Winter has arrived in Ottawa, and with it comes calls about ways to cope with nasty drafts around windows and doors. If your home or apartment needs better insulation, and new windows or doors are not in the budget, consider applying shrink-wrap film or adding additional weather-stripping.
Another popular option are homemade or store-bought draft snakes. Draft snakes are fabric tubes filled with rice, which can be placed in window sills or at the base of doors. They are very affordable to make, especially if you reuse fabric (old jeans) or purchase upholstery fabric remnants from a thrift store.
For step-by-step DIY instructions, check out this great tutorial at 17 Apart: Door Snake Draft Stopper