I was pretty skeptical about those shrink-wrap kits too, honestly. Always seemed like a quick-fix gimmick to me. Last year, though, I had a similar DIY disaster—tried sealing my windows with weatherstripping tape and ended up with sticky residue everywhere and drafts still sneaking through. Decided to give the shrink-wrap a shot out of sheer frustration. Gotta admit, it worked way better than I expected. The hairdryer part was oddly satisfying, watching the plastic tighten up and smooth out. Definitely noticed less condensation and fewer drafts afterward.
Still, I'm not totally sold on the aesthetics. Even when done neatly, it still looks a bit... plasticky? And yeah, peeling it off in spring was a pain. But compared to scraping off dried caulk or dealing with sticky tape residue, it's probably the lesser evil. Guess I'll grudgingly admit they're worth it, at least until I can afford proper window replacements.
"The hairdryer part was oddly satisfying, watching the plastic tighten up and smooth out."
Haha, I totally get what you mean about the hairdryer step—there's something weirdly therapeutic about seeing all those wrinkles vanish. I've used shrink-wrap kits a couple of winters now, and while they're definitely not winning any beauty contests, they do the job surprisingly well. I tried caulking once too, and let's just say my windows looked like a kindergarten art project gone wrong... never again.
One tip I've found helpful: if you take your time applying the double-sided tape and really press it down firmly before putting up the plastic, peeling it off in spring isn't quite as miserable. Still not fun, but at least you're not scraping glue residue for hours. Ultimately, though, I'm with you—these kits are a decent stopgap until proper window replacements are in the budget. Until then, I'll embrace the plasticky look and enjoy fewer drafts and less condensation.
I dunno, the shrink-wrap kits always felt like a hassle to me. Last winter I switched to those insulating curtains instead—way easier and no sticky tape residue drama come spring. Plus, my cat doesn't shred them... bonus points there.
Insulating curtains are definitely a solid choice, especially with pets around. But if you're still getting foggy windows, it might be worth checking your window seals or ventilation—sometimes moisture sneaks in from unexpected spots. Curtains help, but tackling the root cause can make a huge difference.
Insulating curtains do help, sure, but honestly they're more of a band-aid fix. Had the same issue last winter—turned out my attic insulation was lacking. Once I beefed that up, windows stayed clear without messing around with curtains or seals... might be worth checking yours too?
Hadn't even thought about attic insulation being the culprit, honestly. I've been battling foggy windows since moving into my first place last year, and I just assumed it was a window issue. Spent way too much time messing around with weather stripping and those insulating curtains—which, by the way, made my living room look like a vampire's lair. Effective, sure, but not exactly the cozy vibe I was going for.
Anyway, after reading your post, I climbed up into my attic (which was an adventure in itself—pretty sure I disturbed a spider civilization up there). Turns out my insulation is patchy at best, nonexistent at worst. No wonder my heating bills have been ridiculous. Looks like I'll be spending next weekend knee-deep in fiberglass rolls and YouTube tutorials.
Quick question though: did you go with fiberglass batts or blown-in insulation? I've heard mixed things about both. Batts seem easier for a DIY newbie like me, but blown-in apparently fills gaps better. Any advice from your experience would be awesome.
Either way, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. My windows—and my wallet—will hopefully thank you soon enough.
"Batts seem easier for a DIY newbie like me, but blown-in apparently fills gaps better."
You're spot-on here. I've installed both types in various homes, and honestly, blown-in insulation is great at filling those awkward nooks and crannies—especially if your attic has weird angles or tight corners. But for a first-timer, batts are definitely more straightforward. I remember my first attic insulation job: spent half the day wrestling with the blower machine rental and ended up covered head-to-toe in fluff (not my best look). Batts might take a bit longer to fit properly, but they're way less messy and easier to handle solo.
Either way, you're on the right track. Fixing that insulation will make a huge difference—not just with foggy windows but comfort overall. Good luck with the spiders...been there myself, not fun.
Batts were definitely easier for me too, but I still ended up with gaps in some tricky spots. Wondering if blown-in would've been worth the hassle...though the thought of fluff everywhere isn't exactly appealing, haha. Did you notice a big difference right away?
Batts were definitely simpler for me too, but yeah, those tricky corners and weird angles drove me nuts. I ended up using some spray foam to fill in the gaps—it wasn't pretty, but it got the job done. Honestly, blown-in insulation always seemed like it'd be messy and a bit of a hassle to me. A friend of mine went that route and said it was like living in a snow globe for a couple days... fluff everywhere, haha.
As far as noticing a difference right away, I'd say it took maybe a day or two before I really felt it. The house just felt more comfortable overall—fewer drafts and less condensation on the windows. It wasn't like flipping a switch or anything dramatic, but definitely noticeable after a little while. Did you end up sealing around your windows too? That made a big difference for me with fogging issues.
I hear you on the spray foam—it does the job, but man, it's messy stuff. I tried it around my basement windows last year, and let's just say my technique left a lot to be desired. Looked like a melted marshmallow disaster zone for a while, haha. But yeah, sealing around the windows definitely helped cut down on the fogging and condensation issues for me too.
I'm still skeptical about blown-in insulation though. I've heard mixed reviews—some swear by it, others say it's more trouble than it's worth. Did your friend mention if the fluff settled down eventually, or was it still floating around weeks later? I'm curious if the hassle is really worth it in the long run compared to batts or foam boards.