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19 votes

How to avoid splash sounds in public toilets?

Avoiding bodily sounds isn't possible, unless you fancy whistling or humming, but putting toilet paper in first will stop the water noises.
Terry's user avatar
  • 802
16 votes
Accepted

Listening to music in cubicle without headphones

To have speakers audible by you, and not others implies either that you have the volume turned down so that due to sound volume diminishing with distance it blends in before reaching others, or use ...
holroy's user avatar
  • 6,984
11 votes

How to avoid splash sounds in public toilets?

I'm going to take this in two parts. How do I avoid farting noises? This might sound weird, but there is a way to do this. Farts come out when the pressure builds up, then releases all at once. So ...
Justin's user avatar
  • 1,431
10 votes
Accepted

Reduce blender noise

They actually make blender sound enclosures which will dampen a blender's noise considerably. These are generally designed for retail applications (i.e. expensive), but you can draw on the basic ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar
10 votes

Keeping quiet in the kitchen at night while other people sleeping

I am in a similar situation at home. I get up to go to work at around six in the morning whilst my wife and two very young children (2 and newborn) continue to sleep. If I make too much noise and ...
Steve Matthews's user avatar
10 votes
Accepted

Reducing the high pitched sound of writing on chalkboard

Apparently, the way you grab the chalk influences in the noise: if you fully grab it, putting your forefinger over it, it will eliminate vibrations. Also, write without making a lot of pressure. ...
Wha2wear's user avatar
  • 377
9 votes

Listening to music in cubicle without headphones

Might want to take a look at Bone Conducting Headphones They're basically what you're looking for. I'm very tempted to get a pair for myself.
Just Do It's user avatar
  • 1,188
9 votes

How to eat loud food (chips, celery) quietly

To me, this is more of a manners question, as crunchy foods are meant to be crunched. So, offer some chips (etc.) to your workmates before snacking. Explain they are welcome to any and apologize for ...
user146399's user avatar
8 votes
Accepted

How can I stop plastic bags that cover computer speakers from vibrating?

Stop using plastic bags to cover your speakers.Change the stuff you use to protect your desk speakers. Use something instead of a thin plastic bag that is: inexpensive easy to find easy to install ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
7 votes

How to make sure I can't be heard by neighbours (without asking them)?

Best way I can suggest: ask. Ask the ones on your floor closest to your shower; ask the ones above and below your apartment. If they don't know offhand, they probably aren't being bothered by it. ...
Zeiss Ikon's user avatar
  • 9,790
7 votes

How can I stop plastic bags that cover computer speakers from vibrating?

Virolina provided a good answer: speakers make the air vibrate, and plastic bags are going to be affected by those vibrations because they're so thin and lightweight. My suggestion is to avoid using ...
BrettFromLA's user avatar
  • 11.6k
5 votes
Accepted

How to reduce the noise from my household washing machine

It sounds as though your washing machine needs to be balanced properly. If you've never done it, it can be a bit of a black art. The machine will normally have 2 feet at the front which can be ...
Lefty's user avatar
  • 3,137
5 votes

Keeping quiet in the kitchen at night while other people sleeping

I'd suggest ensuring people close their doors while sleeping (they should anyway, for fire safety and privacy), and you may want to install a noise machine in the hallway, or play a CD of surf sounds, ...
Zeiss Ikon's user avatar
  • 9,790
5 votes

Coping with the dynamic loudness inequality of a Zoom classroom

If you have a Windows computer, you can try to limit the peak level for your output by using SoundLock. There may be an equivalent program for the Scottish computer. The directions are on the site. ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
4 votes

How to wake up without waking up other people in the same room

Drink lot of water before sleep, so you could wake u on the morning by call of natural (biological ). It won't disturb any one but you. Water is good for everything.
Amanuel Hailu's user avatar
4 votes

How can I soundproof my room (or part of it) so I can sing without annoying my roommates?

One of the best materials for soundproofing is, believe it or not, eggcrate foam. It might not be your cheapest option, but it is certainly not your most expensive. Thick blankets would probably be ...
cccg03's user avatar
  • 141
4 votes
Accepted

DIY sound insulation material for high frequencies

Usually, a high-pitched sound from electronics is due to something resonating. It may well be possible to kill the sound at source by breaking the resonance. If a component is emitting sound due to ...
Chenmunka's user avatar
  • 1,838
4 votes
Accepted

How to reduce the noise of the mini printing machine?

Many, if not most, minimalist printers are manufactured to keep material cost low for competitive pricing and so do not have any more costly provision to be silent in operation. Fan noise tends to be ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
4 votes

How do I get a sound every 25 seconds

A battery operated bluetooth speaker on the odd platform where you can't get power. Then inside, plugged in if need be, something that can play to the speaker. This could easily be a phone since it ...
Kate Gregory's user avatar
  • 1,419
3 votes

Bedtime remote tied to wrist to mute/shut down computer

There are a few possible solutions for this. You could download the audio (or the full videos) from YouTube using several browser extensions. (I will assume there is no copyright on these videos.) ...
user3573647's user avatar
3 votes

Bedtime remote tied to wrist to mute/shut down computer

If you don't mind building your own (and have the skills), Netflix released plans for Netflix Socks that use an Arduino Microcontroller to send a pause signal to your TV when the socks detect that you ...
Johnny's user avatar
  • 251
3 votes

How to eat loud food (chips, celery) quietly

You don't mention if the foods must be raw. If you can cook them first it will soften foods like carrots and other crunchy vegetables and they will no longer be crunchy.
SumGuy's user avatar
  • 131
3 votes

Listening to music in cubicle without headphones

It is possible to focus ultrasound so that non-linear effects make audible sound at the focal point. These speakers are used in retail advertisement, museums, libraries etc. where limiting the range ...
DrMoishe Pippik's user avatar
3 votes

Keeping quiet in the kitchen at night while other people sleeping

If it is your appliance or if they are ok with it, you could remove the bell from the appliances or have a technician do it, is pretty simple. Have a pair of slippers in your car or near the door ...
arana's user avatar
  • 344
3 votes

Managing day-to-day sound from upstairs neighbours

Noise cancelling headphones would protect your ears, as opposed to blasting loud noise which slowly damages hearing. That said, it's not truly a "lifehack", as these headphones range from US$60 to ...
DrMoishe Pippik's user avatar
3 votes

How can I stop plastic bags that cover computer speakers from vibrating?

For outdoors applications, you can get waterproof loudspeaker covers. These are used on PA systems etc. They are made to let the sound through without letting water in. For your desk, covering the ...
Hobbes's user avatar
  • 6,284
3 votes
Accepted

How to minimize breathing being recorded in phone?

The most available 'mics' are a pair of earbuds (like from an iPhone) that have built in mic, this can help a lot, and they are very available. You can often find a few in the junk drawer in your ...
Paul Davis's user avatar
3 votes

Lessen sound vibration from speakers

The best kind of foam to use for seismic isolation is a soft absorbent polyurethane foam which is dark grey. The worst kind of foam to use is one that is stiff such as white styrofoam which conducts ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
3 votes
Accepted

Is there a technique to check if the people downstairs can hear us running on a treadmill without asking them?

The most simple answer is: If you can hear it, they can hear it as well. If you can't hear it, there's no way to know besides asking them. In a physical sense, sound is a vibration of air. It spreads ...
Elmy's user avatar
  • 2,976
3 votes

How do I live with noisy neighbors?

Let's concentrate on the music first. Humans hear sounds in 2 different ways: The air vibration (sound wave) travels into the ear channel, causes the eardrum to vibrate as well, which is then ...
Elmy's user avatar
  • 2,976

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