How to Soundproof a Door with Household Items

Living in a noisy environment can be extremely frustrating, especially when it interferes with your peace and quiet at home. One common source of noise infiltration is through doors, which can allow sounds to pass through easily. However, soundproofing a door doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive task.

In this blog post, we will explore how to soundproof a door using simple household items, enabling you to create a more peaceful and serene living space. Below are some of the tested and proven methods that will help reduce noise coming through the door. It’s important to note that you can also implement these hacks when soundproofing a hollow door.

Understanding Sound Transmission

Before delving into soundproofing techniques, it’s important to understand how sound travels through a door. Sound waves can easily pass through gaps, cracks, and hollow spaces, making doors susceptible to noise leakage. To effectively soundproof a door, our objective is to minimize these pathways through which sound can travel.

Identifying Noise Leaks

The first step in soundproofing a door is to identify any potential noise leaks. Start by standing outside the room with the door closed and listen for any sounds seeping through. Pay attention to gaps between the door and the frame, spaces around the door handle, and any cracks or holes that may exist. Identifying these leaks will help you determine the areas that require attention during the soundproofing process.

Now, let’s explore some effective soundproofing techniques using household items:

1. Use Carpet and Rugs

While carpet and rugs can help to some extent, it’s important to note that they won’t provide complete soundproofing. However, they can reduce the amount of sound that passes through the door. Here’s what you can do:

• Measure the door: Start by measuring the dimensions of your door. This will help you determine the size and amount of carpet or rugs you’ll need.
• Choose dense and thick materials: Look for dense and thick carpet or rugs. The thicker the material, the better it will be at absorbing sound. Consider using carpets or rugs with a higher pile or shaggy texture.
• Cut the carpet or rugs to size: Once you have the carpet or rugs, measure and cut them to fit the dimensions of your door. Make sure to leave a little extra on each side to ensure full coverage.
• Attach the carpet or rugs to the door: You can use a strong adhesive or carpet tape to attach the carpet or rugs to the door. Apply the adhesive or tape to the back of the carpet/rug and press it firmly against the door surface. Ensure that the entire surface is covered, including the edges.

2. Make Use of Your Furniture

In our previous article on soundproofing a dorm room, we mentioned how rearranging furniture is important.

You can also use the available furniture to your advantage. All you have to do is switch the positions of the furniture in the house.

If the door that is letting in the noise is the one you don’t use, you can place heavy furniture such as couches or wardrobe against it.

You can also place your bookshelf against the door then fill it with books to increase the chances of blocking the noise. Using furniture as a means of noise reduction is that you need to move them, and doing it alone can be difficult.

This method only works well on the unused door; for a used door, you should consider other soundproofing means.

3. Hang Curtains on the Door

Use available curtains in your home to soundproof the door by hanging them on the door.

You can also hang drapes on your door as they are not only for the window. What you need to do is install curtains rods above the door’s frame then hang the drapes.

When hanging the curtains, ensure you choose the one that is long enough to touch the floor to increase its efficiency at noise reduction. If you have thicker curtains, that will be better for the door since a thicker fabric can absorb and deaden noise.

However, don’t worry if you don’t have thicker curtains as the regular ones can work just fine.

4. Paint the Door

Another way you can soundproof your door is by painting it using soundproof paint.

You are probably wondering how the painting will change the amount of noise coming into the house.

The paint adds to the thickness of the door, which increases the chances of noise reduction.

When applying the paint, ensure you apply several layers to the door to make it thicker.

Keep in mind that painting your door not only decreases noise coming in but also adds to the visual appeal of your home.

Also, painting the door is a good way of protecting it against damaging environmental conditions.

If you happen to have soundproofing paint in your home, you don’t need the regular paint.

Soundproofing paint contains acoustic properties that help in noise reduction.

5. Use Green Glue

If you have green glue left over after a construction project in your home, you can use it to seal cracks on the door.

Green glue is an adhesive but also a soundproofing product that is effective at minimizing noise.

Inspect the door for any crack that might be letting in noise.

Ensure you focus between the door and the frame, as this is a notorious place for cracks and gaps.

Once you have found the cracks, you need to clean them properly by removing dirt, debris, or any other thing that could interfere with the glue.

If you clean these areas with water, ensure you let it dry first before applying the glue.

Once you have applied a good amount of the glue, let it dry first before opening or closing the door.

If you don’t have the glue, you can ask your neighbor for some or use a bathroom sealant as it works in the same way.

6. Green Glue Alternatives

If you don’t have glue or a sealant, you can use regular tape to seal the cracks.

A tape is an easy and cheap means of noise reduction, which, when appropriately applied, the tape will reduce noise significantly.

When choosing a tape, ensure you go for the thickest as it effectively reduces noise.

You can also add wallpaper on the door then attach it with the tape if you don’t want your door to have a funny look.

You can use interior door sweeps to seal the gap between the door frame and the floor.

7. Use the Old Blankets

Using old blankets to soundproof a door can be a simple and cost-effective solution. While it may not provide the same level of soundproofing as specialized materials, it can certainly help reduce noise transmission. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use old blankets to soundproof a door:

• Gather materials: You will need old blankets, preferably thicker ones, that you no longer need or can repurpose. You may also need some adhesive hooks or nails, a staple gun, or heavy-duty tape, depending on the method you choose.
• Measure the door: Measure the dimensions of your door to determine how much blanket material you will need. Make sure to account for any handles, locks, or hinges that might require adjustments.
• Cut the blankets: Cut the blankets into pieces that match the dimensions of your door. You can cut them slightly larger to ensure full coverage.
• Attach the blankets to the door:
  • Method 1: Adhesive hooks or nails: If the blankets are heavy, you can attach them using adhesive hooks or nails. Place the hooks or nails along the top and sides of the door frame and hang the blankets on them.
  • Method 2: Staple gun or tape: If the blankets are lightweight or if you prefer a temporary solution, you can use a staple gun or heavy-duty tape to secure the blankets directly to the door. Start by attaching one blanket to the top edge of the door, then stretch it down and attach it to the sides. Repeat this process with additional blankets until the door is fully covered.
• Ensure a snug fit: Make sure the blankets fit tightly against the door to minimize any gaps that sound might leak through. If necessary, you can add additional fasteners or tape along the edges to keep the blankets in place.
• Test the soundproofing: Close the door and test the effectiveness of the soundproofing by creating noise on the other side. Assess the results and make adjustments if needed.

7. Use Mattresses and Pillows

If you have extra mattresses and pillows in the house, you can use them on your door to minimize the noise.

Place them against the door as a way to add mass to it. Using mattress and pillows is a quick means of noise reduction, especially at night when you have no other option.

Make sure you use place something heavy against the mattress when you place the mattresses on the door.

On How to Soundproof A Door with Household Items

If you’re on a budget, it’s understandable that using the household option is the last resort.

Above are the best methods on how to soundproof a door with household items. They are also effective when soundproofing your drum room door.

It only takes a little creativity and a few hours of your time to reduce noise coming through the door.

For the best result, I would recommend combining multiple hacks simultaneously.

References:

• https://www.soundproofcow.com/soundproofing-101/how-to-soundproof-a-home-2/how-to-soundproof-a-door-2/
• https://soundproofguide.com/how-to-soundproof-a-door-with-household-items-that-actually-works/
• https://soundproofcentral.com/soundproof-door-household-items/