For radiator pipe holes, I’ve used escutcheon plates with a dab of caulk behind them. Looks intentional, not like you slapped some putty on and called it a day.
That’s a smart move. I tried the “stuff some steel wool in and hope for the best” method under my kitchen sink last winter. It worked for a while, but then I found little bits of it pushed out onto the floor... so, yeah, not my proudest fix. Escutcheon plates with caulk sound way more legit.
On the door sweeps—totally agree about the rubber ones. Our place has these old, uneven floors and the fancier sweeps just leave gaps. The plain rubber strip is ugly but it actually keeps out the drafts (and whatever else might be trying to sneak in).
One weird trick I picked up from my neighbor: sprinkle a line of cinnamon near any tiny gaps you can’t seal right away. Supposedly ants and mice hate it? Not sure if it’s science or just old-school wisdom, but it smells better than mothballs at least.
Cinnamon’s a new one for me—I’ve always heard peppermint oil does the trick for ants and mice, but I haven’t noticed much of a difference when I’ve tried it. With the steel wool, I had the same issue as you, until I started packing it in with a bit of expanding foam. Mice won’t chew through both, apparently. As for door sweeps, I’m with you—ugly rubber beats a cold draft any day, especially with these old floors that never seem to sit level. Sometimes practical just wins out over pretty.
Steel wool plus foam is a solid combo—been my go-to for years on job sites. Mice are persistent, but they really hate chewing through that mess. On peppermint oil, I’ve seen mixed results too. Some swear by it, but I think it’s more of a deterrent than a solution. Door sweeps are ugly as sin, but honestly, after seeing the energy bills on some older properties, I’ll take ugly over cold any day. Sometimes you just gotta embrace function over form, especially with these old houses that have seen better days.
- Steel wool + foam is a classic, but I’ve had issues with rust stains over time, especially in damp basements.
- Peppermint oil... yeah, it smells nice, but I’ve never seen it actually stop anything determined.
- Door sweeps can look rough, but there are some low-profile magnetic ones now that blend in better—worth checking out if aesthetics matter.
- Has anyone tried ultrasonic repellents? I’m skeptical, but a neighbor swears they work for her 1920s Tudor. Wondering if it’s just a placebo effect or legit science.
- Steel wool’s a go-to, but yeah, rust is a pain—especially in older basements with moisture issues. I’ve switched to copper mesh for that reason.
- Peppermint oil never did much for me either. Smells good for a day, then the critters are back.
- Magnetic door sweeps are solid. Used them on a recent rehab and they’re way less noticeable than the old rubber ones.
- Tried ultrasonic repellents in a rental property once. Didn’t see any measurable difference—might work for some, but I wouldn’t count on it as a standalone fix.