I need HELP! What can I do to reduce or eliminate sound coming in from door and window?

Question

I just moved in to an studio apartment and spent my first night. I couldn't sleep at all because of the noise coming from outside. My apartment is close to the freeway and I can hear every car passing by and it is driving me insane!

Since this is an apartment, I can't change the door or the window (and I can't afford it). Is there an economical way for me to reduce or eliminate the sound coming from outside?

I wish I didn't moved in if I had known but, everything is great about this apartment except the noise.

I need Help!

Answer 1

Get a white noise machine and put it right outside your door or right next to the window, I would do one for each, it should help. That's why they make them.

Answer 2

PLASTIC.  Get painter's plastic (for covering furniture while they paint) and line your windows with as many layers as necessary.  Cover with curtain and it doesn't show.  I do it for energy conservation, too.

The door is a bit more difficult but be SURE the door has weatherstripping all around the opening.  It will reduce noise.  If necessary, you can put a "curtain" over the door too, to reduce noise.  It can be done.  Just keep working on it.

Answer 3

Believe it or not, in about a week you won't even notice it. In fact, you'll eventually probably find it difficult to sleep without the noise.

When I was growing up, a friend of mine lived literally with his back yard adjacent to a freeway, with only a chain link fence and some hedges separating them. It was incredibly noisy. But, my friend said that he eventually got used to it and just tuned it out.

Same thing with a couple I knew who lived in the flight path of planes taking off from Lindbergh Field in San Diego. I went there one night and was out on the balcony talking when a plane came by. I asked the woman how she could stand the noise and she said she didn't even notice it anymore. After a couple of hours, to my surprise, I didn't even notice it anymore.