Totally agree about rope caulk—it's underrated stuff. Last winter, I sealed up a drafty window in my home office with it, and the difference was noticeable right away. Plus, no hairdryer drama... learned my lesson after melting a tiny spot on the plastic film once.
"Plus, no hairdryer drama... learned my lesson after melting a tiny spot on the plastic film once."
Haha, I've definitely been there too—those plastic films can be surprisingly finicky. A few winters ago, I tried sealing one of our bedroom windows with the shrink-wrap stuff. Thought I had it under control until I got a bit too confident with the hairdryer and ended up warping the plastic so badly it looked permanently wrinkled... not exactly the sleek, energy-saving look I was going for.
Since then, I've shifted toward rope caulk and silicone weatherstripping tape. Rope caulk is fantastic because it's easy to handle, removable, and you can reuse it season after season. But silicone tape has also been a lifesaver for me—especially around oddly shaped window frames or gaps that are uneven. It compresses nicely, stays flexible in colder temperatures, and doesn't degrade quickly. Plus, it's almost invisible once installed properly, which is a nice bonus if aesthetics matter to you.
One other quick fix I've found handy is thermal curtains. They're not technically sealing the air leaks themselves, but they do an impressive job insulating against cold drafts. We installed some heavy-duty thermal curtains in our living room last year, and the room felt noticeably warmer right away. They work particularly well at night when temperatures drop dramatically. The only downside is that you lose a bit of natural daylight if you keep them drawn during the day.
Anyway, glad to see others appreciating rope caulk—it really deserves more attention for how simple yet effective it can be.
I had a similar mishap with the plastic film last winter—got a bit impatient and ended up with a wrinkly mess that bugged me all season. I've since switched to foam weatherstripping tape, which has been pretty reliable. I agree thermal curtains help, but personally found them a bit bulky and dark for daytime use. Might try rope caulk next time though... sounds promising.
I've had mixed experiences with rope caulk myself. It does seal pretty well and is easy to apply, but I found it left a bit of residue behind when removing it in spring—nothing major, just a bit of cleanup. Foam tape is generally reliable, though I've noticed it can compress over time and lose effectiveness. Have you considered V-seal weatherstripping? It's discreet and allows windows to open and close without fuss. Curious if anyone else has tried it and how it's held up over multiple seasons...
I've used V-seal on quite a few jobs, and it's actually pretty solid. Like you said, it's discreet, which homeowners appreciate since it doesn't mess with the aesthetics. I've seen it hold up decently for a couple seasons at least—though if your windows get heavy use, you'll probably need to check and replace sections every few years. Still beats dealing with sticky residue from rope caulk or compressed foam tape...