With the arrival of the winter season, there’s also the winter blues. Bone-chilling cold weather, sub-zero windshields, snow, ice, and all sorts of fun stuff. To combat all this, we all do what we can to stay warm. But [as we all know] heating your home during the winter can be costly. Guess what? It doesn’t have to be! There are a number of low-cost ways that can help keep you warm and save money this winter. Now, when the temperature drops, so can your energy bill! 

Cold water

Washing your clothes? Brushing your teeth? Doing the dishes? Use cold water instead. It’s an easy and effective household change you can make. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the amount used means big savings on your energy bills so you’ll be saving your wallet.

You can also help reduce your energy use and deeply clean your clothes by washing in cold with Tide® Coldwater.

Take it down a notch

When it comes to keeping the heat on, timing makes a big difference. Make sure to turn down the thermostat whenever leaving the house. There’s no sense in keeping the heat running when no one is home. If possible, look to purchase a programmable thermostat—that way you won’t have to remember to turn it off when you leave!

Embrace layers

In addition to adjusting your thermostat, balance things out by wearing more layers or warm clothing.  Have a couple pairs of comfy and warm sweaters or sweat-shirts that you can wear around the house to help you keep nice and snug. If you’re sitting on the couch, curl up underneath a blanket or two. By wearing more comfortable and warm clothing whenever you’re home, you’ll be able to keep warm without the need of turning up the heat.

Seal and save

 The idea here is to keep the warm air in—and the cold air out. Look for all possible air leaks in your home. Check your walls, doors, and windows for leaks by feeling for any air flow, and seal them up with caulk or weather-stripping, which you can find at your local hardware or home improvement store.  It’s inexpensive, easy to do, and one of the best ways to trap warm air indoors.

Caress the furnace

Make sure to change those furnace filters. A dirty filter on your furnace prevents the heat from flowing efficiently and getting to your home, which in essence wastes heat and money. So, invest in a couple new filters and change them regularly, every one to three months. You'll reap savings each month in return.

With these simple and easy tips, you’ll be well on your way in making your home more energy efficient for the winter. You’ll be keeping your energy costs down and staying warm at the same time—now that should make you feel extra nice and toasty!