I've tried weatherstripping tape with thermal curtains before—here's my take:
- Definitely helps seal drafts around the edges, especially if your windows are older.
- Doesn't take much effort or money, so worth a shot.
- But honestly, don't expect miracles... it's more incremental improvement than game-changer.
"Bubble wrap definitely works, but yeah... the aesthetics are questionable, haha."
Yeah, bubble wrap is effective but looks like you're prepping for an apocalypse. Curtains + weatherstripping is at least presentable.
Weatherstripping and curtains are decent quick fixes, but honestly, if your windows are letting in noticeable drafts, the real issue might be deeper. I remember working on an older house a few years back—owner had tried every quick fix imaginable, bubble wrap included (and yeah, it looked like a scene from a zombie movie). Turns out the window frames themselves had warped slightly over time, creating gaps that no amount of tape or curtains could fully seal.
If you're feeling brave, you could pop off the interior trim and check for insulation gaps around the frame itself. A can of spray foam insulation can make a surprising difference. It's messier than weatherstripping tape, sure, but it's hidden behind the trim so aesthetics aren't an issue. Just be careful not to overdo it—foam expands more than you'd think. Learned that one the hard way...
Totally agree about the spray foam, but here's another quick fix that saved my sanity last winter: rope caulk. It's like play-dough for grown-ups—just roll it into thin strips and press it into any gaps around the window. Easy to apply, easy to remove, and doesn't turn your place into a horror movie set. Plus, it's cheap enough that if you mess up, you won't feel guilty peeling it off and starting again... ask me how I know.
Rope caulk is a solid suggestion, especially if you're renting or just want something temporary. Last year I had a client who didn't want anything permanent, so we went with window insulation film. It's pretty straightforward: stick the double-sided tape around the window frame, press on the plastic film, then shrink it tight with a hairdryer. Took us maybe 20 minutes per window, tops. It held up surprisingly well through winter and peeled right off in spring without damaging paint or leaving residue behind. Worth a shot if you haven't tried it yet...
I've done the shrink film thing before too, and it works pretty well, but I gotta say the aesthetics can be a bit iffy sometimes...especially if you don't get it perfectly tight. Another quick fix I've tried is just rolling up some old towels or blankets and laying them along the bottom of the window. Not the prettiest either, but it's easy and helps quite a bit with drafts. Have you noticed any residue from the double-sided tape? That's always my worry with rental places.
"Have you noticed any residue from the double-sided tape? That's always my worry with rental places."
Honestly, the residue wasn't too bad for me—came off easy with a bit of rubbing alcohol. But towels and blankets...I dunno, they always seemed to get damp and musty in my old apartment. Draft stoppers worked better imo, plus they're cheap and look decent.
Residue wasn't a big deal for me either—just wiped it off with some Goo Gone and it was fine. But honestly, draft stoppers are the way to go. They look way better than towels stuffed in windows, and bonus points for not smelling like wet dog after a week...
Draft stoppers are decent for a quick fix, but honestly, if your window is letting in that much cold air, you might have bigger issues. Usually means the seals or weatherstripping are shot. If you're looking for something temporary that's a bit more effective than draft stoppers, try shrink-wrap window insulation kits. They're cheap, easy to put up with a hairdryer, and actually make a noticeable difference.
Had a customer last winter who swore by towels and blankets stuffed into every gap imaginable—looked like a laundry explosion. Finally convinced him to try the shrink-wrap stuff, and he was amazed at how much warmer the room felt. Plus, no wet dog smell or weird drafts sneaking through gaps.
Long-term though, you might wanna check the window frame itself for warping or damage. If it's older or wooden, moisture and temperature changes can warp it enough to let air in no matter what quick fix you use. A little caulk around the edges can help temporarily too, but eventually you'll probably need to replace the weatherstripping or even consider upgrading the window itself.
Just my two cents...
Shrink-wrap kits are solid, but honestly, if you're feeling serious drafts, I'd just bite the bullet and recaulk or redo the weatherstripping. We moved into our place last year and the previous owner had clearly tried every quick fix imaginable—foam tape, towels, you name it. Finally spent an afternoon properly sealing everything up...night and day difference. Quick fixes help for a bit, but nothing beats actually fixing the source.
"Quick fixes help for a bit, but nothing beats actually fixing the source."
Totally agree, tackling the root cause is usually best. But has anyone tried those thermal curtains as a temporary measure? Wondering if they're worth it until I can find time to recaulk...