Pinterest Loves This Clever Cardboard Hack For A Warmer Home During Winter

During the frigid, dark months of winter, it can be expensive and troublesome to keep your home warm. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafty windows are responsible for about 30% of the energy used to heat the home. Not only is this costly, but it makes your home less comfortable. Luckily, a Pinterest-approved cardboard hack might be able to keep the temperature in your home up and possibly save you a few dollars. By wedging a piece beneath your window, or, even better, by covering your window with cardboard, you can get a little more insulation for no cost.

Cardboard is a great alternative for those who are on a tight budget (some window sealing kits can be upwards of $15) or can work wonderfully as a temporary solution. Insulating your windows with cardboard is also an easy way to practice sustainability by reusing what's already in your home. The reason this method is effective because cardboard is not a good conductor of heat, and it will block the warm air from escaping your home. Corrugated cardboard is the best option, since the spaces in the middle of the material can hold the air better.

A quick and easy way to insulate your window is by opening it, placing the cardboard on the windowsill below, and shutting the window onto it. With this method, you can stop cold air from seeping into your home from underneath the window, but it won't insulate any cracks along the sides of your window. To cover your entire window and keep more heat inside your house, try making a cardboard shutter.

To start, measure your window and cut about four pieces of cardboard to this size. If you only have smaller bits of cardboard, you could try taping them together to create the correct size. Now, lay the pieces on top of each other neatly and use duct tape to fasten them together at the sides, or glue the pieces together. Once your shutter is made, use tape that's safe on your walls, such as painter's tape, to hold the cardboard in place. Try to rip pieces of tape that are longer than the sides of the cardboard for a better seal. If you have any aluminum foil on hand, wrapping the front and back of the cardboard shutter with it can add an extra layer of protection.