I’m with you on the rope caulk—it’s way less finicky than the plastic kits, and honestly, it’s kind of satisfying to squish it into those gaps. When I moved in, I tried the shrink film on a couple windows and just ended up frustrated with the tape peeling off in spots. One thing I’m still not sure about is how well rope caulk holds up if you have to open and close your windows a lot during winter. Have you noticed it coming loose, or does it mostly stay put? I like that it’s removable, but I’m always worried about gunk getting left behind.
I gotta disagree a bit here—I’ve had rope caulk come loose when I open the windows more than a couple times. It’s not terrible, but I do end up with bits stuck in the tracks or on my hands. Honestly, for windows you need to use a lot, I just switch to those foam weatherstripping rolls. Not as neat-looking, but they stay put better if you’re opening and closing all winter. The rope caulk’s great for windows you leave shut, though.
I get where you’re coming from on the rope caulk. It’s definitely not perfect if you’re opening and closing the windows a lot—mine has gotten pretty gummy in the tracks too, especially when the sun hits it. But I’ve had mixed results with foam weatherstripping as well. The adhesive doesn’t always hold up through a full winter, especially if there’s condensation or if the windows aren’t totally clean. I’ve had strips peel off or get bunched up after a month or two.
One thing that’s worked better for me, oddly enough, is using that clear plastic shrink film over the whole window. Not the prettiest solution, but it’s cheap and actually does a decent job at sealing out drafts. Downside: you can’t open the window at all once it’s on, which is a pain if you want fresh air mid-winter.
Honestly, none of these are perfect for old windows. Sometimes I wonder if it’d be less hassle to just bite the bullet and replace them... but then I see the price tag.
Honestly, none of these are perfect for old windows. Sometimes I wonder if it’d be less hassle to just bite the bullet and replace them... but then I see the price tag.
Yeah, that price tag is a real mood killer. I keep telling myself I’ll replace the windows “next year” but here we are, another winter with the plastic film up. It’s not pretty, but it does the trick—just like you said. I’ve tried the foam strips too and they always end up peeling off halfway through January... maybe my windows are just extra stubborn. You’re definitely not alone in this struggle.