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25 Products That Might Help With Your Noisy Apartment Problems

We all love our roommates, but not as much as we love sleep.We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from…

25 Products That Might Help With Your Noisy Apartment Problems

We all love our roommates, but not as much as we love sleep.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

1.

An insulated soundproofing strip that easily sticks to the outer rims of your door so you no longer have to fall asleep to sound of your roommate Skyping from the living room (or vice versa).


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Psst — this insulated strip also stops air conditioning from escaping out of the crack under the door, saving energy and money!

Promising review: “Product works really well! I needed a quick fix to my home office situation, I live in an apartment in Manhattan and never noticed how much sound comes in and out, until I had to be on conference calls working from home! This little tape made a big difference, took me a couple of minutes to install.” —Sandra Revueltas

Get it from Amazon for $8.57 (available in two colors).

2.

A privacy sign meant for offices that can actually be an effective (and cheeky) way to let your roommates know if you need quiet, *or* let them know you’re out of the apartment so they safely can go ham belting showtunes until you get back.


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Promising review: “I work from home, and if you do too you may also encounter this odd scenario: merely closing the door to one’s office is not actually a reliable method to let others know you are working. I can’t say enough good things about this sign. It is a far better design and quality than expected at this price point. The sign is a dial-style, and really sturdy. The dial even has a click-in-place feature to prevent your status from accidentally moving when the door swings shut. Gone are the days of people thinking you’re available when you’re not! Well, at least you have forewarned them! I am extremely happy with the sign, and can recommend it to anyone who might need a little extra assistance in deterring work interruptions!” —Conscious Consumer

Get it from Amazon for $11.95.

3.

A set of stick-on cabinet and drawer bumpers to muffle the noise of when they open and close, so y’all can navigate the kitchen for midnight snacks without getting on each other’s nerves.


Amazon

Promising review: “Work just as promised. My husband without thinking about it always slams the cabinet doors. It’s been driving me crazy and prompted me to find a solution without reinstalling new hinges. These little pads have reduced the noise by 95%. Love it! Worth every penny. Took me a whole 10 minutes to do my entire kitchen and we have a lot of cabinets. Thanking for giving me my sanity back!” —MeL

Get a set of 120 from Amazon for $6.99.

4.

A set of wax ear plugs that mold to the shape of your inner ear like putty, and are so effective that they’re both soundproof *and* water-proof.


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TBH, I swear by these so aggressively that I have them on a subscription. They’re like ear glue. My apartment is on a busy street and my upstairs neighbor is a noisy human being (does this count as a subtweet??) and once I pop these babies in I can barely hear a thing. Plus, my ears never get sore with these in like they do with headphones or other earplugs.

Promising review: “Love these! I’m a super light sleeper so have to wear earplugs nightly. But after using foam ones regularly for over a year my ears were constantly irritated, sore and throbbing. I have small ears and even the foam plugs made for women and small ears just killed me. Finally, my ENT recommended these. I’ll never go back to foam! I’ve been wearing these every night for seven months now with no pain.” —Happy kitty mama

Get a pack of six pairs from Amazon for $3.96.

5.

Or a set of reusable silicone ear plugs you can spin as you insert it into your ear to help block out noise.


Amazon

One of the pairs even comes with a string connecting them, so you’re less likely to lose them!

Promising review: “The best earplugs I have ever owned. I’ve worn earplugs for years as my room in my house is in the middle of everything. Add four adults and two kids under 4 and it’s a very loud house. I’ve tried just about every earplug, and I have the same problem: trouble getting them in, and them always falling out. These earplugs solve all my issues with earplugs and I’ve never been happier. So easy to use, just pull your ear up and twist it in. It feels so secure, no fumbling with rolling the ends and holding it in place. Nice snug fit that’s comfortable. I put them in at night, and I wake up when I want, no 5:30 a.m. screaming matches and toys being thrown downstairs to wake me. If I were awake, I could hear commotion but it sounds very distant. Best part: they’re washable and reusable. No more scattered earplugs around. I have very small ears and these are comfortable. Best money I’ve spent.” —Ofbengal

Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.79.

6.

A white noise machine that makes a constant pfshhhhhh sound or nature sounds all night, helping mask outside noises like car traffic and your neighbor watching The Office at 3 a.m.


Amazon

This compact machine has six noise modes: White Noise, Thunder, Ocean, Rain, Summer Night, and Brook. You can either have it make the noise continuously until you shut it off, or designate it to make noise for 15, 30, or 60 minutes.

Promising review: “I can’t decide which sound is my favorite — but I definitely like the option to change up the sound every few months. This makes it a lot easier to sleep (especially when I have noisy roommates who stay up late or get up early) and I like that there is a timer, so I don’t have to leave it on all night. This is exactly what I wanted!!” —KC

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

7.

Or an upgraded white noise machine that has 20 different fan and white noise options, including 10 different “colors” of noise (if you are picky about ambient noise like I am, YOU KNOW).


Amazon

Each “color” of noise has a different tone and depth to it — I personally prefer “brown noise” since it’s a little less harsh-sounding than white noise. You can find different colors of noises on Spotify and play them from your phone, but this machine is nice for easy access and because it doesn’t “loop” like Spotify does, so there won’t be any weird gaps in the noise to distract you.

Promising review: “Absolutely incredible purchase. I haven’t even thought about outside noise since I brought this bad boy into my life. I am an EXTREMELY light sleeper and fixate on any noise I hear. I moved into a house next to the bus line in a not so quiet neighborhood and this has solved all of my issues. No question one of the best Amazon purchases I have ever made. It also helps my 10 week old puppy sleep well through the night as we no longer hear the incessant barking of our neighbor’s dog. If you seek silence, this is where you should begin.” —comp5330

Get it from Amazon for $42.51.

8.

A pair of noise-cancelling, sweat-proof wireless headphones with a built-in microphone that will come in handy when you’re trying to workout at home or take a call without waking up your roommates.


Amazon

Plus, these babies punch 16 hours of battery life before they need to recharge, so they’ll get you through the whole day if you need ’em.

Promising review: “These wireless headphones are exactly what I was looking for. With COVID-19, I’ve started running outside in the mornings and I wanted wireless headphones to keep me motivated. They came with a nice little mesh case and extra little ear buds/hooks in case they fall off or anything happens. I love that they’re magnetic so the two earbuds can stick together when not in use! I’m seriously impressed and excited.” —Alli

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

9.

Or a pair of AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case, if you’re looking to invest in a hands-free, ridiculously effective noiseproof option. Once these toggle into “noise-cancelling” mode it’s basically like the world disappeared.


Amazon

I have a pair of these, and they’re not playing around. Once they’re securely in your ear, you can toggle the headphones between noise-cancelling and regular sound, depending on your situation. I’ve been working from home, and the noise-cancelling is so effective that I can work next to a window where my neighbor is doing heavy construction and I don’t hear anything louder than a faint buzzing. It’s quieter than if I’d just plugged my ears with my own fingers. I’m also a runner, and these don’t budge when you’re sweating, which is nice. It’s also handy that these toggle out of noise cancellation mode, because I feel better being able to hear traffic and other people around me when I’m out and about. The TL;DR is I love these so much I have zero interest in owning another pair of headphones for as long as I live.

Promising review: “Debated on spending the money for these. Finally just buckled down and got these and LOVE THEM. I love how I can open the case next to my iPhone and a picture pops up telling me about battery life. They were already hooked up to my phone — I didn’t have to do anything (major plus for a non-techie like me). I’ve had zero issues with them cutting out. I typically use them when I’m mowing the lawn and listen to podcasts. When I have the noise cancellation on, I CAN’T HEAR THE MOWER. They’re comfy, easy to put in, and I loooooooove not having the wire tethering me to the phone in my pocket when I’m trying to mow. No more getting tangled up when I grab the handle. Never cuts out. Sound is GREAT. (Chucked my Bose for these. Don’t even miss them.)” —Traveler

Get it from Amazon for $234.95.

10.

A quiet pet ID, because as much as y’all love the happy jingle jangle of each other’s pups frolicking in the living room, it is not so cute when you’re trying to Zoom with your boss.


Amazon

Promising review: “Best dog tag we have ever had. Silent. My husband is a SUPER light sleeper and the dog’s tags would wake him we ever made noise even though they were created at night on the other side of the house. So when we moved recently I found these and the problem was fixed. We like it so well that we will be getting one for our all indoor cats just in case.” —Nichelle

Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in two sizes and three colors).

11.

A thick, textured yoga mat to help absorb noise from jumping or shifting around during at-home workouts, so you and your roomies can get your sweat on without waking up the whole apartment.


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Psst — if you’re looking for workouts specifically aimed at people who live in older apartment buildings with noisy floors, fitness influencer HangTight with Marcie has a whole YouTube workout video with tips!

Promising review: “I brought this to muffle the noise I make when doing step aerobics in my second floor apartment. Works like a charm.” —Kim

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors).

12.

A pair of wireless sleep headphones that will play white noise or the music of your choice in a comfy headband, so you don’t have to risk your ears getting sore while ya snooze.


Amazon

Promising review: “I love love love these! I have been suffering from insomnia for over a year. Partly because my husband snores so loudly. I’ve tried regular ear buds, which fall out, sleep aids, you name it. Nothing else was working, so finally broke down and bought these. I’m so glad I did! Last night I wore these sleep headphones for the first time and fell asleep so fast! I put white noise on my amazon prime music and it completely drowned out the snoring! Definitely try these if you have trouble falling asleep. They were super comfy and easy to sync with my phone.” —Julie Simbto

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

13.

A soundproof door bottom that is also *quite* effective against drafts, smells, and under-the-door light sneaking through at night.


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Plus, you can get it in four different colors, so odds are one will approximately match your door (or you can paint over the white one).

Promising review: “I’m renting an apartment and my front door doesn’t brush up against the floor. There was about an inch gap which was annoying because it meant light, noise, and bugs could get in. Ever since I’ve installed this, I’ve had almost no bugs, no light, and so much less sound! It’s great. The sound blocking is especially amazing because my bedroom is near the front door and I hated hearing my neighbors conversations clear as day in the stairwell. It’s not totally noise cancelling but it’s so much better. It was easy to install — just needed scissors to cut it down to size. Then I wiped the area to clean it, waiting for it to dry, and stuck it on. It practically matches the color of the door so it doesn’t stand out at all. I’m very happy with this product!” —airazeady

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors).

14.

A set of insulated, noise-blocking blackout curtains to help dampen traffic noises from the street and that one pair of birds that won’t stop gossiping outside your window at the break of dawn.


Amazon

Plus, these come in so many colors that you don’t have to sacrifice your ~aesthetic~ for function!

Promising review: “I live in an apartment complex full of little goblins people call children. They like to run up and down the sidewalk for no discernible reason yelling at the top of their lungs while their parents watch on in mild amusement drinking wine on their patio. Lovely family time, I guess. So, naturally, I put these on every window I could. And now my evenings are much quieter, without sacrificing the look of my apartment. They’re easy to pull back during the day when the goblins are away and easy to cover when they emerge in the evenings. So I can just cover my windows and put on a movie and it’s like they’re not even there! These block out a lot of light and sound from the neighborhood and match my decor nicely. I put sheer white curtains over these to create a softer look in the bedroom and it’s gorgeous! Saves my sanity and creates a nice atmosphere.” —jessie & sky

Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in six sizes and 20 colors).

15.

A popular tabletop fan with a low hum to help with any ambient or background noise that might bother you, and also let a ~cool breeze~ into your space.


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I got this model a few years back because my A/C is terrible — it’s just a touch louder than other fans, but the noise is very consistent and soothing, and helps smooth away background noise without like ROARRRING like a white noise machine. The three speeds are nice, too — the air flow is very soft on the lower settings, and not too harsh on the highest one,.

Promising review: “I am beyond impressed. This little thing really kicks out the air, and for a good bit of distance, too! I also like the small footprint. I am one of those people who ‘has’ to have moving air on my face pretty much all the time; an offshoot of claustrophobia, I think. I also have tinnitus, so I like so-called ‘white noise.’ I might wish this fan was just a wee bit louder; it’s really quite quiet. But on high it will does fine for sleeping. All the speeds work well and are useful for various times of day/conditions. No clicking, clacking, grinding, scraping or whoppa-whoppa noises. Just the sound of air moving. At night I place it on the floor about four feet from my bed and can angle the breeze so it blows on me. Even if I turn my face away to the wall I can still feel the breeze and the air bounces back off the wall so I still get my ‘air in the face’ effect.” —emeleste

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

16.

A calendar wall decal for reminding your roomies when you might need quiet, or warning them when you might be the one causing the noise, so there aren’t any surprises when someone’s trying to record their very important grilled cheese-themed podcasts.


Amazon

Promising review: “Moving into a dorm room, my roommate and I wanted a way to be able to communicate what our days are like, and this is the perfect thing to use to do that! We love it!” —Jess Klinzing

Get it from Amazon for $11.80.

17.

A tube of door grease you can use to minimize the unholy SQUAWKKK that wakes you up every time someone in your apartment opens the front door.


Amazon

Promising review: “I bought this after looking up how to fix a squeaky door hinge the article said not to use WD-40 because it its only a temporary fix and they said to use this product. I used it on the door I wanted to fix, WOW it is amazing — the door makes no noise other than the latch and the air it pushes. NO MORE SQUEAK! I then used this on every door hinge in my house — seven doors, three hinges per door, so 21 hinges! And I still have 95% of the tube still left (I was being very generous with each hinge.)” —AmazonDOG

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

18.

A can of insulating paint additive you can mix into regular paint not just to help reduce noise, but to also reduce heating and cooling loss — a major money saver for rooms that get a lot of sun or where it’s difficult to trap heat.


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Plus, the additive doesn’t change the color of your paint at all, so it’s basically just like giving your paint invisible super powers.

Promising review: “I live in South Florida and have a Florida room with a flat roof. Over the years, we have attempted to make this room more efficient thermally and acoustically. The Hy-Tech additive still helped lower the heat coming through the flat roof, but what amazed me is the fact that we had a few major downpours and we can barely hear the rain through the roof. We will be getting our home painted when rainy season is over and I will be adding Hy-Tech’s product to all of my exterior paint. In fact, we decided to go ahead and paint the exterior of the Florida room, so I will be adding the Hy-Tech to that and after, I will add another review. Really impressed with Hy-Tech’s product!” —Richard

Get it from Amazon for $13.25.

19.

A set of silicone trivet mats so you and your roommates can set them down to cook or eat when it’s late at night and you don’t want to disturb each other with the sound of pots or plates clanging on surfaces.


Amazon

These are also great for opening tight jars!

Promising review: “Yes, I am giving a silicone trivet 5 stars. I had recently got some new potholders and was not too thrilled with them, so I decided to give these a try. I think the main reason why these trivets are so versatile is that the silicone is floppy. It bends easily so I can use it as a pot holder, a jar opener or a lid for a small bowl. Of course, works well as a trivet , too.” —Dabby Baby

Get a set of five from Amazon for $10.99.

20.

A set of reusable silicone Stasher bags that will *significantly* reduce the noise factor of meal prep and reheating leftovers — these microwaveable, dishwasher-safe bags are self-sealing (and extra quiet!).


Amazon

Promising review: “Was looking for a bag that I could heat towels in the microwave and a portable oven without the bag melting. I also wanted something flexible (no rigid closing mechanism) and quiet to open/close. This is perfect.” —Amazon Fan

Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in four sizes and eight colors).

21.

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Plus a set of heat-safe silicone appliances that won’t just minimize cooking noise, but will also prevent you from scratching up your pots and pans.


Amazon

Each set includes a large and medium spatula, a large and medium spoon, a medium spreader, a medium pastry brush, an egg whisk, and an egg separator.

Promising review: “Great quality!! I’ve been using them for a few months now and they are great! They clean up well with no spots and feel pretty sturdy while using for thick heavy foods. I also use some for sautéing and have had no heat issues or melting. I would definitely buy these again, but at this rate I won’t need to!” —Mizz87

Get a nine-piece set from Amazon for $15.99.

22.

A silicone ice mold that pops out ice cubes quietly, to prevent the “AKFJGOAKFLJGAG” of the ice machine in your fridge (or the very loud crack of ice coming out of a plastic mold).


Amazon

It also comes with a lid to prevent spilling and make it easier to stash in the freezer.

Promising review: “Flexible and easy to clean, these trays make many small little cubes. Perfect. They are exactly as I had hoped they would be. I like smaller cubes much better than the big boxy type. The trays have lids to make stacking easy and are very clean. The best part is how easily the cubes are released. Terrific purchase.” —C. Lee

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $16.99.

23.

A stainless-steel microwave you can silence (!!) so it won’t beep bop boop at the top of its lungs while you’re trying to microwave that morning up of coffee you let sit for too long.


Amazon

This bb is also equipped with preprogrammed cooking for popular foods like pizza and popcorn, has one-touch start if you know how many minutes you want something cooked for, and an eco-friendly mode. But also, unlike your neighbor’s dog barking at the wall at 2 a.m., it knows when to stay quiet!!

Promising review: “Turned beep off immediately and have been loving this microwave. Works great, friendly controls, excellent product. Why does a microwave need a shrill BEEP each time you touch a button and at least 3 ear piercing BEEP BEEP BEEP when it finishes. It doesn’t, the sound of silence is golden, loving this microwave.” —PK

Get it from Amazon for $89.99.

24.

An Echo Dot, Amazon’s most popular smart speaker, which comes equipped with a ~whisper mode~ — if you whisper to it, it registers your volume and whispers back, so you and your roommates can set alarms or issue voice commands without broadcasting through the walls.


Amazon

Like other smart speakers, you can also use it to stream songs from popular platforms, use voice commands to control aspects of your home, and ask it to do tasks like read the news or the weather and set timers and alarms.

Promising review: “Love the overall new design and it sounds so much better than the previous generations. Much louder and the voice recognition is great...loving the whisper mode, because it really does pick up your whispers and answers in a whisper as to not disturb my partner! Overall love it!” —Christopher T.

Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in five colors).

25.

A thick privacy curtain divider for a shared room designed to muffle noise from the other side, and so opaque you won’t even be able to see the outline of a person on the other side of it.


Amazon

Promising review: “We had to convert our den into a bedroom. We have purchased three of these curtains and they are awesome!! Heavy duty, beautiful color, completely block out light and most sound. Would highly recommend!” —Aprilmhoskins

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in five colors and seven sizes).

Psst — if you’re looking for effective ways to hang it, you can get a curtain rod and ceiling rod brackets on Amazon as well.

You and your roomies enjoying blissful peace! and! quiet!! in your apartment:


NBC

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

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