I’ve wondered if there’s a way to seal up old windows without making them look worse—like, is there a clear caulk or something less noticeable than rope caulk?
I tried clear silicone caulk last winter and honestly, it worked alright but it was messier than I expected—plus, if you’re not careful it still shows a little. The magnetic storm panels looked promising to me too, but the price kinda put me off. I ended up using that shrink plastic film kit. Not invisible, but less obvious than towels or rope caulk, and it actually helped a lot with drafts.
I ended up using that shrink plastic film kit. Not invisible, but less obvious than towels or rope caulk, and it actually helped a lot with drafts.
I’ve been down the shrink film road too, and yeah, it’s not exactly “invisible,” but at least you don’t end up with windows that look like you’ve wrapped them in bandages. The static cling stuff is even easier, but I found it peels off if you get condensation. The regular kit with the double-sided tape and hair dryer is my go-to when I’m feeling patient enough.
I tried clear caulk once on a bedroom window and let’s just say my “clear” lines were more like wobbly blobs. Maybe it’s just me, but I always end up with fingerprints everywhere and then it’s not so clear anymore... If you’re trying to keep things looking decent, I’d avoid getting too ambitious with caulk unless you’re way neater than I am.
The magnetic panels look slick, but yeah, they’re pricey. I did see someone make a DIY version with cheap acrylic sheets and magnetic tape from the craft store. Looked decent in photos, but I haven’t tried it myself—might be worth a shot if you’re handy and don’t want to drop a bunch of cash.
If you’ve got wood windows and don’t mind something temporary, I’ve used painter’s tape along the edges in a pinch. Not pretty, but it peels off clean in spring and doesn’t leave much residue. It won’t stop a gale, but it’ll slow down a draft.
Honestly, at this point I just layer up sweaters and grumble about my 1920s windows every winter. One day I’ll bite the bullet and replace them all... until then, plastic film and a space heater are holding down the fort.