Safe, easy ways to keep warm

During the recent cold spell, Dorothy Okwembah, who lives in Nairobi West, fished out her old jiko from the store and bought some charcoal to keep her house warm.

The 35-year-old mother-of-three was doing her best to mitigate the effects of the cold weather on her family.

“It was extremely cold and I cannot afford an electric heater. I have small children who need to keep warm and lighting a jiko is the only option for me,” she says.

Ms Okwembah is not alone. Many people all over the country do the same thing. However, while a jikodoes keep a house warm, it is not the best option because it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

“It is common for many people to turn to their jikos and charcoal without realising that there are more exciting and less dangerous ways of keeping their homes warm during the cold season,” says Ms Tabitha Munyori, a Nairobi-based interior designer.

For starters, she says, it should not cost you an arm and a leg.

“In any case, you can make warming your home a part of your regular décor rather than something you do only during the cold season,” she notes. So, how does one go about it?

CURTAINS

Avoid the risk of getting a cold looking for your rarely used jiko from under a heap of stuff in the store. Instead, begin by making your windows airtight.

“Remove your light curtains and replace them with some made from heavy material,” says Ms Munyori. And remember, the heavier, the better.

“If there’s some sunshine during the day, draw them back to let in the sunshine,” she suggests.

Meanwhile, ensure that you do not have any big plants outside your windows because they will reduce the amount of sunshine entering your house.

Alternatively, you could opt for cellular blinds. Ms Munyori says these blinds can be rolled up completely to allow in maximum sunlight.

“On a cold day or at night, they serve well by blocking the windows,” she says.

However, cellular blinds make your home look like an office. “If the home ends up looking like an office, hang some sheer curtains in from of the blinds to reduce the formal look,” she suggests.

If you go for blinds, monitor the weather carefully so that, if the day is expected to be sunny, you can leave the blinds and curtains drawn back. By the end of the day, the house will be considerably warm.

BEDROOM

While generally considered a private area, your bedroom can double up as your sitting room during the cold season.

Ms Stephanie Atieno, who does this, says it helps keep her house warm. “I usually close the rooms I am not using such as the visitors’ bedroom.

“And if there are any other rooms I am not using, I also ensure that they remain closed. This helps prevent the cold air from circulating to my warmer room,” she says. By so doing, she reduces heat loss considerably.

CANDLES AND LIGHTS

These can be useful sources of heat and warmth. Although they are small, candles produce a substantial amount of heat.

Besides, they are relatively affordable. Be creative with candles, but make sure you place them carefully and never leave them unattended.

You can also have candle-lit dinners to add a romantic ambience to your home. If you go for lights, opt for incandescent light bulbs.

“Bear in mind that they produce at least 95 per cent of their own energy as heat rather than light,” says Ms Munyori.

DOORS AND FLOORS

The space below your door can greatly affect your efforts to keep a room warm room. To mitigate this, place a rug near the bottom of the door.

Alternatively, make a draft-dodger or a door sweep. If your floor is bare, you could use a carpet to make the room warm. Let the carpet extend from the door to the rest of the room.

And if you can afford it, go for a warm, thick, woollen carpet.

Alternatively, you can wear woollen slippers to keep your feet warm. If you cannot afford new ones, try the nearest second-hand clothes stall.

DRESSING

You must complement all these efforts by dressing warmly. So this is the time to pull out that turtleneck pullover, warm socks, and heavy skirts and dresses.

Woollen or cotton clothes come in handy at such times. If your feet often feel cold, consider buying yourself a pack of tights to wear under your clothes.

Similarly, when walking around the house, always wear slippers or warm socks.

If you are the type who likes to sink into a couch, reading or watching movies, wrap a kikoyi or khanga around yourself and have a mug of hot coffee or tea to keep you warm and alert.