The size shade I need runs in the hundreds. Block out drapes won't work because the hardware sticks out from the wall letting in streams of light from both sides. I now have a blanket covering the window with a black sheet behind it and it's still not dark enough. Does anyone have any inexpensive solutions? Outside appearance is not an issue.
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Maybe cardboard cut to fit your windows, placed behind the blankets, would help!
USE FOIL.
WORKS GREAT.
we taped up black garbage bags for our kids' room and while, it's not too pretty, it works great.
Did the thick garbag taped on windows work to keep heat out i very desperate here
I agree - try a sleep mask - & add ear plugs? - works for me!
Go to the dollar store & buy a plastic shower curtain that matches the outside of your building or home. (so it looks good on the outside) Cut (or fold) the shower curtain to the size of your window... (this should just "stick" to your window if it's winter, if not just spray a bit of water on your window.)... You could hang up 2 showetrr curtaing, back-to-back to make it extra dark...
* OR, better yet, for under $10 you could do what I did to block out noise from 3 train tracks I lave (literally) in my back yard. (and noise can be just as much a problem as light can be for sleeping during the day) ... I first hung up the plastic $1 store shower curtain & left about 8 inches hanging out the bottom (more on this later) ...Then went to Home Depot & bought hard foam-board insulation (it comes either the size of a sheet of plywood or half that size & comes in about 6 different thickness', I chose 2 inch thickness for about $4) You can cut it with a jigsaw, a hacksaw, an electric carving knife or sometimes just score & break it... (It's just lightweight Styrofoam) ... Cut it to fit INSIDE your window sill exactly... Then tape it in the window with white duct tape (or a color that matches your walls) or Velcro strips if you want to open your window often... The foam sits INSIDE the window-sill (& ON the window-sill ledge) so you can still hang your drapes up over it (& you'll never see it behind the drapes!)....
* You'll have to take the shower curtain down & wipe the window clean about once or twice a year because of possible mold growth (depending on your climate)... But this is both cheap, & fast! ... PLUS, the Styrofoam helps keep out noise & keeps in warmth (or air-conditioning).
---> I guarantee if you hang the styrofoam up you'll have TOTAL & COMPLETE darkness! You'll not be able to tell day from night anymore!... My only problem, I sleep-in more now that I can't see any daylight, but the train & train whistle sound has been reduced considerably because of the Styrofoam!
PS. Betty, if you don't want to hassle with cutting the foam yourself, just take your "INSIDE-the-window" measurements to the home store & they'll cut it for you! (Just ask them where the "Foam Insulation" is)... But I'm a 53 year old gal & I successfully did all this myself with no trouble, & it still looks good from the inside AND outside of my place!
Walmart sells window film in the auto section. It works great. Just cut it to fit your inside window measurements, and you spray windex on your window. Put on the film wipe out. Rub bubbles going down the film with a squeegee or credit card. Wipe away the windex that you'll see come out from underneath,. and you have instant darkening.
Can be removed later when you want it off. Most film are either silver mirror reflectant on the outside view or bronze in color. You can even see out in the day but no one can see back back inside. Works great. Can also apply layer to layer if you want. cost from $5 to $20 depending of the area size you are covering.the mirrored reflection on the outside helps reduce heat against your window as well which cuts down on AC bill.
I saw your from Texas. We use to live in Florida and used it on our windows to help with AC bills give privacy and block out light. It also works great on car windows.
Tape tin foil to your window. I did it and had no problem sleeping the days away.
Try not to use foil, you could be labeled as a meth user.
Hi - I just saw LTD Commodities had some blackout curtains on sale. The curtain panels and shades are each $12.95 - not as cheap as an eye mask, but I can't say I've seen curtains cheaper recently!
I live next to a highway and in front of a school that has floodlights on all night. I found the same problem with the block-out drapes until I bought some inexpensive tension rods and hung the drapes inside the window frame. Works great. I used velcro tapes to attach the drapes to the window frame sides so they wouldn't move and some more velcro to pin back the drapes when I want to let in light and air.
I had this same problem. When my son painted my house a hunter green with terra cota trim, really pretty, he painted my window panes the color of the house. It blends in with the house and unless you look hard it looks like just part of the house. The room is dark. No more problem.
Try taping tar paper to your window. It is the paper they lay down before shingling. It comes in rolls at the hardware store.It will keep out all the light.
My husband, who sleeps days also, bought a roll of heavy black plastic from the hardware store, cut it double the length needed, sealed all four edges with duck tape, and nailed the top behind the curtain next to the window. This is helping immensely!
Use tin foil that is the only way to go, I did it for years. Reynolds has it in heavy duty also. Keeps the heat out in summer also to let A/C run better. With Tape you wont have a "peep" of sunlight coming in!
In the summer months to block out the heat of the day, I have used the heavier aluminum foil to block the windows, making it dark and cool. This summer I plan on doing the same and probably for the next couple years until we can afford central air conditioning.
In my area there are quite a few people who use aluminum foil to block out sun on the south side of the house, and we haven't had anyone wondering if we are drug users. From what I have heard on the news, drug houses are even in the fashionable neighborhoods, so foil on the windows is not always an indicator of a drug house.
We had the same problem, went to the family dollar and bought the aluminum solar sun shades ($2) and taped them up with the wide tape. buy two and cut and tape to block the whole thing out. also they are heavier and provide a little insulation and won't tear up as easily as aluminum foil. works great.
I used Insta Cling Window Film available in the auto section at Walmart to darken the windows in my son's room. Also, the room stays cooler. This is the same film used to darken or tint car windows. It is removeable and applies very easily with soapy water in a spray bottle. It can be cut to fit and smoothed with a credit card. It cost about $10.00 a box. I used the one that lets in only 5% light. His room is now cool and the neighbors nite light no longer disturbs him.
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