need some crafty help

sparklewing

My flat is pretty much a wind tunnel as i discovered throught the gales last night all the windows are draughty as are all the doors.

Now cant afford to get new windows though wish I could(one leaks when it rains) so need some crafty ideas for draught exclusion preferably involving spending no money/as little as possible. I have a shocking amount of clothing that can be used which no longer fits me the song who ate all the pies could have been written specially for me lol.

Also would like to make a throw of some kind for my sofa as the fur one i had there is now living on my bed for winter, and very cosy it is too.

Oh and...(promise this is the last bit) I have an open fire which I dont use and the draught from that is awful how do i go about stopping that? dont want it permanently sealed as may use it at times need a fire cosy or something.

Thank you :j

foreverskint

We have a fireplace, and I stuff a bin bag full of carrier bags and shove it up the chimney a bit. That helps to stop some of the draught. Or you could make some kind of close fitting screen to put in front of the open grate? I'm sitting here now, having cleared out the fireplace ready for winter and have just realised why my feet are cold. I forgot to put the bags back up the chimney.
Do remember though if yu do this to remove them before lighting a fire.:eek:

You could makje some of those old style draft excluders for the bottoms of the doors. The ones like long sausages?. Someone wil be along soon to tell you how, as my sewing skills are very limited

foreverskint

And do remember when pulling bags out of chimney, so it slowly and carefully as it can drag some soot down with it,

squeaky

I'm sure the In My Home board is a good place to get plenty of tips on draught exclusion from so I shall move this thread across shortly.

kscour

draught excluder - old pair of jeans/cords, chop of leg, stuff with bits of old clothes tie ends up with ribbon.
Cling film over draughty bits that you don't have to open.
you can buy special curtain liners which are an expense but they do work
Curtains over doors are a big help if they won't get in the way - in our old cottage we bought a special rod that raised as the door opened so the curtain didn't get in the way and the door was easy to open, then we left the curtain too long and rammed a huge cord "sausage" stuffed with old clothes against the bottom of the door. That cut out an awful lot of draughts but it was a pain if someone knocked at the door!

ooo000ooo

clear sellotape round the draughty windows is cheap and effective

robnye

if your windows are the sash type, put folded/rolled up newspaper in the gaps between the windows

me old grandad used to swear by it.....