Downside is it looks kind of ugly if you don’t line it up right, and it leaves gunk when you peel it off in spring.
That sticky residue drives me nuts too—especially if you miss a spot and it collects dust all summer. Have you tried any of the foam-style tape? I’ve noticed it can handle uneven frames a bit better, but sometimes it compresses too much over time. Curious if you’ve experimented with caulk strips or rope caulk for those tricky corners, or are you sticking strictly to tape for now?
That sticky residue drives me nuts too—especially if you miss a spot and it collects dust all summer.
Honestly, I stopped using the regular sticky tape for this exact reason. The gunk left behind was just too much work to clean up every spring. I actually switched to rope caulk last winter after my neighbor swore by it. It’s not perfect—it can look a little lumpy if you’re not careful—but it comes off way cleaner and you can sort of mold it into those weird corners where tape never quite fits right.
I did try the foam tape a while back, but like you said, it compressed down after a couple months and didn’t really block drafts as well by February. Rope caulk held up better for me, especially on my old wood windows with uneven frames. Only downside is it’s a bit more visible, but I’d rather have that than sticky residue everywhere.
If you’re set on tape, I’ve heard some folks put painter’s tape down first, then the weatherstrip over it, so cleanup is easier. Haven’t tried it myself, but it sounds clever.
I get where you’re coming from on the sticky residue—honestly, that stuff is a nightmare on old trim. I gave up on the cheap foam tape after my first winter here. By March, it was so squished down it might as well have been tissue paper, and the windows were just as drafty as before. The gunk left behind was the cherry on top... spent way too long scraping it off with a putty knife and still managed to miss a few spots.
I tried rope caulk this year too, after reading about it in a home repair book. It’s not the prettiest solution, but it actually works, especially for those weird gaps where nothing else seems to fit right. My place is 1950s construction, so nothing is square anymore. The caulk definitely stands out if you look for it, but I’d rather have a visible line than another season of sticky mess.
That painter’s tape trick sounds clever in theory, but I wonder about how well it holds up over months of temperature swings. I’d guess it would peel off if there’s any moisture, but maybe it’s worth a shot if someone really wants to stick with tape. For me, the extra step just isn’t worth it when rope caulk is easier to remove and doesn’t leave any residue.
You’re not alone in ditching the sticky tape. Sometimes I think these “easy” fixes just create a different set of problems. If you find something that works—even if it’s not perfect—stick with it. At least you won’t be scraping window frames every spring.
Rope caulk’s been a lifesaver for me too—especially with these ancient windows that don’t know what “flush” means. I tried the painter’s tape trick last year and it peeled right off by February. At least rope caulk comes off in one piece... mostly.
At least rope caulk comes off in one piece... mostly.
That “mostly” is doing a lot of work, haha. I swear, I’ve pulled out more crumbly bits from sashes than I care to admit. Still, rope caulk beats those foam strips that just disintegrate after a season. For these old, drafty windows, it’s the only thing that keeps my heating bill from going nuclear.
That’s the thing with rope caulk—it’s not perfect, but at least it doesn’t fuse itself to the wood like some of those old adhesive-backed foams. I’ve seen plenty of sashes where the foam basically turned to dust after one winter, and then you’re left scraping little bits out of every groove. Rope caulk can get a bit crumbly, sure, but a plastic putty knife usually gets most of it out in one go. For older windows that shift with temperature changes, it’s still my go-to, even if it’s not exactly elegant.
Rope caulk’s been a lifesaver for me too, especially since my windows are from the 1940s and nothing’s quite square anymore. I do wish it looked a bit neater, but I’ll take easy removal over scraping foam any day. Have you ever tried those clear plastic window kits? I’m tempted, but worried about condensation or peeling paint. Curious if they actually help with drafts or just end up being more hassle.
- Those plastic window kits actually do cut drafts, but yeah, they can be a pain.
- If you’ve got flaky paint, the tape might pull some off when you remove it—seen it happen more than once.
- Condensation’s hit or miss. If your windows already sweat, the film usually makes it worse.
- Not the prettiest look, but way easier to deal with than rock-hard foam sealant in spring.
- I use ‘em in rentals sometimes—cheap and quick fix, but not a long-term solution if you care about looks or paint.
If you’ve got flaky paint, the tape might pull some off when you remove it—seen it happen more than once.
That’s the main reason I avoid those kits in older places. Learned that lesson the hard way—peeled off the film in spring and took a whole strip of 1950s paint with it. Honestly, weatherstripping tape’s been a better bet for me. It’s not perfect, but easier to control, and you don’t get that plastic wrap “crinkle” look. If you’ve got newer paint or you’re not too precious about the window frames, the kits are fine in a pinch. Otherwise, I’d stick with tape or even rope caulk for something less destructive.
Yeah, I’ve had the same thing happen with those shrink-wrap window kits—thought I was being clever one winter, only to end up peeling half the paint off my old sashes. That stuff sticks a little *too* well if your paint’s seen better days. I get why people use them, but honestly, they’re more hassle than they’re worth in older homes.
Weatherstripping tape’s been my go-to for a while now. It’s not perfect—sometimes it doesn’t seal as tight as the plastic film, especially if your windows are really warped—but at least you don’t have to worry about wrecking the trim. Plus, it’s way less of an eyesore. The “crinkle” look from the film always bugged me, especially when the sun hit it just right and made the whole window look like a funhouse mirror.
I tried rope caulk once too. It was easy to work with and definitely helped cut down on drafts, but it left a bit of residue behind in the spring that took some scrubbing to get off. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind if you’re picky about cleanup.
Honestly, I think it comes down to how much you care about your window frames and how cold your winters get. For me, weatherstripping tape is kind of a happy medium—decent results without risking damage or making things look weird. If you’ve got really old paint or fancy woodwork though, I’d be extra careful with anything sticky.
Funny thing is, after all that trial and error, I still end up stuffing socks along the sill on the coldest nights... Old houses just do their own thing sometimes.