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Earplugs
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Posted by willamae (My Page) on Mon, Aug 24, 09 at 15:57
| I had issues with my former upstairs neighbor. He has since moved, but I would PAY to have him move back.
We have a new neighbor. Just some background: We live in a old Victorian home (circa 1900s). My husband and I on the bottom, the new neighbor on the top. There is little to no soundproofing. Her "half" of her space covers our office,bedroom and living room. We can't hear her in the Dining room (where we have been sleeping since she moved in) and kitchen.
The Problem: I understand everyday noise. I get it..fine. You flush a toilet, run water, have guests over once and a while.
But this woman is loud. She walks like she has concrete shoes on. Maybe she is one of those people that walk on their heels?? She starts "the party" thursday night and it keeps going till sunday. She slams everything. Don't get me started on the "gentlemen caller" she had come over at 11:30pm on a sunday night(I thought she was being robbed or worse. I was close to calling the cops.) I could go on and on, but you've all heard it on this forum before. My old neighbor was odd, don't get me wrong but you NEVER heard him walk or slam things.
Basically I've been trying to find earplugs that work. I have plastic ones but they tend to fall out at night. I have pink foam ones that do pretty well, but they fall out at night. I've complained to my LL about this woman, but it seems no change. So, I've decided to tough it out (unless I really flip my lid) until our moving date (may 15th 2010). Any suggestions? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Earplugs
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| Why live where you are miserable? Complain to your landlord -EVERYDAY- about the noise. Cite the portions of the lease agreement where it says anything about quiet enjoyment of your home, etc. do whatever you can to get out of the lease, May is a LONG time when you are dreading every single day. |
RE: Earplugs
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| I have complained 3 times to my LL (she moved in mid june). We even called the neighbor ourselves once after a party that lasted 5am monday morning. Of course she promised "it will never happen again". I have documented the noise that I consider unreasonable (i.e anything past 10pm). The thing is, I am miserable. I'm exhausted and anxious whenever we walk through the door. I've even consider visiting a doctor to talk about treatment for anxiety (That may seem extreme to some of you..but It has crossed my mind). During the weekday she works. I'm at home doing an online masters program. I want to get out of the lease like you wouldn't believe. Its tough though. We have bills and the surprise of having to buy a new car...etc. Earplug suggestions for the weekday nights would be helpful. I will try my best to get out of here..I don't think I'll make it till may though |
RE: Earplugs
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| When buying earplugs, you need to look at the levels of sound proofing. I forgot exactly what it's called. I have found that, ironically, the cheapest ones I purchased were the best. They came in a bag of about 10 for less than $20.00. My only problem was that I used them to drown out a barking dog, directly under my window, but they also drowned out my alarm clock! Since the dog has been long gone, I can't remember the manufacturer, but I got them from Walmart and they were orange. |
RE: Earplugs
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pdg777
Thank you for your suggestion. I will for sure be making a trip to wal-mart (fingers crossed they have them) |
RE: Earplugs
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| I like Macks earplugs. They are kind of a milky-white waxy looking material (I believe it's silicone). They come in segments of silicone and I use half a segment in each ear. When I use the whole segment in one ear, it's too big and falls out. But here's the thing- I use the earplugs AND at the same time use a white noise machine which I place only about a foot from my head - on the bedside table as close as possible to me. Weirdly, this combination works amazingly well. The white noise machines are about $60 and you can buy them on Amazon. There may be cheaper ones as well but I read reviews and got the one that sounded like it would be most effective. I am not dealing with the same kind of noise you are -- all I have is upstairs neighbors in an uncarpeted hardwood floor bedroom who wake up and get ready for work right above my head about two hours before I need to wake up. One of them weighs about 300 pounds so that may account for the loud footfall noise I hear at that time. With the earplugs and white noise machine, I sleep right through it. Good luck. |
RE: Earplugs
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| You might ask your landlord about soundproofing and splitting costs...I love the reply about why live where you are miserable. If I only had the option. Trying to find an affordable apartment is crazy making, trying to find one in a neighborhood where people are not shooting at each other - impossible, try and find one where there is little noise - try the next solar system.... |
RE: Earplugs
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| mazer, you're talking stupid. There are millions of places to live around the country, you're just too lazy to find them. Yes, you might have to move and get a new job, but if your only option is living in a ghetto where you get shot at, it's definitely time to get off your lazy ass and do something. |
RE: Earplugs
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I haven't found the "Mack" earplugs yet. We've talked to L.L and we are now putting up our apartment for rent. Our lease runs till May..but I can't make it that long. Its starting to get to my significant partner now. He has the patience of a saint, so you know its bad. Its frustrating. We've shown the place to two people. The second possible tenant was here and the beast upstairs started stomping around talking loudly with a friend.
God I just want out of here |
RE: Earplugs
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| you have tried the friendly approach and the landlord approach. Your next option is to start calling the police. It is the only thing that will provide the documentation to the landlord to allow them to start the eviction process on the loud neighbor. Your journal is not enough to prove anything. Until the issue is documented by the police, it's he said, she said situation and no one can do anything. I would try one more time for the friendly neighbor approach. I would also remember, you seem to be home more than many folks, so this is more of an issue for you. Can you try to work out time frames for her, such as 11 on weeknights, 12mn on weekends? Can you work at the library part of the time just to drop your stress level? As for renting the place, you'll have to rent to someone who is hard of hearing. Otherwise, you're just making your problem their problem. |
RE: Earplugs
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| During the day noise is not a problem **knock on wood**. I believe she is at work between the hours of 9-till..whenever. Maybe this sounds childish,but I can't be friendly with this woman. I know my patience and temper would run out fast trying to talk to her. My better half would have to talk to her. Renting the place has been difficult. We've shown it to a few more people. No luck yet. |
RE: Earplugs
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| I always had trouble finding earplugs that stayed in the ear AND were comfortable to sleep in. I like the Earplug superstore (link below) because they sell sample packs with 28 different types. After purchasing the sample pack, I discovered that part of my problem is that I needed different sizes for each ear. Who knew they even came in sizes? My personal favorite for sleeping is the E-A-R Classic. During the daytime (DH's band practice) I like the reusable Silent Ear, the but they are a bit too stiff for sleeping. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Ear plug store
RE: Earplugs
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| I am the world's lightest sleeper -- the slightest sound is enough to wake me up. I use a brand of earplugs called Leight Sleepers -- I buy them at the local drugstore, but you can find them online as well. They're very soft, and work quite well, but there's a couple of tricks to really getting them to work: 1) Snip the ends off. Otherwise, when you're lying in bed, and you roll over, they get moved around or fall out. I've never any issue with the earplugs going in too far, and I've been wearing earplugs for 10+ years now. 2) This sounds really gross, but works well -- lick your thumb and forefinger, and get the earplug a little wet with your fingers and mushed into a cylinder, then slide into ear. They go in much better, and expand better, too, when a little damp. I also recommend a white noise maker -- we usually run the fan in our connected bathroom, and that makes enough noise to block out some sounds. |
RE: Earplugs
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| Re white noise machine: yes I had those also, when I could no longer use earplugs because I had vertigo. I had one from Bath and Beyond by Homedics (sp?). It worked really well. |
RE: Earplugs
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| I purchased some Macks last night. I think they worked. They stayed in place all night. It most likely helped I took two advil pms before bed. I did wake up briefly when her and random guy # unknown came in around 1am. Ugh I want out of here |
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