How do I soundproof my apartment without messing up the walls?

Question

I would like to keep the washingmachine/dishwasher/ and the bass sounds from music that are coming from my neighbors out of my apartment. They run water at 4-8 a.m. and it sounds like a waterfall and it wakes me up. Also traffic noise is bad. The walls are very thin. I am renting and cannot tear up the walls. Has anyone made a soundbarrier room just for sleeping? It would have to have ventilation. I don't need a whisperroom with acoustics-just something to keep the sound out. I would like to know how to soundproof a walk-in-closet for sleeping if anyone knows how to do that without tearing up the walls. I have heard of Quietrock drywall, but don't know if that would work for something I'll have to remove when I can get outta here. I tried earplugs but those hurt my ears.

I would like to thank all of you for your advice. I am trying ear plugs again. Thanks to the link at gss, I found out there are some smaller sized ear plugs which motivated me to do more shopping. I found some made by Silencio that have a low-pressure design, cut in a hexagon shape. I am still considering alternatives to ear plugs though because I still cannot wear them very long. Thank you all for your great ideas. Soundblocking involves so many levels, and I cannot choose the best answer yet as I have not been shopping for materials. I have tried lining the closet with comforters, but it has not worked.

Answer 1

buy sheets of styrofoam, and pinned to the walls with small nails, they are easier to remove and dont mess up your walls, or if you can find cork tiles they insulate noise better, but maybe more expensive and need more nails. hope this helps

Answer 2

Soundproof Apartment

Answer 3

They make a product called "sound-attenuation batting". This stuff you can "hang" on the walls, and will dampen the noise significantly. However, it does not take paint very well, and will do nothing for your windows (I'm afraid your are stuck there).

Another way is to get permission from your landlord to have sound-foam insulation injected into your walls. I'm sure the landlord would agree since it is increasing the value of his property, AND making a happy renter). In any case, it isn't ver expensive, takes only a couple of hours, and you only have to repair a few small holes in the wall (easy enough with a putty-knofe, some spackle, and a matching paint).

Other than that, kickeing the crap out of your noisy neighbors is all that I can suggest (probably NOT the "best" suggestion, but might be effective nonetheless ! :-)

Good luck

Answer 4

RE:
How do I soundproof my apartment without messing up the walls?
I would like to keep the washingmachine/dishwasher/ and the bass sounds from music that are coming from my neighbors out of my apartment. They run water at 4-8 a.m. and it sounds like a waterfall and it wakes me up. Also traffic noise is bad. The walls are very thin. I am renting and cannot tear...

Answer 5

In the home center you will find in the insulation dept, foam sheets which look just like the tray's that meat from the market come on...I am not sure of the brand name..they are light and are a good sound proof material that is also cheap...they can be painted with paint to resemble your regular wall...I hung this with Velcro strips in the corners of the sheets, in our babies room, just like paneling..it killed the sounds that came from next door, made the room warmer..and when we moved it was easy to just take down and peel the velcro off the wall..no damages.! It cost us about 50 bucks to do an 8x12 room...hope that helps you out.

Answer 6

the best thing that i can suggest would be a fan. it seems to cancel out a lot of noise. as far as the boom-boom from the bass
from the neighbors, tell the property manager to have them keep it quite. in most leases it should state that if you are bothering other residents no matter the time, that you quit that activity or you will be evicted (you, meaning every resident). the apts.
that i'm the area maintenance manager of, have at least 16' of space
between them and 3" of drywall between them with fiberglass
insulation in the walls and still if they play their music to loud
you can hear it. heck i live in one. try the fan it works for me.

Answer 7

try using cork board squares. they have peel back tiles and are suppose to be quite the rage now. and would be useful for many things. you could also hangs pics or whatever on the wall then w/o really messing up the walls. or get permission from your landlord or have the landlord address your compliant with your neighbors first.

Answer 8

Along with earplugs I bought a cheap white noise machine ($10) and a medium sized Honeywell fan - it's loud but soothing. Turn BOTH of them on and put in the earplugs every time you want to sleep. Then you won't have to sleep in a closet.

Answer 9

Why soundproof when for pennies you can buy soft foam earplugs that cancel out 90-95% of any noise at any frequency. My wife wears them because I snore horribly loud!! Go to Walgreens or WalMart, they are really cheap and will save your walls and your wallet!!

Answer 10

Egg containers, those sold in flats. they are very light, trap air between themselves and the walls. Use a good double sided tape, and be prepared to use a thumbtack at edges and in corners.