People are sticking bubble wrap to their windows to keep their heating costs down — here's why it works

bubble wrap on window — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Cold weather can send your household bills sky rocketing and while it might feel like we just have to accept it and keep the heating on to beat the frosty climes, there's actually an easy way to cut costs – and it's surprisingly affordable.

Bubble wrap is one of the five ways to weatherize your windows and you might already find you have it in your home. Wrapping up gifts or fragile items is one thing, but insulating your windows with it is a trick you might not have heard of.

With some simple steps, you can make your home warmer while still allowing the natural light to shine in. If you're looking to keep costs low, here's exactly what you should do – and it starts with grabbing any excess bubble wrap you can find!

How to use bubble wrap to insulate your windows

Spraying window — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

With a roll of bubble wrap, scissors and a spray bottle filled with water in hand, you'll be able to help insulate your home in no time at all. Here's the simple steps to follow:

Cut the bubble wrap to fit your window
Lightly spray your window with water
Place the bubble wrap onto the window
Repeat these three steps around your home

Why it works

Bubble wrap is made of lots of evenly-spaced little pockets of air merged with a layer of polyethylene film, making it a great barrier between cold windows and the rest of your home. When you place the bubble wrap on your windows, you're creating something similar to double-glazing, adding an additional layer that's going to form a barrier.

And, because you can see through it, it also won't trap all the light out of your home – and we all need as much daylight as possible in the cold, winter months.

Plus, it's not going to cost you a lot to try it out, given how affordable it is, and applying the bubble wrap to your windows with water means it's also easily removed, not leaving behind any sticky residue. Easy cleanup and cost-effective.

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Grace is a freelance journalist working across homes, lifestyle, gaming and entertainment. You'll find her writing for Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Space.com, and other sites. If she's not rearranging her furniture, decluttering her home, or relaxing in front of the latest streaming series, she'll be typing fervently about any of her much-loved hobbies and interests. To aid her writing, she loves to head down internet rabbit holes for an unprecedented amount of time.

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