Quiet Equipment (Vacuum Cleaners, Hair Dryers, Lawn Mowers, etc.)

Discussion in 'Support' started by Rhea, Apr 14, 2015.

    1. Rhea
      Volatile

      Rhea Member

      Location:
      UK
      Tinnitus Since:
      2004
      Hi all,

      I mentioned this briefly on another thread, but I just wanted to say over the last 6 months I have hunted down quieter electrical equipment to make life a little easier....

      I now am in possession of the world's quietest hair dryer, vacuum cleaner and kettle :) I can honesty say all three have really been a great help - I can now vacuum whenever I want, dry my hair with a hair dryer rather than waiting hours for it to dry naturally, and I can now stay in the same room when the kettle boils rather than hiding in the lounge until it finishes!

      If anyone is interested in the makes/models etc I will be happy to share. Also be nice to hear of any other suggestions for quieter stuff that anyone else has come across.

      Rhea x
       
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    2. Valentina
      No Mood

      Valentina Member Benefactor

      Tinnitus Since:
      12/2010
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Unknown
      @Rhea

      I personally find the noise of the hairdryer quite relaxing but probably because it's low and associated with warm air. Also the sound that my extractor hood makes when I cook helps me a lot in feeling good. I don't use any kettle so no problem for me. The vacuum cleaner makes indeed a noise I can't stand. In the other thread you mentioned a Bosch equipement, right? Well, mine is from Bosch too but it's very noisy, really unconfortable. So... if you could share the model you are using... thank you! :)
       
    3. LadyDi
      Busy

      LadyDi Member Benefactor

      Location:
      Florida, USA
      Tinnitus Since:
      06/2013
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Barotrauma/airplane
      Hi @Rhea, I am glad you have found equipment that helps you. Thanks for sharing.
      I, too, have problems with noise from both my hair dryer and vacuum. My dryer puts about about 90 dB -- and I am holding it right next to my ear when I use it.

      But for those who don't want to spend the money on new appliances: I now use ear plugs or ear muffs when hair drying or vacuuming. This strategy works, too.
       
    4. adam2525
      Balanced

      adam2525 Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      2001
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Unknown
      @Rhea
      What vacuum and kettle did you end up with?
       
    5. LifesABeach
      Depressed

      LifesABeach Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      02/2006
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Wish I knew
      I'd be interested to know that too. I currently use ear muffs when I vacuum but that gets hot 'n sweaty after a while. Thanks.
       
    6. AUTHOR
      AUTHOR
      Rhea
      Volatile

      Rhea Member

      Location:
      UK
      Tinnitus Since:
      2004
      Vacuum = Bosch BGS5SIL2GB Power Silence (66db) - yes it really is only 66db!

      Hairdryer = Panasonic Quiet Silent EH-ND52 Hair Blow Dryer Blower (49db) - I didn't think there was anyway a hair dryer could be only 49db...and I was right, it's about 70db BUT still the quietest hair dryer I ever used

      Kettle - Russell Hobbs 20460 Buckingham Kettle - Stainless Steel - no db advertised but I can tell you it is a hell of a lot quieter than any kettle I've had before and I measure it about 69db on my db reader

      :)
      Hope that helps!
       
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    7. LifesABeach
      Depressed

      LifesABeach Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      02/2006
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Wish I knew
      Thanks for the info! I'd love to get a quieter vacuum, but we just bought a Dyson maybe 2.5 years ago for some ridiculous amount of money and so I don't think I can justify a new one quite yet! I guess I'll just have to continue with the ear muffs (and these days ... plugs too).
       
    8. Valentina
      No Mood

      Valentina Member Benefactor

      Tinnitus Since:
      12/2010
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Unknown
      @Rhea Smack smack smack!! :huganimation:
       
    9. valeri

      valeri Member Benefactor Hall of Fame

      Location:
      Australia
      Tinnitus Since:
      09/2011
      Thanks Rhea!
      In the shops when I ask for quiet hairdryer they just look at me as if I'm from another planet:)
       
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    10. AUTHOR
      AUTHOR
      Rhea
      Volatile

      Rhea Member

      Location:
      UK
      Tinnitus Since:
      2004
      Hi, yes I done exactly the same thing, had only bought a dyson the year before, but I sold the Dyson on ebay for £100, then found a 2nd hand Bosch for £100 ..so it all worked out ok :)
       
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    11. LifesABeach
      Depressed

      LifesABeach Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      02/2006
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Wish I knew
      I hadn't thought about eBay; that's more my wife's thing. Maybe she'll "take on the assignment!" I'll have to check and see how good the quiet ones are at sucking up pet hair, though. The Dyson does a good job with that ... and we need it, believe me!
       
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    12. AUTHOR
      AUTHOR
      Rhea
      Volatile

      Rhea Member

      Location:
      UK
      Tinnitus Since:
      2004
      Trust me it does the job with the pet hairs! I have to cats that shed fur all over the bloody place....The suction on the Bosch is actually incredibly, it has about 6 settings and if you have it on any higher than setting 3 you can even move it back and forth on the carpet as it is so powerful! Great performance vaccumm AND super quiet :) ....at this rate maybe I should become a Bosch sales woman haha
       
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    13. Jiri
      No Mood

      Jiri Member Benefactor

      Tinnitus Since:
      11/2017
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      noise + injury
      Hello everyone,

      Check out the allegedly world's most silent vacuum cleaner - Electrolux UltraSilencer Zen (just 58 dB!):
      https://www.electroluxvacuums.co.nz/our-range/bagged-vacuums/ultrasilencer-zen

      Lawn mowing, I'll be getting this eco friendly & silent Fiskars Stay Sharp Max Reel Mower:
      http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Reel-Mowers/StaySharp-Max-Reel-Mower-6205

      You can also get it with Max Grass Catcher

      Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel Mower Review


      Cheers,

      Jiri
       
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    14. Bill Bauer
      No Mood

      Bill Bauer Member Hall of Fame

      Tinnitus Since:
      February, 2017
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Acoustic Trauma
      I would pay a lot for a fire alarm that uses flashing lights instead of noise to alert one of a fire. I am having trouble finding one. The existing ones are all triggered by the sound of a regular fire alarm...
       
    15. jimH
      Caffeine

      jimH Member Benefactor

      Tinnitus Since:
      30 years+
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Acoustic trauma
      I purchased this low-noise hair dryer from Panasonic last year on Amazon. I'm very pleased with it. It's much quieter than a regular dryer. It received 96% five star ratings from customers. It also has plenty of power, 1200 watts. It operates on 100 - 110 volts AC.

      The only down side is that it's a bit pricey: $40 US dollars. At least the shipping was free:

      https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Lo...07214943&sr=8-1&keywords=low+noise+hair+dryer
       
    16. Red
      Crappy

      Red Member

      Location:
      Northeast USA
      Tinnitus Since:
      06/2017
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Noise Exposure (Headphones)
      A 70 dB hair dryer is a nice suggestion but possibly still too loud for some of us, especially when that sound is right next to our ears. I am surprised no one in the tinnitus community has mentioned one of these yet as they have been emerging in popularity--a hot air brush.

      https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01L...qid=1514406907&sr=8-15&keywords=hot+air+brush

      I have not used one yet so I cannot say it works or not. But it looks like it would work like a regular hair straightener which are silent.
       
    17. jimH
      Caffeine

      jimH Member Benefactor

      Tinnitus Since:
      30 years+
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Acoustic trauma
      @Red, that post from Rhea about a Panasonic hair dryer that was 70 dB is a different model than the one I have and posted. I don't have a dB meter but I'm sure it's not that loud. Just read some of the reviews/comments about how quiet it is. Her post was in April of 2015. I think mine is a newer and improved model.

      That said, your idea does has merit. Especially for those with both tinnitus & hyperacusis.
       
    18. Nonna
      Moonlighting

      Nonna Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      1/17/16
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      guess
      There are many on Amazon.com.
       
    19. Bill Bauer
      No Mood

      Bill Bauer Member Hall of Fame

      Tinnitus Since:
      February, 2017
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Acoustic Trauma
      Are you talking about:
      https://www.amazon.com/Kidde-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarms-Strobe/dp/B000B78YFK
      According to the description "85-decibel alarm sounds loudly, alerting the household to a dangerous level of carbon monoxide or the presence of fire." So they use strobe light In Addition to the audible sound alarm.
      Others include:
      https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-BRK-SL177-Compliant/dp/B001U0ONAW
      that "Must be used in combination with 120V AC smoke, heat or carbon monoxide alarms (sold separately)"

      Am I missing something?
       
    20. AZeurotuner

      AZeurotuner Member Benefactor

      Location:
      Tucson, AZ
      Tinnitus Since:
      2010
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Acoustic Trauma
      The best bet would probably be a First Alert™ smoke alarm... They use photoelectric technology rather than ionization to detect fires, this cuts down immensely on false alarms, and works much better for detecting smoldering type fires than ionization does. They also have a lower frequency horn than most brands do, which is less likely to cause hearing damage.
       
    21. twiceShy
      Worried

      twiceShy Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      Unknown
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Unknown
      The floor's a mess and I can't vacuum due to the noise. Are there any vacuums that aren't so loud and safe for hearing?
       
    22. Michael B
      No Mood

      Michael B Member Benefactor

      Location:
      San Diego
      Tinnitus Since:
      '11
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Noise Induced
      A friend uses earplugs when vacuuming. Much cheaper than buying a new vacuum.
       
    23. morgothaod

      morgothaod Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      03/2009
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Ear infection
      I think the robot vacuums are supposed to be quiet.
       
    24. twiceShy
      Worried

      twiceShy Member

      Tinnitus Since:
      Unknown
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Unknown
      Are earplugs enough to protect my hearing?
       
    25. Michael Leigh

      Michael Leigh Member Benefactor Hall of Fame

      Location:
      Brighton, UK
      Tinnitus Since:
      04/1996
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Noise induced
      It depends how loud the external sound is going to be? The believe that wearing earplugs or ear-defenders will make a person with tinnitus safe from all external sounds is not true. The reason being, if external sound is loud enough, it will pass through the head/skull and transfer to the inner by bone conduction and possibly spike the tinnitus. When this happens the tinnitus might or might not reduce to its previous baseline level. If a person is unfortunate the tinnitus can increase to a new permanent level.

      Be careful.
      Michael
       
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    26. Kriszti

      Kriszti Member Benefactor Hall of Fame

      Tinnitus Since:
      2016/2017/2019
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Unknown
      Depends on the volume of the device, the NRR/SNR level of the plugs and your individual sensitivity.

      My tinnitus always spikes after vacuuming even with double protection, but I don't know if it actually hurts my hearing or is it just a temporary thing. Others have stable tinnitus and nothing makes their hearing or tinnitus worse.
       
    27. Jack Straw
      Balanced

      Jack Straw Member Podcast Patron Benefactor Ambassador Hall of Fame Advocate

      Location:
      US
      Tinnitus Since:
      1990s
      Cause of Tinnitus:
      Infection, Acoustic Trauma
      This is a great thread! Happy I found it!
       
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