How to Sneak Around Your House at Night

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Last Updated: July 17, 2024

You've come up with a grand plan to sneak out of your home—the key now is successfully pulling it off. You've come to the right article. We'll teach you everything you need to know about being sneaky, so you can easily leave your house without getting caught. Best of luck with your stealthy endeavors!

1

Don't wear shoes.

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If you have wooden/ bare flooring, wear socks. If you have carpeting, you might get away bare foot.^{[1]
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2

Stretch beforehand.

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Simply circle wrists and ankles in a clockwise direction.

3

Wear dark blue clothes.

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Don't wear black.

4

Memorize different breathing patterns.

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Light or normal breathing means that they're in light sleep.^{[2]
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5

Move smoothly.

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Don't drink before sneaking, because it makes the fluid motions louder.

6

Stay close to the walls.

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Hanging by the walls is handy if you have wooden floors. If you have creaky stairs, memorize the areas that are "safe" to step on (usually closer to the walls), or draw a map of the un-creaky places and the creaky ones. When walking downstairs, try skipping stairs and walking on the sidelines.^{[3]
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- If you have hard floors, wear socks to avoid squeaking and other noises.

7

Wear socks.

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As you step, your feet will make noise when they come off.^{[4]
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8

Freeze or hide when someone is nearby.

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You can also dash behind something to hide.

9

Hold on to walls or tables.

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The less weight centered on the floor, the less creaking the floors will make.

10

Test out each spot where you're about to put your feet.

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If the spot creaks, move your foot over until you find a quiet place to step.^{[5]
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11

Move slowly.

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Community Q&A

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Question

How do I sneak around my new house?

Community Answer

Being new, you won't yet be familiar with its own squeaks (if any). It would be a good idea to use the daytime to get used to the routes you'd use in the house and to work out which areas make a noise and need to be avoided when moving around at night. Map these out and remember them for your nighttime sneaking.

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Tips

If you get caught, have a good excuse ready. For example: "I got thirsty and need a glass of water."

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Make sure you are wide awake and alert, if not, you may walk into something and make noise, waking up your parents, roommate, sibling(s), etc.

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If your footsteps are loud, try making your steps more irregular so they blend in more with usual nighttime noises. If somebody hears footsteps, they'll be worried, but not if they think it's just the house settling.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If using a flashlight, particularly a bright one, consider placing it under your shirt to reduce its visibility. Additionally, if you intend to keep the light on during the night, ensure that you block the gap under the door. This way, others won’t notice the light, and they’ll assume you’re asleep.
If you want to use an electronic device like a tablet or iPad at night, make sure the volume is low or off and make sure the screen brightness is at its lowest point.

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Warnings

If you have strict parents, be very careful not to get caught, or don't sneak around the house.

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You should know your house really well so you don't accidentally step on a part of the floor that creaks or makes noise.

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Don't do anything that could be dangerous or put you or someone else in danger.

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Be sure that anything you do is legal. You don't want to go to jail or have to pay a fine.

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