Tips and hacks for reducing auditory/visual annoyances
February 27, 2024 2:48 AM Subscribe
I've recently discovered that microwaves have a mute function to turn off beeps and this has provided a positive change in my quality of life. Have you got any other tips for removing minor auditory or visual annoyances?
Another example of this are "dimming stickers" which reduce the brightness of LEDs on electronic devices. I use these to reduce the bright flickering lights on my router so they are less distracting when watching a movie with the lights off.
I'm NOT looking for tips on ignoring such annoyances, like positive thinking or ear plugs, and I'm not looking for advice on how to deal with asshats who play their music on public transport or other such selfish behaviour (useful though such tips are, those are very different questions).
Answers don't have to be tech-related but off the top of my head that seems like the area this is most appropriate for. Happy to take answers on changing/hiding any common irritant though.
What are other annoying auditory or visual defaults that you can easily change or hide?
Another example of this are "dimming stickers" which reduce the brightness of LEDs on electronic devices. I use these to reduce the bright flickering lights on my router so they are less distracting when watching a movie with the lights off.
I'm NOT looking for tips on ignoring such annoyances, like positive thinking or ear plugs, and I'm not looking for advice on how to deal with asshats who play their music on public transport or other such selfish behaviour (useful though such tips are, those are very different questions).
Answers don't have to be tech-related but off the top of my head that seems like the area this is most appropriate for. Happy to take answers on changing/hiding any common irritant though.
What are other annoying auditory or visual defaults that you can easily change or hide?
I’ve been slowly replacing any small household device with “always on” indicator lights with ones that either have no lights or ones that clearly state that you can turn them off — that’s been coffee makers, humidifiers, power strips, etc.
I also have an oil paint marker and roll of electrical tape that I use to cover up always-on lights on things that I can’t or don’t want to replace.
For items that have always-on lights that actually convey information — I use black socks or strips of heavy black fabric, sometimes held in place with painters tape, to cover the lights.
I have no idea why everything lately seems to be manufactured with persistent LEDs . I wish they wouldn’t.
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:31 AM on February 27 [7 favorites]
I also have an oil paint marker and roll of electrical tape that I use to cover up always-on lights on things that I can’t or don’t want to replace.
For items that have always-on lights that actually convey information — I use black socks or strips of heavy black fabric, sometimes held in place with painters tape, to cover the lights.
I have no idea why everything lately seems to be manufactured with persistent LEDs . I wish they wouldn’t.
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:31 AM on February 27 [7 favorites]
visual annoyances
If ads and (some) website animations count, then adblocking and scriptblocking.
For endlessly looping animated gifs: sometimes there are extensions that can stop some of them, at least for a while until browsers add new restrictions on what extensions can do. Here's one that might work for Firefox. (It used to be possible on Firefox and other browsers to stop gifs and some other types of animation by just pressing Esc (which was also how you could intentionally stop a page from loading if needed), but for benighted reasons the folks at Mozilla decided to get rid of that without creating an alternative. Seriously, a thousand curses.)
posted by trig at 4:43 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
If ads and (some) website animations count, then adblocking and scriptblocking.
For endlessly looping animated gifs: sometimes there are extensions that can stop some of them, at least for a while until browsers add new restrictions on what extensions can do. Here's one that might work for Firefox. (It used to be possible on Firefox and other browsers to stop gifs and some other types of animation by just pressing Esc (which was also how you could intentionally stop a page from loading if needed), but for benighted reasons the folks at Mozilla decided to get rid of that without creating an alternative. Seriously, a thousand curses.)
posted by trig at 4:43 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
I always appreciate "soft-close" mechanisms applied to drawers, cabinet doors, toilet seats, etc.
posted by glibhamdreck at 4:57 AM on February 27 [10 favorites]
posted by glibhamdreck at 4:57 AM on February 27 [10 favorites]
Warm lightbulbs tend to be more pleasant than cool, and incandescents are much better than LEDs.
Are you strictly looking for auditory and visual, or are you open to tactile and olfactory?
posted by wheatlets at 5:23 AM on February 27
Are you strictly looking for auditory and visual, or are you open to tactile and olfactory?
posted by wheatlets at 5:23 AM on February 27
I researched microwaves specifically to find one with an option to be permanently muted. Not all of them can be. Some can be muted but only with a non obvious series of button pushes (google your model number!)
At gas stations in the US, you can [usually] mute the ads by pressing the second button on the right hand side of the screen.
Slow close toilet seat cover.
From a preschool teacher - putting tape over the speakers on many kids toys will lessen the volume.
Ublock origin (adblocker) for making the web readable again.
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 5:31 AM on February 27 [4 favorites]
At gas stations in the US, you can [usually] mute the ads by pressing the second button on the right hand side of the screen.
Slow close toilet seat cover.
From a preschool teacher - putting tape over the speakers on many kids toys will lessen the volume.
Ublock origin (adblocker) for making the web readable again.
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 5:31 AM on February 27 [4 favorites]
If you have a migraine and want your kid to play o their tablet so they leave you alone, if you let then think the parental controls have been disabled and the tablet unlocked by accident somehow They will play all the annoying games on mute in anither room and not make a single sound for as long as you want.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:32 AM on February 27 [15 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:32 AM on February 27 [15 favorites]
From a preschool teacher - putting tape over the speakers on many kids toys will lessen the volume.
Poke a pin repeatedly through the little speaker holes will damage the speaker and near-mute it permanently.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:33 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Poke a pin repeatedly through the little speaker holes will damage the speaker and near-mute it permanently.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 5:33 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
If it counts, I'm always alarmed at how many people just simply let their notifications on their phone remain default without turning them off. I get alerted if someone texts me or for calendar appointments that I set -- that's it. I otherwise have to open my phone to read anything else.
Also, on the topic of phones, muting them (though that's more standard) and literally putting them in another room and/or inside a box for set periods of time during the day. Super key if you have kids.
On the topic of kids: Turning off every single beeping toy ever, or straight up removing the batteries.
posted by knownassociate at 6:17 AM on February 27 [6 favorites]
Also, on the topic of phones, muting them (though that's more standard) and literally putting them in another room and/or inside a box for set periods of time during the day. Super key if you have kids.
On the topic of kids: Turning off every single beeping toy ever, or straight up removing the batteries.
posted by knownassociate at 6:17 AM on February 27 [6 favorites]
I have my iPhone's 'silent' switch permanently enabled. Vibration alert is enough for me. I am quite surprised by how many people tolerate their phone making a noise every so often.
posted by snarfois at 6:23 AM on February 27 [4 favorites]
posted by snarfois at 6:23 AM on February 27 [4 favorites]
* i had my car alarm beep turned off by the dealership— meaning when i lock and alarm the car, the lights flash but it does not beep like most vehicles. (you’re welcome, everyone in my neighborhood :)
* also likely obvious, but blackout curtains. not sure why it took me so to get them, but definitely improves sleep quality.
posted by tamarack at 6:43 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]
* also likely obvious, but blackout curtains. not sure why it took me so to get them, but definitely improves sleep quality.
posted by tamarack at 6:43 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]
Not sure if this counts, but I've taken to wearing a cap with a brim in my office. It blocks the overhead light from glaring into my eyes. Sometimes I need the extra light, but I really don't like it (seemingly) directly in my eyes. I need some other ambient lighting, but I've just moved here and I'm not sure what I want...
posted by hydra77 at 6:58 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
posted by hydra77 at 6:58 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
If you wear glasses - self-tinting lenses. It's an amazing comfort to mute that big light in the sky and not have to juggle sunglasses whenever you enter a more reasonably lit space. Modern ones adjust in seconds.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:05 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:05 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Scheduled notifications on my iPhone have been a game changer for me. There are some notifications I allow immediately because they are close family (texts from my husband, phone calls, Instagram notifications from my brother, etc.), but just about everything else gets clumped into 3 scheduled times. Like snarfois, my phone is always on silent. I find getting rid of that constant interruption is really beneficial.
posted by eekernohan at 7:21 AM on February 27
posted by eekernohan at 7:21 AM on February 27
On a windows machine, turning off almost everything in my taskbar, including any non-informative system icons and the 'new email" icon. I check email three times a day.
On any messaging platform, customizing notifications to only alert me for mentions or direct messages.
On all browsers, setting the home page to my search page of choice so that I don't go to the dreaded default or news site that the browser wants me to.
posted by punchtothehead at 7:51 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
On any messaging platform, customizing notifications to only alert me for mentions or direct messages.
On all browsers, setting the home page to my search page of choice so that I don't go to the dreaded default or news site that the browser wants me to.
posted by punchtothehead at 7:51 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
My camera has settings to turn off beeps.
posted by sciencegeek at 7:55 AM on February 27
posted by sciencegeek at 7:55 AM on February 27
It’s an expensive solution, but getting tactile notifications on my Apple Watch (especially for the alarm clock function) has been a significant quality of life improvement for me.
I agree that hats with brims help a ton with bright lights, even when wearing a hat might feel silly (eg on the bus in the evening).
Do an audit of all the light bulbs and lamp shades at home to make sure everything is optimal for the task and the angles to where you usually sit/stand.
Pay attention to any temporary glares from sunlight during certain times of day, and try to find ways to block them or alter your routines to avoid them. (Like me, you might figure out you should eat your breakfast on a different sofa half the year to avoid the angle of the sun…)
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 8:01 AM on February 27
I agree that hats with brims help a ton with bright lights, even when wearing a hat might feel silly (eg on the bus in the evening).
Do an audit of all the light bulbs and lamp shades at home to make sure everything is optimal for the task and the angles to where you usually sit/stand.
Pay attention to any temporary glares from sunlight during certain times of day, and try to find ways to block them or alter your routines to avoid them. (Like me, you might figure out you should eat your breakfast on a different sofa half the year to avoid the angle of the sun…)
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 8:01 AM on February 27
If you ever encounter an old car with an alarm that just honks the horn, and this is going on for some time and the owner isn't showing up, reach around and up from beneath the grill, locate the horn and pull one of its wires off the terminal. The voltage isn't enough to shock you.
I'm always alarmed at how many people just simply let their notifications on their phone remain default
This doesn't so much alarm me but I will judge you: a boring person. At a minimum, your ring-tome should be unique.
posted by Rash at 8:16 AM on February 27
I'm always alarmed at how many people just simply let their notifications on their phone remain default
This doesn't so much alarm me but I will judge you: a boring person. At a minimum, your ring-tome should be unique.
posted by Rash at 8:16 AM on February 27
Warm lightbulbs tend to be more pleasant than cool
Just to expand on this, the color temperature of a light bulb (be it LED bulb, fluorescent tube, etc.) is marked on the bulb and on the box, so you can know when you're buying or ordering it how "warm" the color will be. For example, 2700K has the the kind of nice orange glow that used to be associated with incandescent (filament) bulbs. 6000K has the kind of blue-white light that used to be associated with fluorescent tubes or halogen bulbs. Note that as the "temperature" goes from "warm light" to "cool light" the Kelvin temperature increases!
posted by jabah at 8:17 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]
Just to expand on this, the color temperature of a light bulb (be it LED bulb, fluorescent tube, etc.) is marked on the bulb and on the box, so you can know when you're buying or ordering it how "warm" the color will be. For example, 2700K has the the kind of nice orange glow that used to be associated with incandescent (filament) bulbs. 6000K has the kind of blue-white light that used to be associated with fluorescent tubes or halogen bulbs. Note that as the "temperature" goes from "warm light" to "cool light" the Kelvin temperature increases!
posted by jabah at 8:17 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]
Please, please tell how to mute microvawe's beeps!
posted by Sky12 at 9:20 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
posted by Sky12 at 9:20 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]
I always appreciate "soft-close" mechanisms applied to drawers, cabinet doors, toilet seats, etc.
The soft drop toilet seat thing is great and can enthusiastically endorse.
If replacing drawer/cabinet mechanisms is too much time or money, they also make little bumpers to stop the hard sound on close.
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:28 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
The soft drop toilet seat thing is great and can enthusiastically endorse.
If replacing drawer/cabinet mechanisms is too much time or money, they also make little bumpers to stop the hard sound on close.
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:28 AM on February 27 [1 favorite]
I use the little cushion-pads that make your heels, toes etc. more comfortable inside tight shoes for this. Usually, just a single corner of a cabinet door needs one.
posted by Rash at 10:39 AM on February 27
posted by Rash at 10:39 AM on February 27
At self-checkout machines in grocery stores, there's usually a volume control which can go down to mute. Sometimes it's a little speaker icon, and sometimes it's under an accessibility icon. It's great not having that thing beeping and talking at me the whole time I'm checking out.
posted by Rykey at 2:42 PM on February 27 [2 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 2:42 PM on February 27 [2 favorites]
Patches to cover annoying logos on my rain jacket, hat, etc. They work better than Sharpies, and I get compliments on the goofy ones.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:07 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:07 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Sound dampening "floor protectors" (Fuzzy Feet Glides, Gorilla Glides, others) for chairs, desks, and tables. Silicone spray for squeaks. Cabinet door bumpers; also bumpers and stoppers for interior doors. Acoustical caulk (Green Glue, Liquid Nails, others) for walls/doors/ceilings.
Table lamps, night lights, rope lights, tape lights instead of ceiling fixtures. Glare-reducing window film (3m, others).
Fluidmaster noisy-toilet guide.
If the doorbell is too loud or has a terrible chime, switch to phone notification, dampen the sound, or update/customize the doorbell.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:53 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
Table lamps, night lights, rope lights, tape lights instead of ceiling fixtures. Glare-reducing window film (3m, others).
Fluidmaster noisy-toilet guide.
If the doorbell is too loud or has a terrible chime, switch to phone notification, dampen the sound, or update/customize the doorbell.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:53 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
To cut clutter on web pages, use reader mode with Firefox or Chrome.
posted by NotLost at 8:07 PM on February 27
posted by NotLost at 8:07 PM on February 27
I turned off sound notifications on my phone and it made such a difference. I only really keep it on for phone calls that I'm expecting, but then turn it off after.
posted by creatrixtiara at 10:43 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
posted by creatrixtiara at 10:43 PM on February 27 [1 favorite]
I bought sound proofing tiles shaped like hexagons in fun colors and glued them to my living room wall to drown out the ambient family noise from my family members that don't realize how loud they can be. The sound echoes a lot normally as I am a minimalist so there's not a lot of stuff for the sound waves to interact with. The hexagons are like functional art.
posted by crunchy potato at 10:53 PM on February 27
posted by crunchy potato at 10:53 PM on February 27
I love the rain. But if it isn't heavy enough, that annoying tapping sound from the gutter downspouts! Two ways to eliminate: How to Quiet Gutters and Downspouts involves installing a nylon rope the length of the downspout, where attaching the top end seems problematic to me. Or you can try installing a product like RainQuiet on the bottom ("Virtually Eliminates Annoying Rain Gutter Downspout Noise.") Another form of the latter is The Silencer, which is more of a sponge than a plastic mesh. Unfortunately, over time, all these solutions can cause horrendous clogs in the downspout, if you've got a lot of leaves, twigs etc falling into your gutters.
posted by Rash at 9:50 AM on February 28
posted by Rash at 9:50 AM on February 28
One up from installing lightbulbs of the right colour temperature for me is dimming switches. I hate super bright lights if it's late, and it's so nice to be able to just have a soft glow instead. We don't have hardwired dimming switches in our house so I have smart bulbs which I can then adjust the brightness off via an app. They can also do any colour temperature and I have the one in my home office set to change from cool light to warm through the day, which is lovely!
posted by In Your Shell Like at 12:56 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]
posted by In Your Shell Like at 12:56 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Some great ideas here, thanks everyone!
posted by underclocked at 1:08 PM on February 28
posted by underclocked at 1:08 PM on February 28
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posted by cozenedindigo at 3:03 AM on February 27 [3 favorites]