WHATEVER THE WEATHER
I’m a super scrimper and use cat litter, potatoes, beach tents and vinegar to save thousands over winter – here’s how
Click to watch Alysha reveal her top winter hacks
LISTENING to a news report about another storm sweeping across Britain, bringing Arctic temperatures, potential snowfall, and widespread amber alerts, Alysha Fletcher, 38, begins preparing for the extreme weather.
As a mum of three, she grabs everyday items from her cupboard - cat litter, potatoes, vinegar — and heads to the family car to kick-start her polar weather prep.
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Alysha isn’t bothered by raised eyebrows at her unconventional methods.
She fills a sock with cat litter, ties the end, and places it on her car dashboard.
“It may sound strange, but it works wonders,” she says.
The cat litter-filled sock stops my car windows from fogging up. It costs next to nothing, but it’s brilliant for preventing condensation during winter.”
READ MORE ON WINTER HACKS
She prefers using clay-based litter and old cotton socks, even employing them around the house - on windowsills and in the bathroom - to absorb moisture and keep condensation at bay.
"It’s just one of my top ten quirky winter prep hacks that anyone can try," Alysha explains.
"People think they’re weird, but it saves us £2,000 every winter."
Last year, cat litter also helped her save £300 on emergency towing fees.
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“I always keep a box of litter in the boot. If I get stuck in ice or snow, I sprinkle it in front of the tires to improve grip. It’s a life - and cash -saver,” she says.
Rather than laughing, Alysha challenges anyone to try her hacks before passing judgment.
I’m mum-shamed for buying my son one Christmas present, I’m not wasting money on cr-- when he doesn’t know or care who Santa is
“They might just work for you too,” she says.
Alysha, who runs an online crafting business, lives in Blackpool, Lancs, with her husband Garry, 39, a maintenance worker, and their three children, aged 19, 16, and 14, in a three-bedroom terraced council house.
A self-confessed "scrimping queen," Alysha is passionate about using everyday items in creative ways to prep for winter weather.
With the cost-of-living crisis and Arctic conditions causing chaos across Britain, she believes being prepared for both home and car winter weather warnings is more important than ever.
I pop the socks over the windscreen wipers at night
Alysha Fletcher, 38
“Items in your kitchen or storage cupboard could save your life, keep you warm, and definitely improve your bank balance,” she says.
Number two on Alysha’s polar prep list is half a potato and vinegar.
“I rub a cut potato on the windshield at night to help prevent ice build-up.
"It costs next to nothing and saves time in the morning when I’m rushing the kids to school,” she explains.
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“My trusty tuber isn’t just good for stews; it helps keep my windshield fog-free. I also use it on windows around the house and the bathroom mirror.”
Experts from agree, saying that the sticky starch in potatoes creates a barrier between glass and moisture.
This, in turn, lowers the freezing point of water, helping to prevent ice and snow build-up.
In some countries, potato juice, a waste product of vodka distillation, is even used on snowy mountain roads to prevent ice from forming.
Shower caps are also great for covering pot plants and garden stools to prevent frost and snow
Alysha Fletcher, 38
Alysha also swears by mixing white vinegar and water in a spray bottle to create a DIY de-icer, saving her from spending up to £100 each winter on expensive store-bought options.
“It works a treat. De-icing spray is essential for the Arctic freeze. I keep a bottle in the car and one in the house. I even use it to defrost the freezer,” she says.
Odd socks make it to number three on Alysha’s winter warming list.
“I pop the socks over the windscreen wipers at night. It stops the blades from freezing, prevents cracking, and makes de-icing in the morning even easier,” she explains.
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it's bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There's not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.
Next up is isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as rubbing alcohol, which Alysha stocks up on for under a fiver.
It’s number four on her polar prep plan. “Most people have some in their home,” she says.
“I fill a spray bottle three-quarters full with alcohol and top it up with water.
"It’s an affordable DIY de-icer for car windows and footpaths.
"An added bonus is that it’s great for removing ink and permanent marker stains, plus it works as an awesome stainless-steel cleaner and makes the kitchen sink sparkle.”
Give the kids some so they can de-ice their bike locks
Alysha Fletcher, 38
Whenever Alysha stays at a hotel with her family, she also collects the disposable freebies from the bathroom.
“In winter, the girls use the shower caps to cover their bike seats. In the morning, they’re not icy or wet.
"I use them to cover my side windows to stop the wing mirrors from fogging up and icing over,"; she says.
"The shower caps are also great for covering pot plants and garden stools to prevent frost and snow from covering them. I even keep two in my handbag.
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"When it’s wet and muddy, I pop them over my shoes to keep them dry when I bring the shopping in. They didn’t cost me a penny because they were free."
"The shower caps are also great for covering pot plants and garden stools to prevent frost and snow from covering them. I even keep two in my handbag.
"When it’s wet and muddy, I pop them over my shoes to keep them dry when I bring the shopping in. They didn’t cost me a penny because they were free.”
Alysha also dabs hand sanitiser on her car keys or locks when it’s freezing, as it’s an “instant DIY de-icer.”
“Give the kids some so they can de-ice their bike locks. It prevents snapping and saves buying a new lock,” she says.
Alysha’s resourcefulness extends to using old curtains and blankets to insulate her home.
Alysha's Polar Prep Plan Tip List
1. Cat litter in cars
2. Potatoes to stop ice build up and water and vinegar spray.
3. Used socks for windscreen wipers.
4. Rubbing alcohol for DIY de-icer
5. Shower caps for bike seats, wing mirrors, pot plants and garden stools
6. Hand sanitiser for freezing locks
7. Hang blankets across open plan rooms!
8. Hang curtains over the front and back doors.
9. Pop up beach tents for beds
10. WD40 for shoes and sanding paper to stop heels slipping in ice.
She hangs them in front of her front and back doors to block drafts.
“Doorway draughts are some of the worst places for heat to escape. This way, the heat stays in,” she explains.
“I’ll also hang them over my windows and draw them shut around 4 pm to keep the warmth in for longer.”
Another hack involves hanging cheap blankets to divide rooms in half, reducing the space that needs heating.
“We lose more than a third of the heat through walls, so I’m not taking that risk,” Alysha says.
“Friends think I’ve lost the plot, but when I tell them it saves us up to £500 on heating bills during the winter, they’re shocked.”
Alysha has another clever trick for keeping her children warm—she pitches summer tents over their beds to trap heat.
“Call me crazy, but it’s a fantastic heat saver,” she says. “By setting up the tent over their beds, their body heat stays contained longer, keeping them toasty warm.
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"The best part? The kids love the idea of camping in their own rooms.”
Thanks to this hack, Alysha saved more than £200 last year by not turning the heating on overnight during the coldest months.
This winter, they’re investing in a double tent for their bedroom and a specialist queen-size ‘tent cover’ costing around £80.
“It’s a great way to stay warm all night without cranking up the heating,” she says.
My kitchen cupboard solutions mean there’s no excuse for beating the big freeze this winter and saving cash while you do it
Alysha Fletcher, 38
Her final winter money-saving tip is WD-40 to make her boots and shoes waterproof, as well as sanding down the bottoms of her shoes to prevent nasty falls.
Alysha learned this super shoe grip hack from her experience hitting the stage as a pageant star with her daughters.
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“When Arctic weather hits, I’m ready, and I know I’m saving money too,” she says.
“My kitchen cupboard solutions mean there’s no excuse for beating the big freeze this winter and saving cash while you do it.”
How to dry wet washing inside, in winter
Drying rack or airer
Load up your airer with wet washing and place near a heat source - like a radiator or direct sunlight - to help distribute air around your clothes.
Dehumidifier
Plug in a dehumidifier in a room with clothes hanging to dry quickly and prevent dampness and mould. Many now have a laundry setting.
Tumble dryer
A tumble dryer can heat moisture out of wet washing, saving time and can be used in any weather.
Heated airer
Many brands and shops now sell heated airers for as little as £30. The racks heat through electricity and can speed up drying time.
Open a window
Choose a spare room or unused room for keeping your washing and crack open a window, but close the door behind you.
Using curtain poles
Hang wet washing on radiators then hook them onto curtain poles with radiators below. The heat will rise and dry the items. Alternatively, if you have a shower curtain pole, hang your clothes in the bathroom with a window open.
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