What You'll Need

• Old long sock or fabric tube (about $0-$4): a knee-high or thick tube sock, or a strip of sturdy fabric sewn or tied into a tube.
• Filler (about $3-$6): dry rice, dried lentils, or poly-fill, plus a cup of cat litter or sand if you want extra weight.
• Rubber bands or hair ties (about $1): to close the ends with no sewing.
• Measuring tape (free, use what you have): to match the width of your door.
• Optional felt or fabric scraps (about $2): to add a decorative sleeve.

How to Do It

1. Measure the width of your door gap and add about one inch. This is your target snake length, and nothing touches the door yet.
2. Prep your sock or fabric tube. Turn it inside out if you want a cleaner finish, and make sure there are no holes.
3. Fill the tube with rice or lentils until it is about three-quarters full. Leave some slack so it can flex and hug the floor.
4. Secure the open end with a rubber band, or tie a tight knot. No glue or stitching is needed, which keeps it fully reusable.
5. Place the snake along the base of the door on the inside, pressed snugly against the gap. It stays put by weight alone and leaves no residue.
6. Adjust by squeezing the filler toward the center if the ends lift. Slide it away whenever you open the door, and lift it out for good at move-out.