That towel trick is underrated—used to do the same thing in my first apartment, and it really does help, even if it looks a bit makeshift. I totally get what you mean about tuning out the noise after a while. City sirens though... those seem to cut through anything, don’t they? I always figured thick curtains would do more, but honestly, unless they’re the super heavy, theater-style ones, the difference is pretty minor.
Have you ever tried those window inserts? I haven’t splurged for them yet but heard from a neighbor they make a noticeable dent in both sound and drafts. Not cheap, so I’ve been holding off. Otherwise, for me, a white noise machine at night made a surprising difference—kind of blends the street sounds into the background hum.
It’s wild what we get used to living in cities. Sometimes I think if it ever went totally quiet here, that would be just as weird.
I always figured thick curtains would do more, but honestly, unless they’re the super heavy, theater-style ones, the difference is pretty minor.
Totally agree—regular curtains barely made a dent for me either. I actually tried layering two sets (sheer behind blackout) and it helped a bit, but still not a miracle fix. Those window inserts sound tempting, but like you said, not cheap. I’ve seen some DIY versions using acrylic sheets and magnetic tape if you’re handy. White noise machines are such a game changer though—once you start, it’s hard to sleep without one. Funny how the city sounds become part of the routine after a while...
Those window inserts sound tempting, but like you said, not cheap.
I tried making my own with acrylic and magnetic strips last winter—honestly, it helped with both noise and drafts. Not perfect, but better than double curtains. White noise is great, but I still notice the garbage trucks at 5am...
That DIY approach with acrylic and magnets is pretty solid. I’ve seen folks get decent results that way—definitely better than just layering curtains, like you said. If you’re still hearing trucks, maybe try adding weatherstripping around the window frame too. Sometimes it’s the little gaps that let the noise sneak in... not perfect, but every bit helps.
Sometimes it’s the little gaps that let the noise sneak in...
I’m curious about this—does weatherstripping actually make a noticeable difference if the windows are old and a bit warped? I feel like I’d just be sealing in drafts, but not really blocking out the heavy truck noise. Anyone tried it on really uneven frames?
I feel like I’d just be sealing in drafts, but not really blocking out the heavy truck noise.
Totally get what you mean. Weatherstripping does help with drafts for sure, but with old, warped windows, it’s kind of hit or miss for outside noise—especially the big stuff like trucks. I’ve tried the foam tape and that rope caulk on my 1950s windows (frames are all over the place), and it definitely cut down on the whistling wind, but the rumble from the street still found its way in. It’s like you can muffle the little stuff, but the low-frequency sounds just barrel right through the glass and frames.
One thing I noticed, though—if you layer up with those thick, heavy curtains on top of weatherstripping, it can actually take the edge off the worst of it. Not perfect, but it’s something. If you’re dealing with really uneven frames, sometimes the strips don’t even stick right, or they leave little gaps, so it’s a bit of a pain. Honestly, I think you get more bang for your buck with a combo of weatherstripping and some kind of window plug or secondary acrylic panel, if you can swing it. Just my two cents from living on a busy street.
it’s like you can muffle the little stuff, but the low-frequency sounds just barrel right through the glass and frames.
Yeah, that’s been my experience too. Heavy curtains and weatherstripping help a bit, but those deep rumbles just find a way in. Honestly, even with all the DIY tricks, it’s tough to get total silence with old windows. Still, every little bit helps—sometimes just reducing the noise a notch or two makes a big difference in how livable the space feels. Don’t get discouraged if it’s not perfect.
Totally get what you mean about those deep rumbles. I live near a busy street and even after adding thick curtains and some foam strips, I still get the occasional truck shaking the whole room. One thing that helped a bit was rearranging furniture—putting bookshelves up against the window wall seemed to deaden the sound a little. It’s not perfect, but like you said, even a small improvement can make the place feel a lot calmer.