I found out last winter that clear silicone caulk around the edges of my window frames made a huge difference in drafts. Super cheap and easy fix, but I'm sure there's other good hacks out there... what else works for you guys?
I've had pretty good luck with those shrink-wrap window insulation kits. I was skeptical at first—seemed kinda gimmicky—but honestly, they made a noticeable difference in my older house. You just stick the plastic film around the frame with double-sided tape and then hit it with a hairdryer to tighten it up. It creates this insulating air pocket that really cuts down on drafts.
One thing though... if you've got pets or kids who like poking at stuff, it might not last the whole winter. Learned that the hard way when my cat decided it was her new favorite scratching spot. But for rooms you don't use as much or windows out of reach, it's a solid, affordable solution.
Also, don't underestimate heavy curtains. I swapped out some thin blinds for thicker drapes in our bedroom, and the room felt warmer almost immediately. Plus, they look nicer anyway.
Glad to hear those shrink-wrap kits worked out for you—I was considering them myself but wasn't sure if they'd hold up. Good tip about pets, too...my dog loves pawing at anything new, so I'll probably stick to curtains for now. Thanks for sharing your experience!
"my dog loves pawing at anything new, so I'll probably stick to curtains for now."
Yeah, pets and shrink-wrap don't exactly mix well. I tried those kits a couple winters ago—worked fine at first, but my cat decided it was her new scratching post. Ended up with shredded plastic and drafts again within a week. Have you thought about weatherstripping tape instead? It's cheap, pet-proof, and pretty easy to install...might be worth a shot if curtains alone aren't cutting it.
Yeah, shrink-wrap kits are hit or miss for sure, especially with pets around. I gave them a shot once too—no pets here, but honestly, they just felt like a temporary bandaid. They did cut down drafts initially, but the plastic started peeling off after a month or so, and then it was back to square one.
Weatherstripping tape is definitely more durable, I'll give you that. I've had decent luck with foam tape myself. It's not perfect—sometimes the adhesive wears out faster than I'd like—but it's cheap enough to reapply every season without feeling wasteful. Another trick I've used is rope caulk; it's less messy than silicone and easier to remove if needed. You just press it into place around the window edges and peel it off when warmer weather hits.
Curtains alone never really did it for me either...they help somewhat, but they're more of a secondary layer than a real fix. If you're serious about stopping drafts, sealing the gaps directly is always gonna be your best bet in my experience.
Yeah, rope caulk's a solid suggestion—I found it pretty handy too. Another trick that's worked surprisingly well for me is using painter's tape to temporarily seal window edges during colder months. It's easy to apply and remove without leaving residue, plus it's cheap enough to redo whenever it starts peeling. Not the prettiest fix, I'll admit, but hey...it beats feeling those chilly drafts creeping in all winter.
Painter's tape is definitely a clever workaround—I tried it myself last winter. It worked decently, but I found it started peeling quicker than I'd hoped, especially in rooms with higher humidity like the kitchen. Eventually, I switched to weatherstripping foam tape; it's still budget-friendly and easy enough to install, plus it held up better over time. Not perfect aesthetically either, but at least it kept the drafts out without needing constant touch-ups...
Painter's tape never held up for me either—humidity just kills it. Foam tape's decent, but I ended up using rope caulk last year...easy to shape into gaps, cheap, and removable in spring. Not exactly pretty, but hey, no drafts.
Rope caulk's pretty solid—used it myself a couple winters back. A couple other things I've tried that worked decently:
- Clear shrink film kits: Not everyone's favorite look, but they do cut drafts noticeably. Just need a hairdryer to tighten them up, and they're pretty cheap.
- Weatherstripping tape (the rubbery kind): Seems to hold up better than foam tape in humid conditions, at least for me. Easy enough to peel off later too.
- Draft snakes: Yeah, they're old-school, but tossing one on a windowsill or along the bottom of a door frame actually helps quite a bit.
Honestly though, rope caulk probably hits the sweet spot between ease and effectiveness. It's not winning any beauty contests, but hey...warmth over aesthetics any day.
Rope caulk's definitely underrated. I remember a job a few years ago where the homeowner had these beautiful old wooden windows—gorgeous craftsmanship, but drafty as heck. They didn't want anything permanent or visually intrusive, so rope caulk was our go-to. Easy to apply, removable without damaging the finish, and surprisingly effective at sealing those tiny gaps. Shrink film works too, but for historic or decorative windows, rope caulk's usually my first recommendation...just blends in better overall.