30 Foolproof Ways To Get Through This Winter

Those dark, cold days are looming. Here are some tips on how to stay sane through the long, miserable winter months.

1. DIY a pair of wool insoles to keep your feet toasty.

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Totally doing this.

2. Shave the pills off your winter clothes with a razor.

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If your hoodies and sweaters are looking extra raggedy, this trick will help them look new again.

3. For all you knitters...

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4. Rub Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of your feet if you've got a cough.

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Cover with socks. " Even the worst cough can be stopped within 5-15 minutes, and lasts hours."

5. Use pool noodles to keep your boots upright.

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6. Nutella + milk in the microwave will give you the best hot chocolate you'll ever have.

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It's easy, too. Just top with mini marshmallows.

7. Prevent frost from building on your car windows.

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Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spray on your car windows at night. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water and prevents it from freezing. If your car is already frozen, it will melt the ice away.

8. The alcohol in hand sanitizer will de-ice your car locks.

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Just make sure to use a hand sanitizer that’s 60% alcohol.

9. Buy a natural light lamp.

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These lamps actually come in smaller sizes now. This desk lamp is $36 from Amazon.

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The HappyLight is $89.95 from Verilux.

10. Make a draft stopper.

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Use a candle to check door jams and windows for drafts by seeing if the flame flickers.

If drafty air is coming from underneath a door, you could make a draft stopper using fabric filled with rice. You can also buy one off Etsy for under $20.

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These supposedly work well for drafty windows.

11. Fleece-lined tights.

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I own a pair of these and they are super cozy and warm. They do add a little bit of bulk (more so than other tights) but the opaqueness means you can practically wear them as leggings.

12. A snuggie is just a backwards robe.

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And most likely, your robe is made out of a much nicer, plushier material than an authentic Snuggie is.

13. Dry your hair with a microfiber-bristle brush.

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Going out into the cold with an even slightly damp head is a terrible winter hazard. This brush will remove excess water and cut down on drying time.

14. Avoid getting shocked in your car.

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To avoid getting shocked every time you leave your car, hold on to a metal part of the car door as you're getting out, and let go when your feet touch the ground.

15. Easily make your gloves smartphone-friendly.

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Get the tutorial here.

16. Get a crock pot.

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If you think crock pots are old-fashioned and outdated, you'd be surprised. You can cook soups, chilli, curries, or even use it as a rice cooker. During a season where you want to be eating all hot foods, a crock pot can be your go-to meal preparation device. And you'd be surprised how inexpensive they are: you can find a new one for under $30.

17. Here's a tip to help you get out of bed:

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Set your alarm 30 minutes before you're supposed to wake up. When you wake up the first time, turn on the space heater so the room is nice and toasty by the time you really have to wake up.

18. Warm up your eyeliner and mascara before applying.

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It's the key to a smooth application. So while you're doing other stuff, like brushing your teeth or putting your contacts in, stick your eye makeup in the waistband of your pants. Your body heat will warm it up.

19. Vacuum seal your summer clothes away.

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I recently did this, and it saved me so much room in my closet. The vacuum sealed bags will look and feel like the discarded carcass of a medium-sized farm animal, so you'll want to stow them away in a non-visible place.

20. Learn the warmest way to wear a scarf.

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Loop the scarf around your neck and tie a knot in the front. Then tuck the knot under.

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And here's a million more ways to wear a scarf. A demonstration of the "warmest way to wear a scarf" is seen at 3:41, also called "the hidden knot."

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Unless you happen to have a cat available.

21. Don't wear cotton against your skin.

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It remains damp if you sweat in it. Opt for silks, wools, or synthetic fabrics.

22. Wear a sandwich bag between two thin pairs of socks if you don't have waterproof shoes.

It's a trick cyclists use when riding in sleet and snow. There is nothing worse than cold, wet socks.

23. Wash your face with oil.

simplemom.net

There are tons of oil cleansers on the market, or you could make your own out of a concoction of castor oil and extra virgin olive oil. Oil dissolves oil, and it won't strip your skin the way soap cleansers do.

24. Put a hot rubber bottle at the foot of your bed 30 minutes before you slip under the sheets.

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This is a cheap way to warm up your bed without having to use dangerous electric blankets. Just fill it up with super hot water from the tap and the insulated bottle will heat up the bed for hours and hours (until you wake up, most likely).

And as an added bonus, you won't have to endure cold sheets.

25. Oh, by the way — mittens are warmer than gloves.

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It's because gloves have more surface area.

26. Make Reusable Hand Warmers out of Fleece and Rice

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Get the directions here. Before you go out into the cold, microwave them for 30 seconds and keep them in your pockets. You can also buy similar ones on Etsy.

27. Apply cooking spray liberally to a snow shovel.

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It'll keep the snow from sticking and building up.

28. Here's an easy savory cold remedy:

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Lemon, ginger, and Sriracha sauce. It makes a tasty Thai broth when mixed with hot water.

29. And here's a tasty, sweet one:

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Apple Cider Vinegar, honey, ginger, and cayenne plus some water.

30. Last but not least...GET A HEATED TOILET SEAT!

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This one's $79.95, and the "tushietoast" is $49.95.

Doing this.