I've been noticing lately that my windows are letting in a pretty noticeable draft, especially now that the weather's getting colder. I mean, you can literally feel the cold air creeping in if you stand close enough. So, I decided to try a few DIY solutions first before spending money on anything fancy.
First thing I did was grab some weather stripping tape from the hardware store. It was pretty cheap, and I figured it couldn't hurt. I cleaned the window frames really well, measured and cut the strips, and stuck them along the edges where the window meets the frame. It helped a bit, but honestly, I still feel some cold air sneaking in.
Next, I tried the plastic shrink-wrap stuff you tape around the window and then shrink with a hairdryer. It was kind of fun to put up (felt like arts and crafts, lol), and it definitely made a noticeable difference. But the downside is it looks kinda ugly and makes opening the window impossible without tearing it all down.
I've seen those fabric draft blockers online—the ones that look like long stuffed tubes you put at the bottom of doors or windows—but I'm skeptical. Do they actually work, or are they just decorative? Also, I've heard about magnetic window insulation panels, but haven't tried them yet.
If anyone has tried something different or has a better method, I'd love to hear about it. I'm open to suggestions because I'm tired of freezing my toes off every evening, haha.
"I've seen those fabric draft blockers online—the ones that look like long stuffed tubes you put at the bottom of doors or windows—but I'm skeptical."
I was skeptical about those too, but my mom swears by them. She made one herself (just filled an old sock with rice and sewed it shut, lol), and honestly, it did make a noticeable difference at her place. They're not miracle workers, but for something cheap and easy, they're worth a shot. Better than freezing your toes off anyway...
I've tried those sock-and-rice things too, and yeah, they do help a bit. But have you checked if your windows themselves are sealed properly? Sometimes the real issue is tiny gaps around the frame or glass panes. I found some cheap weatherstripping tape at the hardware store, stuck it around my window edges, and it made a huge difference. Might be worth looking into if the draft blockers alone aren't cutting it...
I had the exact same problem when I moved into my first place—those sock-and-rice things were cute but didn't quite do the trick. Here's what finally worked for me: First, run your hand slowly around the window edges on a cold day to feel exactly where the drafts are sneaking in (you'll be surprised how sneaky they are...). Then grab some weatherstripping tape—it's cheap and easy to apply. Just peel, stick, and press firmly along the edges. Took me maybe 15 minutes per window, and my heating bill thanked me later, lol.
I've been using those fabric draft blockers for a couple months now, and they're actually pretty decent. They're not perfect, but they definitely cut down on the chill around my feet when I'm sitting near the window. Plus, they're easy to move around if needed.
Fabric blockers are decent, but honestly, nothing beats sealing tape or weatherstripping if you're serious about keeping the chill out. I used to swear by draft blockers until I realized my windows were basically Swiss cheese... sealing them properly made a huge difference.
Totally agree on sealing tape and weatherstripping being superior to fabric blockers. In my experience, fabric blockers are more of a temporary fix—they help a bit, but they're not addressing the root issue. One thing I'd add is checking the window frames themselves. Sometimes older wooden frames warp or shrink over time, creating gaps that even weatherstripping struggles to seal effectively. In those cases, using a silicone-based caulk around the frame edges can really tighten things up and make your sealing efforts more effective overall.