Another trick I've found helpful is bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap, huh? I've heard that before, but doesn't it block out a lot of natural light? I usually prefer clear plastic film—it's fiddly too, sure, but once it's up you barely notice it's there and keeps things bright. Have you tried that instead?
I usually prefer clear plastic film—it's fiddly too, sure, but once it's up you barely notice it's there and keeps things bright.
I've used both bubble wrap and clear film before, and honestly, bubble wrap isn't as bad with light as you'd think. Sure, it's not crystal clear, but it diffuses the light nicely—kind of like privacy glass. Clear film looks better, but I find bubble wrap quicker to slap up if you're in a hurry. Another quick fix I've done is rope caulk; it's easy to apply and remove later without damaging anything.
I've never tried bubble wrap myself, but now you've got me curious. I always assumed it'd block too much light, but the privacy glass comparison makes sense. Clear film has been my go-to as well—though I agree, it's a bit of a pain to get smooth. Rope caulk sounds interesting too...does it leave any residue behind when you remove it? Might have to give that a shot next winter.
I've used rope caulk a few times, and honestly, residue wasn't really the issue for me. It came off pretty cleanly—but I found it didn't always hold up as well as I'd hoped. Last winter, I had this one window in my kitchen that was letting in a nasty draft. Tried rope caulk first because everyone said it was easy, but after a few weeks of temperature swings, it started peeling away at the corners. Ended up going back to clear film despite the hassle of smoothing it out.
One thing I've found surprisingly effective is weatherstripping tape—the foam kind. It's not perfect either (nothing ever is), but it's quick to apply and holds up better over time than rope caulk did for me. Plus, no worries about blocking light or dealing with bubbles and wrinkles like with film. Just my two cents...your mileage may vary depending on your window frames and climate.
I've installed windows for years, and honestly, rope caulk is a bit overrated. Sure, it's easy to slap on, but temperature swings make it unreliable long-term. Foam weatherstripping tape definitely holds better—good call there—but if you want something even sturdier without the hassle of film, try V-seal weatherstripping. It's flexible plastic that folds neatly into the gaps and stays put surprisingly well. Not perfect (what is?), but usually does the trick without much fuss...and no more wrestling with clingy film sheets.
V-seal is pretty solid advice, used it myself and it's held up nicely. Only thing is, I've noticed it can be tricky if your window frames aren't perfectly straight or even. Had a couple older windows where the gaps were uneven, and V-seal didn't quite sit right. Ended up going back to foam tape in those spots. Ever run into that issue, or found a workaround for uneven frames?
Had the same issue with my ancient windows—honestly, they're more crooked than my DIY shelves. Foam tape worked okayish, but have you tried rope caulk? It's moldable, fills uneven gaps nicely, and bonus: peeling it off is oddly satisfying come spring. Ever given that a shot?
Rope caulk's decent, but I found it a bit messy. Last winter, I ended up using bubble wrap (yeah, the packing stuff)—just sprayed water on the glass and stuck it up. Looked weird, but surprisingly effective...and oddly cozy.