Winter brings cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, and, unfortunately, those icy drafts that sneak through your window gaps. Keep cold drafts out without cranking up the thermostat and skyrocketing your heating bill. Before you spend a fortune on professional weatherstripping or expensive window replacements, consider trying some clever foam noodle hacks for window gaps instead. The foam pool noodle offers a surprisingly effective, budget-friendly solution to your winter woes.
Why Foam Noodles Make Great Insulators
You might associate these colorful tubes with splashing around in the pool, but they actually have many other uses. Pool noodles consist of polyethylene foam, a material that traps air bubbles within its structure. This creates an excellent barrier against thermal transfer, as it stops cold air from rushing in and prevents precious hot air from leaking out.
Sealing the Windowsill
The most common offender for drafts is the gap between the window sash and the sill. To fix this, grab a standard pool noodle and a measuring tape. Measure the width of your window, and cut the noodle to match the window length using a serrated knife or heavy-duty scissors.
Then press it snugly into the gap at the bottom of the window. If the noodle is too thick, slice it lengthwise to create a flatter profile or to fit over the edge of the sash like a clamp. Since the foam compresses easily, it makes a tight seal that effectively blocks wind.
The Sliding Window Solution
Sliding windows have tricky tracks that let air whistle through. A whole noodle is too bulky for these narrow spaces. So, you’ll need to cut your noodle to fit the sliding window, then slice it lengthwise, down the middle into a half-moon shape. Wedge this piece directly into the window track. This stops the draft and adds a layer of sound insulation against howling winter winds.
Aesthetics and Budget
Don't compromise on style to save money. You can find options that blend better with your home decor or seasonal themes. Maybe you want green pool noodles that are cheap, so you can buy them in bulk and cover them with fabric to match your curtains. Or you can wrap the foam in an old pillowcase, or a strip of flannel adds an extra layer of protection that looks like a design choice rather than a quick fix.
Get Your Supplies From the Best
Winter waits for no one, and neither should your home insulation projects. When you’re ready to try foam noodle hacks for window gaps, you need high-quality foam that lasts throughout the season.
Honor Trading Company provides versatile and durable foam products that tackle any DIY project. Browse our extensive inventory today and turn those cold drafts into a distant memory.