Honestly, I’ve had the same headaches with “universal” eco products not fitting anything in my 1930s place. Ended up using weatherstripping tape that’s flexible enough to deal with weird window gaps—nothing fancy, but it actually helped without messing up airflow too much. Tried those shrink-wrap window kits once... never again. I think sometimes you just have to pick your battles with these old houses, you know?
Honestly, I get the frustration with old houses and “universal” eco stuff not fitting right, but I’ve actually had better luck with those window kits than with weatherstripping. Here’s why I keep going back to them, even if they’re a pain:
- The shrink-wrap kits are cheap and make a noticeable difference in my heating bill, especially in winter.
- They’re ugly, yeah, but I just take them down in spring and it’s fine.
- Weatherstripping tape always seems to peel off or get gunky after a few months—maybe I’m using the wrong kind?
I do wonder if there’s a trick to getting weatherstripping to last longer, though. Or maybe it’s just the quirks of these old windows... Either way, I hear you on picking battles. Sometimes I just shove a rolled-up towel in the worst drafty spots and call it good enough.
Shrink-wrap kits really are a lifesaver for drafty old windows. I used to think they were just a stopgap, but after one winter where my weatherstripping turned into a sticky mess, I started relying on them too. The only thing that bugs me is the crinkly look—my partner calls it “living in a plastic bag”—but honestly, it’s worth it for the lower heating bill.
About weatherstripping: I’ve tried foam, felt, even silicone. The foam kind always seems to peel off after a season, especially if there’s any moisture. Silicone’s supposed to last longer, but getting it to stick to old, bumpy wood frames is a pain. Sometimes I’ll use a staple gun or tiny finishing nails with the felt strips, but then you’re left with little holes if you ever take it off.
And yeah, towels in the window sill... been there. Not pretty, but desperate times. I keep telling myself I’ll reglaze the windows one day, but who has the time?
Shrink-wrap’s a classic for a reason—cheap, quick, and you can actually feel the difference on those windy nights. The plastic look isn’t great, but I’ll take that over frost on the inside of the glass. For weatherstripping, if you’re dealing with old, uneven frames, I’ve had some luck using rope caulk. It’s not permanent, peels off clean in spring, and fills weird gaps way better than foam or silicone. Reglazing is a project, but honestly, even just patching the worst spots with glazing putty can help if you don’t have time for the full job. Sometimes it’s about picking your battles.
I hear you on the plastic look—my living room’s basically a greenhouse every winter, but at least my toes aren’t freezing off. Rope caulk is underrated, honestly. Tried foam once and it just crumbled out of my wobbly sashes. Reglazing is on my “someday” list... right after I finish the attic insulation that’s been half-done since 2022.
