How to Make a Door Vent Stopper

Use an old pair of jeans to make a vent stopper.

According to Missouri Families.org, even a small, 1/8-inch gap between the bottom of your door and the doorjamb allows the same amount of air to escape as if you drilled six holes in your door. All that air loss leads to an increased amount of electricity used to heat your home during the cold winter months. A draft dodger, also known as a vent stopper, prevents the air from circulating under the door, saving you money in the end.

Things You'll Need

• Jeans
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Cotton batting
• Rice (optional)
• Sand (optional)
• Dried beans (optional)
• Bottle caps (optional)
• Rocks (optional)
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Cut the leg off a pair of straight-leg jeans, just below where the leg attaches. Cut the sewn cuff off the leg as well. Turn the cut-off leg inside out.

2. Close one end of the jean leg using straight pins. Place the pins 1/2 inch in from the edge. Sew along the pinned edge using a sewing machine.

3. Close the other end of the leg using straight pins. Place the pins 1/2 inch in from the edge of the leg and sew it closed with the sewing machine. This time, leave a 2-inch gap. Remove the straight pins.

4. Turn the jean leg right side out by feeding the jeans through the open hole.

5. Fill the inside of the jean leg to create insulation for the draft door. Use cotton batting, rice, sand or dried beans. If you fill the jeans with something lightweight, such as cotton batting, add some weight to the vent stopper using bottle caps, rocks or any other sturdy material. Stuff the inside of the pants leg until the leg is completely full.

6. Fold the edge of the hole inward 1/2 inch. Hand-sew the hole closed using a needle and thread.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust the length of the jean leg prior to sewing to fit the door.

• Weight added to the vent stopper helps keep the draft from flowing under the door.

• For a no-sew version, cut a leg off a pair of heavy tights. Fill the leg with your choice of filling. Then tie the open end closed to seal it.

References

• Re-Nest: How to Make Your Own Draft Dodger

Resources

• Missouri Families.org; How to Make a Draft Dodger; Barbara Buffaloe