‘Brilliant’ buy for banishing window draughts and slashing energy bills – and it costs as little as £1.98
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BUDGET conscious households are singing the praises of a "brilliant" item that can banish draughts around windows and slash energy bills.
As the winter nights draw in, curtains are an essential to keep out the cold.
But gaps around the edges could mean heat is escaping and draughts are getting in - pushing up energy bills.
The answer, according to some savvy savers, are room darkening curtain poles.
Unlike traditional rods, these come with an extra attachment that takes the curtain right up to the wall, rather than just sitting in front and leaving a gap on either side.
While they are designed to block light out, they are also incredibly handy at keeping out the cold air that can come from windows.
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Sharing the tip on the Facebook Group Energy Support And Advice UK, they said: "What a brilliant idea to do this with your curtains, saves having that little gap at the sides.
"Anything to keep the cold out and the warm in."
One person replied saying "might have to try this"; and "we have them and I love them" another chimed in.
, Next and are among the shops where you can pick up the curtain poles.
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Prices start from around £20 but the exact cost will depend on the size you're looking for as well as the style.
For instance, a in silver steel is £40 from Dunlem.
A is £25 for the same size.
B&Q also sells a separate which can be added to a classic rod.
For those looking for an even cheaper solution, you could try fixing them to the wall via velcro strips.
Responding to the post, one person commented: "You could sew some velcro onto the edge of the curtain and then stick the opposite side of the velcro on the wall so that they can be joined when you want to shut the curtain."
Another suggested using command strips for hooking the end of the curtain against the wall.
Be careful attaching anything to the wall though, especially if you're renting, as you'll want to avoid damaging any paint or brickwork.
While the sticky back of velcro strips could prove difficult to remove later on, command strip hooks are designed with a "release" style mechanism that helps avoid this problem.
You can pick up a half meter strip of velcro for just £1.98 from B&Q and a pack of two of the command strip hooks for £3 on Amazon, but always shop around to find the best deal.
You can also use some heavy duty tape to seal the gap in middle between each curtain, or even the wall itself.
Tashema Jackson, energy expert at Energyhelpline.com previously told The Sun: “There are a number of ways to prevent heat escaping your home and keeping your curtains closed, especially at night, is right at the top of the list.
"Make sure that the curtains overlap in the middle, or use pegs to ensure they are tightly shut, and if you want to go the extra mile, you can tape your curtains to the wall for that little bit more insulation.”
More ways to tackle window draughts and save on energy bills
Windows can often be a big area around the home where heat is lost and cold air can get in.
Thermal curtains are one way to tackle the issue. These are heavier and thicker than typical window coverings.
We spoke to Deirdre Mc Gettrick who slashed her energy bills by £150 thanks to installing the £24 drapes.
You can also add thermal lining to existing curtains, rather than having to buy new.
And our reporter Rosie Taylor found that installing curtains instead of blinds was the biggest energy saving move in her home, increasing the temperature by 5.5C.
Increasing the temperature means you can avoid putting the heating on, have it on for less time or at a lower temperature - saving you cash.
Drawing your curtains as soon as it gets dark means less cold is likely to get through.
A heating expert explained to The Sun how you can use a sheet of loo roll to check for draughts around window frames.
You can pick up draught proofing strips to plug any gaps you find for a couple of pounds from DIY stores.
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You can even use bubble wrap - we spoke to Sue Conlan who used the packing material to help slash her bill by £400 a year.
Meanwhile, those struggling with bills can get help form their supplier worth up to £1,500.