soundproofing for urban people

Good vibrations? Many of you have probably seen this video already, but I can confirm that even using the Kellett Shake Away pads make a huge difference in reducing the noise from your laundry machine when it goes into the spin cycle. This 2010 video makes the case that the Good Vibrations pads are even more effective than the Kellett pads (which you can easily buy at large retailers like Best Buy). But you should have one or the other under the feet of your laundry machine! It seems crazy that these products aren't better known, or sold automatically as an up-sell with every new machine. Note from 2018: there are newer products on the market that prevent "walking," such as these laundry-machine "pucks" from Green World , which you can find on Amazon.

Resilient channels Some of you might be thinking of installing a suspended (or "floating") ceiling with resilient channels to reduce sound transmission between upstairs and downstairs floors. If you go this route and go to the expense and trouble of demolition and remodeling -- or you're building new construction -- make sure that you affix the channels properly to the wood framing. Improper installation can create a "fail" that continues to allow noise transmission between floors. These illustrations on the UK website "Sound Service" shows a close up of how the resilient channel should be attached to wood floor joists. Attaching them so that they flex away from the wood framing reduces vibration that typically transfers from floor to floor, and this is what's meant by the term "floating." This PDF from Buildsite offers a spec sheet of how to install a resilient channel, but with no illustrations. Added in 2023 : This YouTube video from