How to Block Out Noise at Night

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (112 Ratings)

Woman soundly sleeping

Not everybody is a sound sleeper. For some, the slightest bit of outside noise can cause the loss of sleep. There is no reason that you need to lose sleep due to this outside noise, though. Here is how you can block out noise at night.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Keep your windows closed whenever possible. This may be more difficult during the summer months, especially if you don't have central air. During the summer, try to close your bedroom windows and leave the other ones open.
Step 2

Run a loud fan in your bedroom at night. You can do this at all times of the year. When colder weather comes, simply point the fan away from your bed or even towards the opening of your bedroom. This way, your room will not get too cold.
Step 3

Use a humidifier during the night. This will block out noise in the same way that a fan will. It is also useful if you are suffering for a cold or you simply want to add more moisture to the air. A humidifier is an easy way to combat dry skin.
Step 4

Keep a TV or radio on during the night. This won't block the noise out as much as a fan will but it will give you something to concentrate on. If you're listening to a ballgame on the radio, for example, you'll be less likely to notice any random noises coming from outside.
Step 5

Buy a noise machine and run those when you are attempting to sleep. These are nice because you can choose a variety of other sounds to hear other than those that come from the outside. Many people prefer the sound of waves crashing to the regular outdoor noises that keep them awake at night.

Comments

osusanna44 said

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on 11/23/2009 Boy I sure could have used this advice last night! I DID know this when my kids were little (long time ago now) and always had a small oscillating fan in their rooms to lull them to sleep for their daytime naps. We also always had one running in our camper in order to drown out the late night partiers and other loud noises there and it always worked! Why oh why didn't I think of these things last night! I swear, I had what I call 'Superman hearing' and could even hear the AIR!!!! LOL
Thanks. Great article, whether it is a reminder, such as in MY case, or a new idea to those who've never tried it! 5 stars!!!

mineral-makeup said

on 11/21/2009 AWESOME article. I live in a farm in the country and it's loud at night with animals howling, etc. I do 3 of the above along with keeping my husband in another room so the bed isn't moving at night either. The DR. said to keep the room no lower than 65.

And during the holidays a little bit of eggnog with yum in it works wonders to keep the guest noises at bay.

mrymurr said

on 11/20/2009 Sleeping with the radio, tv and lights on seems to help me sleep better and seemingly blocks a lot of unwanted noise from other areas/people.

on 11/20/2009 Using earplugs is debatable, therefore it is a better idea to use cotton balls. It is very easy to adjust them to your tolerance level and still hear whenever needed. I do not believe that it is s great idea to close off all outside activity. Hearing a fire alarm, could prove to save lives.