Mental Floss

13 Toasty Tips for Staying Warm in Cold Weather

Baby, it’s cold outside—but you’ll be nice and warm if you follow these tips.
ByAmanda Green|
The ultimate cheat code to winter coziness.
The ultimate cheat code to winter coziness. | Johner Images, Johner Images Royalty-Free, Getty Images

No matter how frightful the cold weather outside gets, there are always ways to stay warm that don’t involve more expensive heating bills. In some cases, the solutions might be simple: Just toss on a sweatshirt or hoodie, winterize the windows, and maybe pull out an extra blanket from the linen closet, and you’ll be good to go.

But sometimes, that just isn’t enough. Below is a mix of tried-and-true tips for keeping toasty during the chillier months, along with a few creative winter hacks you might not know, which could come in handy if you have a locked thermostat or a drafty old house.

  1. Wear Heavier Clothes
  2. Wear a Cold-Weather Hat
  3. Turn On The Ceiling Fan
  4. Switch Between Hot and Cold Water in the Shower
  5. Block Drafts with a Pool Noodle
  6. Use a Programmable Thermostat
  7. Trick a Locked Thermostat
  8. Use Thicker Curtains
  9. Bake All Day
  10. Start Composting
  11. Layer Your Covers
  12. Warm Your Sheets Up Before Bed
  13. Stuff Your Coat Pockets With DIY Hand Warmers

Wear Heavier Clothes

It’s easier to change your body temperature than room temperature, not to mention more eco-friendly. Instead of turning up the heat, put on another layer of clothing.

Wear a Cold-Weather Hat

A kid wearing a winter cap.
Never leave home without it. | Westend61, Getty Images

Your mom may have said that you lose 80 percent of your body heat through your head, but that's not actually true. If you’re otherwise clothed, you’ll lose heat from any surface that’s exposed in cold weather. So put on your hat, even if you’re inside.

Turn On The Ceiling Fan

This tip might seem counterintuitive, but it works—we promise. Fans will usually have a setting that lets you control whether it spins clockwise or counterclockwise. Warm air rises to the ceiling, so you’ll want to run your fan on its lowest setting in a clockwise direction to push the warm air back down to where you can feel it.

Switch Between Hot and Cold Water in the Shower

Hot showers immediately warm you up, but cold showers improve blood circulation between your skin and organs.

Block Drafts with a Pool Noodle

Keep heat in and cold out by cutting a pool noodle in half lengthwise, wrapping it in fabric, and sliding it under your door. It will stay put all winter, and you can re-use it at the pool come summer. (But we recommend you spring for a new one.)

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Another two words: Obvious, right? Stay toasty on schedule, so you never go home to a living room that’s colder than outside. You can even do it with your smartphone.

Trick a Locked Thermostat

Woman in sweater feeling heater.
Sometimes sweaters just aren't enough. | Viktoriya Skorikova, Moment Collection, Getty Images

Not everyone has access to adjust the thermostat in their apartment or office building. If that’s the case, you may need to outsmart the device by making it “think” the room is colder than it actually is. Putting ice near it often does the trick.

Use Thicker Curtains

If you’re not wearing a tank top or going sleeveless, your windows shouldn’t, either. Replace thin curtains with heavier wool or fleece drapes in the winter. But be sure to open them on sunny days for free heat.

Bake All Day

Mother and daughter baking together in kitchen.
It's an excuse to spend more time with family, too. | NoSystem images, E+ Collection, Getty Images

Using your oven heats up the whole house. You’ll feel even cozier if you invite friends—and all their body heat—over to eat four dozen cookies.

Start Composting

If you’re already interested in composting, here’s another reason to do it: The microbial breakdown of organic material produces heat. Some people use it to warm up showers and greenhouses, but even small-timers in studio apartments can feel a difference.

Layer Your Covers

Fluffy blankets should be closer to your skin. Thin, dense comforters should be on top to prevent convective heat loss. Bonus tip: Don’t put your bed directly against an exterior wall. You’ll be warmer if you leave a little space.

Warm Your Sheets Up Before Bed

hot water bottle on sheets
Use a hot water bottle to keep your feet warm at night. | john shepherd/E+/Getty Images

There are few things more jarring than jumping into a frigid bed. You can ensure your sheets are toasty warm by placing a hot water bottle where your feet will be or by giving them a short blast of heat with a hair dryer.

Stuff Your Coat Pockets With DIY Hand Warmers

You could just buy hand warmers, but you’ll radiate pride and self-sufficiency if you make them yourself. All it takes is two Ziploc bags, water, and calcium chloride ice melt pellets from the hardware store.

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A version of this story ran in 2014; it has been updated for 2025.

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