"Haha, I remember doing that cling wrap trick back in college—my roommates thought I'd lost it."
Yeah, I tried the cling wrap thing once too... honestly felt like I was living inside a sandwich bag. It did help a little, but not enough to justify the weird looks from visitors, lol. Totally agree about thermal curtains though—they were a game changer for me last winter. Just make sure you get ones wide enough to cover the whole window frame; otherwise cold air sneaks around the edges and defeats the purpose.
One other thing I've found helpful is weatherstripping tape. It's cheap and easy to apply along window edges or gaps, and it doesn't look nearly as goofy as plastic wrap. Can't vouch for those draft stoppers personally—I always figured my cat would just drag them around the house—but maybe I'll give them a shot this year.
Haha, yeah, cling wrap is one of those things that sounds good in theory but ends up being a pain in practice. You made a solid point about thermal curtains—when installed right, they really do help. As far as draft stoppers go, they're hit or miss in my experience. I once had a client whose dog thought the stopper was a chew toy... didn't end well.
Weatherstripping tape is definitely a good move and surprisingly underrated. Just make sure the surface is clean and dry before applying—otherwise it'll peel off sooner than you'd like. Also, check around the window frame itself; sometimes gaps aren't obvious at first glance. If you feel cold air coming through, a little caulk or foam sealant can do wonders.
Sounds like you're already on the right track though... good luck keeping cozy this winter.
You're spot on about weatherstripping tape—it's effective but can be finicky to apply. I've seen plenty of people slap it on without prepping the surface, then wonder why it starts peeling after a week or two. Caulk is usually my go-to for quick fixes, but foam sealant can get messy if you're not careful. Sounds like you've covered most bases already... just don't underestimate how sneaky those tiny gaps can be. Good luck staying warm this season.
"just don't underestimate how sneaky those tiny gaps can be."
Haha, you're not kidding about those sneaky gaps. Reminds me of a job I did a couple winters back—customer swore up and down their window was sealed tight, but they still felt drafts. I checked everything twice, couldn't find anything obvious... until I finally noticed the tiniest gap hidden behind the trim. Seriously, it was barely wide enough to slide a credit card through, but it was letting in a surprising amount of cold air.
Ended up sealing it with some clear silicone caulk—did the trick perfectly. Weatherstripping tape is great, but like you said, prep is key. I've had success by wiping surfaces down with rubbing alcohol first; helps the adhesive stick way better. Foam sealant is definitely messy if you're not careful—I learned that the hard way (still have a jacket with permanent foam spots on it).
Anyway, sounds like you've got this covered pretty well already. Hope you manage to keep the chill out!
"Foam sealant is definitely messy if you're not careful—I learned that the hard way (still have a jacket with permanent foam spots on it)."
Haha, been there... ruined a perfectly good pair of gloves once. Silicone caulk's usually my go-to—cleaner and easier to control. But yeah, those tiny gaps are sneaky little devils.
I've had my share of foam sealant disasters too—still have a screwdriver handle permanently encased in the stuff. Silicone caulk is definitely cleaner, but for a quick fix on drafty windows, I've found weatherstripping tape to be surprisingly effective. It's easy to apply, doesn't leave a mess, and you can peel it off later without damaging paint or finishes. If you're dealing with really tiny gaps, clear removable caulk (the kind you peel off in spring) works wonders. It's not as messy as foam and easier to control than silicone. Plus, it doesn't permanently bond to your favorite jacket or gloves... ask me how I know.
"Plus, it doesn't permanently bond to your favorite jacket or gloves... ask me how I know."
Ha, sounds like we've all been initiated into the foam sealant disaster club at some point—I still have a pair of jeans with a suspiciously permanent foam patch. Good call on the weatherstripping tape; I've used it myself and found it surprisingly effective for temporary fixes. Haven't tried the removable clear caulk yet, but your description makes me think it's worth giving it a shot next winter... minus the wardrobe casualties.
"Good call on the weatherstripping tape; I've used it myself and found it surprisingly effective for temporary fixes."
Weatherstripping tape is decent, but have you noticed it tends to peel off after a while, especially if there's condensation? I tried it last winter and ended up reapplying it multiple times. Maybe it's just me or the brand I bought, but it wasn't exactly hassle-free.
Honestly, the removable clear caulk sounds interesting, but does it really come off cleanly without leaving residue behind? I'm skeptical about anything labeled "removable" after my foam sealant fiasco (still scraping bits off the window frame...). Has anyone tried those shrink-wrap window insulation kits instead? They look a bit flimsy, but I've heard they actually work pretty well.
"Weatherstripping tape is decent, but have you noticed it tends to peel off after a while, especially if there's condensation?"
Yeah, I've had the same issue—condensation definitely shortens its lifespan. A quick tip: wiping the surface down with rubbing alcohol first helps it stick longer. Tried the shrink-wrap kits too, and honestly, they're surprisingly effective. They look flimsy, but once you hit them with a hairdryer, they tighten right up and block drafts pretty well. Worth a shot if tape isn't cutting it.
Yeah, shrink-wrap kits are surprisingly solid—I was skeptical at first too, thought they'd look like cling wrap on leftovers, lol. But honestly, once they're tightened up, you hardly notice them and the room feels way warmer. Beats constantly re-sticking tape every few weeks...