherman predicts a snowstorm or a deep freeze. Cover your windshield wipers with old socks, and just take them off the next morning once the storm had passed.

Wool Insoles

Everyone gets cold feet in the winter, and not just metaphorically speaking. No matter how warm your boots are, an extra layer of protection always comes in handy, but some people find wearing an extra pair of socks too uncomfortable.

If you’re one of them, but still want to feel warm when it’s snowing outside, give wool insoles a try.

They can be easily bought online, but you can get a little bit creative and make your own to pass all that time you’re spending indoors.

Side Mirror Hack

Windshield wipers aren’t the only part of your car that requires extra attention in the winter. Your side mirrors are also extremely susceptible to ice, and you should look for a way to keep them from harm.

The same trick used to protect your socks from getting wet works here as well. Grab a pair of plastic or sandwich bags, and use them to cover your rearview mirrors so you wouldn’t waste time scarping the ice off of them in the morning.

Snow Shovel Power

Snow shovels are a winter essential that we all need in our household, but sometimes it may seem like they’re not getting the job done. Snow is sticking to your shovel, it takes forever to clean your driveway, and you’re running out of ideas…

We’ve all been there, and the solution to this problem comes from the most unexpected place – cooking spray!

Cooking spray is all you need to stop the sticky snow from clinging to your shovel, as long as you use enough of it.

Home Made De-Icer

There’s probably a de-icing company offering gritting and snow clearance in your area, but what if you can’t afford their services or don’t feel like waiting for them to arrive?

De-icing your sidewalk or driveway shouldn’t be a mission impossible, even if you’re left to your own devices. It’s possible to make a home-made de-icer using a couple of basic supplies you have at home: a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, a teaspoon of dish soap, and half a gallon of hot water.

Newspapers to the Rescue

We’ve already covered a couple of hacks to keep your feet warm and dry, but they won’t work every time. You still have to come up with a way to get your boots dry quickly, especially if you have a single good pair.

Leftover newspapers will do the trick, and you can absorb the extra moisture by sticking them inside your shoes. You may want to replace newspapers a couple of times if your shoes are really drenched.

Kitty Litter

Driving on snowy roads is one of the biggest nightmares every driver has to deal with in winter, because it’s difficult getting any traction on the slick ice. You can avoid getting stuck with a surprisingly easy hack that will have you planning a trip to a local pet store.

Kitty litter is a great solution to all your problems, and you should always have a bag in your trunk. Instead of simply melting snow around you, kitty litter will provide more traction for your tires thanks to its moisture-absorbing ability.

DIY Hand Warmers

Keeping your hands warm can be quite tricky, but there are many creative ways to get the job done. If you’re not a knitting expert, how would you feel about a chemistry experiment which only requires calcium chloride, water, and two sandwich bags of different sizes?

Calcium chloride should be placed inside the larger bag, while the water should be poured into the smaller one. After sealing the larger bag, start releasing water out of the small bag to mix the two materials. That will lead to a chemical reaction that causes the whole thing – and your hands while holding it – to warm up.

Dish Soap Bubbles

Low temperatures shouldn’t stop you from having some fun, but it can be pretty difficult to get your kids outside when it’s freezing cold. That’s why you should come up with an activity that will keep them entertained.

If they’re not huge fans of winter sports, blowing bubbles with dish soap might just be their thing. It may sound silly, but it’s actually pretty magical since the bubbles will end up freezing in no time and you’ll be speechless after seeing how great they look like.

Credit Card Scraper

Ice scraper is one of many things everyone should have in their car during the winter months, but how many times have you found yourself with a frozen windshield and nothing to scrape it with?

We’ve all been there, and you can solve this issue with a tiny piece of plastic hiding inside your wallet.

Credit cards can be used to de-ice your car, and if you have several, go with the one you use the least. Once you’re done, make sure to use it for its intended purpose – buying something you need, such as a real ice scraper.

Frozen Locks

Another issue every car owner face in the winter is struggling to get the car key inside a frozen lock. Once again, the solution comes from an unexpected place and it requires a single item – hand sanitizer.

It contains enough alcohol to defrost your lock, and simply pouring some of it inside should do the trick. If that doesn’t help, you can always consider using a match or a lighter to heat up your key to melt the ice.

Open Oven

Even if you’re not a huge fan of cooking, you probably like doing it in the winter since it feels so warm to be around the kitchen stove. No need to walk around the house in a sweater when your culinary adventures are keeping you cozy!

If you usually use the stove to cook your meals, consider switching it with the oven every once in a while. You can leave it open once your meal is done, and the heat coming out of it will do a great job warming up the space.

Shapeless Boots?

Boots are one of winter’s biggest fashion staples, and there’s something instantly classy and elegant about the knee-high model. Unfortunately, these boots have one major downside – it’s not that easy to keep them in a great shape.

If you want to preserve your favorite pair, but don’t feel like investing into boot racks and shaping inserts, pool noodles are all you need. Put them inside the boot when you’re not wearing them. They’ll stop your boots from slouching and keep them stylish all year long without costing an entire fortune.

Razor Magic

Buying a new coat each winter would cost a fortune, but those tiny fabric pills are so annoying and they make it seem like you’ve been wearing the same piece of clothing for an eternity. Fortunately, this problem can be solved with a single razor.

You can mend your coats, sweaters and other similar items by shaving off the pills and making them look as good as new. Just make sure to be gentle and use short strokes so you wouldn’t ruin the fabric.

Winter Cyclists

You don’t have to be a car owner to struggle in traffic during winter. Cyclists don’t have it easy during this season, either, and most riders give up riding their bike completely because the paths are too icy.

If you want to keep riding during the snowy months, it’s extremely important to keep yourself safe. One of the ways to do so is attaching zip ties to your bike tires. They will give your bike extra traction, and keep your wheels from slipping on frozen roads.

No More Draft

Pool noodles can be used for so much more than keeping your boots in a good shape. Once the winter comes and they’re no longer floating around your pool, consider using them to keep your home a little bit warmer.

By placing pool noodles underneath your door, it’ll stop the draft from coming inside. It’s not enough to simply throw them underneath your door, though – put some effort into it, and cut them into a right size so they’re hugging the bottom of the door once you put them underneath.

Traction Mats

Once the warmer months arrive, most of us get rid of all the winter gear in our trunk and forget to put it back in time. One of the most important pieces of equipment we often neglect are traction track mats.

Don’t forget to always put a pair back when you’re preparing your car for winter, because they’re a real life-saver. To make the whole thing even better, they won’t take up too much space, because they come in a handy carrier and you can easily role them out when the time comes.

Closed Doors

You won’t find this hack extremely useful if you’re living in a tiny apartment, but it can come in handy if your house is pretty big. There are probably many rooms you’re not even using, so it makes no sense wasting the heat on them.

Instead of leaving all the doors open, close the ones that lead to the rooms you’re warming up for no reason. This tiny change will help you concentrate the warmth where you actually need it, and heat up your home more effectively.

Tin Foil Trick

There’s something instantly nostalgic about homes with a fireplace, but if you have one at your house, you know it’s not always as perfect as it seems. Cleaning the ash can be pretty difficult, but you can make it much easier with a bit of tin foil.

After measuring the base of your fireplace, tear off just enough aluminum foil to cover this surface. Once the fire is gone, and everything’s turned to ash, you can simply fold up the foil and toss it out. Consider using several layers of foil just in case, and always wait until the fireplace cools down.

Dry Air Remedy

In addition to being super-cold, the air can also get extremely dry in the winter. Keeping your lips and hands moisturized is more difficult than ever, and no matter how many new products you try, it always seems like they’re not doing enough.

That’s part of the reason why taking a warm bath feels so amazing – finally, you’re no longer dealing with dry air around you. You can make this feeling last a little bit longer by keeping your bathtub full after you’re done with it, and adding some humidity to your home in the process.

Boost Your Immune System

Wintertime has its charms, but flu season definitely isn’t one of them. There’s nothing fun about staying in bed for days because you’re dealing with a cold, and that’s why you should always look for a way to boost your immune system.

Grapefruit seed extract is the way to go, because it can help you shield your body from bacteria and yeasts thanks to the powerful punch of vitamins and antioxidants it contains. You can get it in different forms, and it will do a great job fending off colds as long as you properly follow the instructions.

Garlic Oil

Grapefruit seed extract isn’t the only flu-fighting supplement you should have around the house come wintertime. Garlic oil can also do wonders for your health, thanks to many antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties of the veggie it’s made from.

If you’re struggling to find garlic oil at your local store, don’t despair – cooking with lots of garlic is always an option. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the smell it leaves behind, you won’t mind it one bit after your cold is gone.

Keep Your Hands Warm

Most people throw away their old wool socks after they’ve gotten a hole or two, but there are ways to put them to some good use. Even if you can’t put them apart and use the wool to knit something else entirely, you can still wear them – just a little bit differently.

You can transform your socks into hand warmers by cutting off the toe-part. A little bit of creativity goes a long way, and these DIY hand warmers can keep you cozy even when you’re not wearing gloves.

Cozy Socks

We all tend to layer up in the winter, and walk around wearing sweaters, hats and big woolen scarves. But sometimes, all these layers simply aren’t enough to keep our bodies warm, because we didn’t pick the right pair of socks.

Feet are the foundation of your body, so it’s extremely important to keep them warm. Sweat-wicking socks are always a good idea, and you should consider investing in a couple of pairs of toe warmers.

Wearing a double layer of socks is another popular option, but don’t go with a combo that’s too thick as you want to stay comfortable.

Temperature Drop

Drinking a hot beverage in wintertime may sound like a great way to warm up your body, but it’s only a temporary solution. Certain drinks, such as coffee, actually won’t do you any favors since your body temperature will end up dropping after drinking a cup.

Same goes for smoking, so you should probably avoid it before heading out – or in general. In addition to being an unhealthy habit, it’s pretty difficult to light up a cigarette while dealing with snow and rain, so why not skip it all together?

Penguin Walk

We’ve all slipped on ice or snow at least once, and no matter how silly these falls may look, they can also lead to serious injuries. That’s why you should take a cue from penguins, and copy the way they walk in the winter.

These polar animals have a thing or two to teach us because they’re dealing with slippery slopes every day. You too can hold your own on ice by waddling side-to-side and extending your arms to keep your balance.

Lukewarm Showers

The best part of the cold winter days is coming back home and hopping into a hot shower, but it also has its downsides. Hot showers do provide relief from the cold and they can be great for muscle relaxation, but they can also dry out your skin.

You should consider opting for lukewarm showers instead, because they’ll provide you with the perfect amount of warmth without leaving your skin dry and itchy. Most people agree this is the ideal temperature, because it’s not stripping your skin and hair of its natural oils.

Thick Curtains

There’s something truly magical about re-decorating your home every season. Putting up new pillow cases, tablecloths and covers can bring a breath of fresh air into your home, but changing your home décor sometimes has nothing to do with the aesthetics.

It’s recommended to replace your curtains during wintertime, but not only because your home will instantly look different. Putting up thick curtains will also help you keep out the cold without costing you a dime, unless you’re buying new ones.

Sunscreen Rule

Using sunscreen in winter may seem like crazy talk, but it’s anything but – so make sure to save at least one tube since most stores don’t sell them after the summer is over.

Sun works in mysterious ways all year long, and exposure to UV rays can lead to sunburns even when it’s cold outside. If you’re a huge fan of winter sports, sunscreen is a must, since snow reflects and intensifies sunlight, putting your skin at risk during your skiing and snowboarding adventures.

Let the Sunshine In

It’s no secret that sunlight is the ultimate mood booster, especially in winter when we don’t get to see so much of it. That’s why you should spend as much time as you can outside whenever it’s sunny, but there are also ways to let the sun inside your home.

Drapes and blinds do a great job keeping the cold out, but it’s ok to pull them aside a little bit during the day to let the sun warm your home and bring some light in.

Snow Umbrellas

Using umbrellas when it snows is one of those polarizing topics that divide people the same way that pineapple on pizza does. Some people swear by it, other wouldn’t be caught dead doing it.

Even if you have a good coat with a hood, it will get wet from all the snow and you won’t be able to immediately dry it up. That’s why carrying an umbrella is a good idea, as long as you remember to clean it up once the snow piles up since it might end up breaking under pressure.

Electric Blankets

Most people struggle to stay warm at night once the winter comes, but electric blankets can solve this problem. They are very low on energy, and using one will cost you much less than running central heating, helping you save up a bit of money along the way.

Most people turn them on once they pop into bed, but if you want it to be warm once you jump in, consider turning it on low setting beforehand. Your bed will be warm and cozy once you decide to tuck yourself in under the covers.

Fire Starter

Eating oranges is a great way to boost your immune system during flu season, and you should consider keeping the peels once you’re done with them. Most people see them as trash, but they are actually extremely useful.

If you’re struggling to start a fire, orange peels are all you need. Citrus skin is a great fire starter, and it releases less creosote than traditional paper. To make the whole thing even better, they’ll leave your home smelling like roasted oranges, so there’s no need to light up scented candles.

Dry Hands

Winter can leave your hands cracked and dry, but there’s always a couple of things you can do once you notice they’re desperate for moisture. Most people don’t leave their house without hand cream once temperature drops, but if you’ve forgotten yours – don’t despair!

It’s safe to assume you have some lip balm in your bag, and it can be used for so much more than treating chapped lips. Swipe some balm on dry patches of your skin to make them as good as new.