You wouldn’t think that soundproofing a door could be so easy, but it can be.
If you want to keep noise from escaping or entering your home through the front door, there are many household items that you can use.
In this blog post we will talk about how to use these household items to make your own DIY soundproofing kit.
Have a sliding door? Read my full guide on how you can soundproof your sliding door.
Ways on How to Soundproof a Door with Household Items
1. Carpet Or Rugs on The Floor
If you live in a noisy apartment and want to prevent sound from coming through your door, there are many household items that can help.
For example, carpet or rugs on the floor of an entryway will absorb some noise before it reaches any other part of your home.
Also Read: How to Stop a Door from Slamming
You could also layer sheets of fabric over pieces cut out of a foam mat for added insulation.
This DIY insulates against both heat loss and sound leakage – not just one at time like most products do.
And if you’re really feeling crafty, consider lining the inside edges with velvet hangers so they don’t scratch up against each other when things start moving around too much.
One of my most recommended carpets is the nuLOOM Thigpen Contemporary Area Rug.
2. Thick and Heavy Blankets
The first thing to do is grab a blanket.
You want one that will cover the entire door, but not be too heavy or you’ll have trouble moving it around later on.
The best type of blanket for this job would be something thick and fluffy like the Quility Weighted Blanket with Soft Cove.
It’s important that your covering doesn’t feel damp because you don’t want to introduce moisture into the room where sound carries especially well.
You also don’t want any sharp objects poking through that can damage furniture items in the other room.
3. Weatherstrip Your Door
Weatherstrip your door.
You can buy weatherstripping at any hardware store, or use one of the many varieties you have lying around the house.
Old socks work well for this purpose because they are flexible and durable, but old pantyhose will do in a pinch if needed.
Simply cut off the feet to make them into squares that fit on either side of your door frame with enough excess to wrap tightly alongside it without falling down (the excess should go up against the wall).
Get two pieces per door: one for each side.
Put a sock or small strip across both sides where they meet in the middle so it feels like there’s an imaginary line going through from top to bottom just beneath their edges.
Make sure that the sock or strip is tight and doesn’t sag. You may need to cut a few small slits for the door lock mechanism, but that’s it.
4. Door Sweeps
Door sweep is the easiest to find and cheapest soundproofing material.
They come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and materials requiring different installation jobs.
You may have seen door sweeps on the bottom or top of your doors that don’t match anything else you’ve tried before; these are usually door sweeps.
Door sweeps can be installed with adhesive backing, screws, nails or double-sided tape depending on what type they come with.
Be careful when installing them as not all surfaces will work well for this purpose (ie: metal) but if you’re using wood it should hold up just fine without any issue at all.
5. Old Mattress
You will need: an old mattress and some fabric (towels).
Place your old mattress against the inside of the doorway with its bottom facing out towards any hallway noise.
Then drape two pieces of fabric over each side, one on top of another about 16 inches apart at their highest point.
The lower piece should be narrower than the upper layer so it creates a pocket for more air circulation between them.
These steps will help create what’s called “dead air space” which helps absorb excess noise from outside coming in through your open doors.
Of course, nothing will be 100% soundproof, but this is a cheap and easy way to reduce noise.
6. Old Towels
The average person wants to sleep well. For this reason, many people choose to use earplugs when they go on vacation or travel for work.
However, there are some who don’t want the inconvenience of using them every night at home as well.
Fortunately, there are ways you can make your door soundproof without spending much money- which would be good if you have children who jump around after getting out of bed in the morning.
There’s an old trick that has been passed down from generation to generation: by placing towels against the door frame overnight – preferably terrycloth towels because they’re more absorbent than cotton ones.
It will create a barrier over time making things quieter outside while also adding some insulation.
Towels have been used for many years to keep doorways from drafts- as well as to provide a buffer between the cold on one side and the warmth inside, but they can also work in other ways.
The towels will absorb vibration and noise over time making things more peaceful outside- without you having to spend any money at all.
If this is something that appeals to you then here’s what you need: old or fluffy towel(s), duct tape, scissors, box cutter knife
Final Thoughts on How to Soundproof a Door with Household Items
Above are my best recommended methods on how to soundproof a door with household items.
Some of these are regular household items we use while others are really affordable items you can grab off Amazon.
If there’s an especially noisy corridor outside your apartment it might be worth trying out these “old” tricks because they are environmentally friendly and cost efficient.