Which type of weather stripping should I use for old windows and doors?
Older houses often have windows and doors that no longer seal properly because the rubber gets dry and worn out. Choosing between options like foam, brush, or replacement seals can be confusing when trying to fix drafts and restore a proper fit.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 21.5× more often in r/HomeMaintenance than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1using magnetic strips like a refrigerator doorDid this help you?
- 2using the rubber stuff with the adhesive back instead of foamDid this help you?
- 3Trying to use a heat gun to straighten out dents in the rubber sealDid this help you?
- 4Look on top of the door or check weather stripping for a maker stampDid this help you?
- 5Check the maker website for detailsDid this help you?
- 6Replace it with a different type of door sweep available online or at a hardware store rather than an identical matchDid this help you?
- 7Call your landlordDid this help you?
- 8Install a rubberized strip like an overhang flap using a drill and small screws instead of foamDid this help you?
- 9Pulling the weatherstrip straight out of the slit using pliers to get a gripDid this help you?
- 10Pulling the strip out from the bottom, snipping a couple feet up with scissors, and replacing just that pieceDid this help you?
- 11Buying extra replacement stripping in anticipation of future damageDid this help you?
- 12Pulling the old strip out of the groove, buying replacement weather stripping, cutting it to size, and pressing it back in.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My idiot (orange) cat scratched the hell out of the fabric thingy on this very nice set of deck doors because he doesn’t understand what “curfew” means. What do I ask for at Lowe’s when I go try to find something to replace it, and is this a repair I can do myself? (I am not “handy”)”source ↗
“Clear adhesive on shower door looks moldy and ready for a refresh. How would I remove it? What do I replace it with?”source ↗
“What do I ask for at Lowe’s when I go try to find something to replace it, and is this a repair I can do myself? (I am not “handy”)”source ↗
“Our house is pretty old, the windows and doors are not properly sealing anymore. Is there a better type of weather stripping for each? Foam vs brush or something else?”source ↗
“Hello! I need help identifying the replacement for this door sweep. I really can’t figure out what to replace it with. No model or SKU anywhere on the door.”source ↗
“Haven't tried to see whether a heat gun could straighten out the dent in the window seal, but all the rubber is getting dry anyway so would prefer replacing it if possible.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3How to remove brittle window tint and find exterior film
- 4What questions should I ask when replacing old windows and doors?
- 5Upper floor window screens popping out of frames
- 9How to clean the inside of a double pane window
- 13How to replace a broken glass pane yourself
- 4Is replacing rotted wood around basement windows a hard DIY project?