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It’s getting a bit cold out, isn’t it? I’m being reminded of all the draughts in our house. So I’ve made a couple of really simple draught excluders to pop at the base of our draughtiest doors. My homemade draught excluders are doing a great job at keeping out the wind, and keeping the heat in. So if you’re in a similar predicament, read on for my simple guide to making an easy draught excluder. This is an easy thing you can do to keep your heating bills a little lower this winter.
What Can I Use To Make a Draft Excluder?
If, like me, you have all sorts of random old materials in a drawer waiting for a second life, you can make a draught excluder with stuff that would normally be thrown away.
The beauty of this easy make is that you can use pretty much anything to pad out your draught excluder. I had some ancient PJ bottoms that had split in a way that can’t be mended, some foam that was in a parcel, and some bubble wrap. But any fabric will do.
Stopping draughts coming in to your house (and keeping your warm air inside) is just one way you can be more eco friendly and save money. As you can probably make this draught excluder for free, or very little, depending on what material you already have, it’s a win/win!
What You’ll Need To Make an Easy Draught Excluder
You can make this simple draught excluder without a sewing machine if you’re not in a rush, but it will be quicker if you can sew it with a machine.
- a long rectangle of fairly thick material, about 10cm longer than the width of your door
- sewing thread
- needle
- pins
- scissors (pinking shears if you have them, but regular scissors are fine if not)
- old fabric, foam or even bubble wrap or plastic bags for stuffing
- a handful of odd socks (it’s a great way to use them up!)
- rice or small pebbles to weigh your draft excluder down
I used the end of a velvet curtain that I cut off the bottom of the one I hung in the girls den (see the rest of the curtain in action on my kids’ den post here).
Step 1 To Make a Homemade Draught Excluder: Sew the Cover
Start by measuring the inside of your door frame and cutting your fabric to that width, plus about 10cm. This is to allow enough fabric to hem it, and turn the hem in so it’s hidden. I used pinking shears as the zig zag edge they leave helps stop it the fabric from fraying.
Fold your fabric in half lengthways, with the right side of the fabric on the inside. Sew a simple backstitch around one short end, and the length of the fabric to make a long case.
You can see the white fabric, which is the lining of the old curtain used.
You may want to iron your fabric, if it’s creased, but as I’m using velvet, that wasn’t necessary. Turn your sleeve right side out, by reaching in, grabbing the end on the inside, and pulling it through.
Step 2 To Make a Homemade Draught Excluder: Make Some ‘Weights’
For best results with your homemade draft excluder, you’ll need to find something weigh it down with, so it stays in place. So how do you weigh down your draft excluder? There are lots of ways! I decided to use some of our old odd socks and some old rice that was past its best before date. I made two draught excluders and made five weights: two for the shorter one and three for the longer one.
Just tip some rice into a sock and tie it up. It couldn’t be easier. You may find a funnel will help make this less messy!
You could also use old flour, or pebbles from a beach or your garden. As long as it won’t go off and start to smell, you can use a small bag of whatever you have to hand.
Step 3 To Make a Homemade Draught Excluder: Stuff the Cover
I used a mix of random materials to stuff my homemade draft excluder. As well as the sock weights, I used packaging foam, old clothes and even some old bubble wrap – all of them are great insulators.
Pop one of your weights at the bottom of your draught excluder cover and then stuff it with your materials to about half way. Add another weight and finish stuffing it, before finally adding the last weight.
Finally, fold the end seams in, and hand sew together using matching thread. Pop it in front of your door and admire your handywork!
Now I have two homemade draught excluders to match the curtain behind our front door, and have used up every scrap of this pair of curtains.
If you want any more draught-busting tips, the Energy Saving Trust have some good ideas here. And if you want an easy way to start your eco journey, this post can help.
Why not Pin this guide to making a draught excluder for later?
