Fan, washing machine and other appliance sounds

Plenty of people cannot sleep without the fan on, even in winter. This category is for them: a floor fan with its soft, even whoosh, an air conditioner humming in the corner and a washing machine turning its drum. Water lovers can choose a running shower or a bubbling jacuzzi, and for a sense of passing time there is a ticking clock and a heavier wall clock.

Appliance sounds are steady, familiar and a bit dull, and that is the point. They fill silence without catching your attention, which makes them good company for sleep, homework, long reading sessions or a quiet home office. Played from a phone, they are also an easy way to make a hotel room sound like your own bedroom. Many people prefer a fan’s whoosh to the more abstract hiss of white noise.

The fan and air conditioner layer well together for a fuller, deeper hum; add the shower if you want something closer to rain. Be careful with the clocks at night: a tick is easy to notice, so keep it very low or save it for daytime work sessions.