Dodging a Winter Draft with a Draft Stopper
Door draft stoppers will help you save money on your heating bills every month in winter. Don’t settle for an ugly one, dodge winter drafts coming through your doors and windows by making a colorful draft stopper that will not only stop drafts, but adds color to your winter decor.
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If you live in southern climes, then you probably don’t need to find ways to dodge the chill of winter from seeping through your door and windows. Here in Pennsylvania, if you live in an old house or one that is not sealed properly, you are going to feel a draft from time to time.
How to Stop Winter Drafts Coming Into a House
There are two easy ways to stop cold drafts. Let’s talk about the pretty way first.
- Use a fabric draft stopper or draft dodger along the bottom of an exterior door. I found the one on the left at a local department store for under $10. It was cheaper to buy than to make, so I bought it knowing I could easily cover it with a scrap of fun fabric I had left over from another project. I added some pom-pom’s, too.
2. The second way to save on your heating bills this winter is not so pretty, but is super easy and even more effective at keeping the winter drafts away. It’s weather stripping. More on adding this at the end of the post.
How To Make a Door Draft Stopper
I made a new cover for a store bought draft stopper, but here is how to make the a draft stopper to cover.
You will need an old long sleeve shirt or sweater.
- Cut one of the sleeves off a shirt or sweater.
- Sew one end closed.
- Stuff it with batting, a rolled towel or dried beans.
- Then make a fabric cover for it the way I explain in the instructions below.
How to Make a Colorful Cover for a Draft Stopper
supplies needed:
- Draft stopper – I found mine at a local store in the bargain basement, but Home Depot sells brown fabric ones by Frost King.
- Fabric
- Thread to match
- Yarn
- Cardboard
- Scissors
1. Measure the length and width of draft stopper. Cut 2 pieces of fabric to those measurements and add about an inch all around for seam allowance. Lay the fabric right sides together on work surface and pin one short side and two long sides together. Sew together on a sewing machine. Remove pins, turn right side out. Place draft stopper inside. Sew open end together by machine or hand.
Optional: I made a pom-pom for each corner.
To learn how to make pom-poms, see this post: A Little Bit of Chic, Warm, and Snuggly
Hot glue or hand stitch a pom-pom to each corner.
Place in front of door.
How To Add Weather Stripping to a Door
There are many types of weatherstripping from caulks to self adhesive foam and rubber. I wanted to use something that would look good around the door that goes out to my deck in my family room and chose to use one by Frost King. It is rubber and has adhesive on it already. I had it around the door jam in less than 5 minutes.
I also use EPDM Rubber Self-Sticking Weatherseal tape instead of caulk. Caulk is perfect to use around drafty windows. Simply measure around the door jam and cut a piece of the tape to that measurement. Remove paper backing and press into the door jam.
For that little bit of time and effort, I will save a lot more in heating costs this winter by simply doing this. No handyman or contractor needed.
If you would like to find out more ways to Winterize your home, check out the tips from Home Depot.
