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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbours and washing lines

61 replies

Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 18:12

Hi all,

We live on an estate of flats and masionettes with shared communal washing lines. It says in the lease that we must hang washing outdoors and this is enforced by fellow residents - this is not a problem for us as we prefer to hang out washing outside anyway.

We have recently been told by a retired neighbour who lives close to the washing lines to not put our washing out overnight because the foxes play with the washing and keep him up. There are a lot of foxes at all times of the day on the estate and an endless number of things they can amuse themselves with. We have hung washing out overnight and never noticed it pulled off or damaged. We do live further away from the washing lines. My partner and I work unusual hours and sometimes we just need to hang our washing out overnight. Today we tried to communicate that we were unfortunately only able to hang it out now, and he then called us selfish and went back into his property. He did not try and agree any compromise or alternative arrangement.

We intend to try our best to hang washing out during the day, but when not possible, to hang it out overnight.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Riapia · 20/08/2023 19:11

Someone going round looking through windows to check for clothes drying?
No, no, no you’re going to have to do better than that OP.
😂😂😂

Original poster
Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 19:11

I think this is a fair point, in winter we would just have to suck it up and hang it out during the day, but whilst it's nice in the summer or autumn it's good to have the option to hang it overnight.

OP posts:
LoveThisUsername · 20/08/2023 19:10

I'd get a clothes horse and put it outside the front door.

Namechangeoncagain · 20/08/2023 19:08

birdling · 20/08/2023 18:23

What do you do when it rains?

Im also curious and also where do you live? Where I live in never stops raining and only about three months of the year can you hang washing outside after 5 pm even in good weather because the air is too damp. Or it’s so windy the washing gets blown off the line.

WaxhamSeals · 20/08/2023 19:07

supersonicginandtonic · 20/08/2023 18:40

I honestly don't know anybody or have I seen anybody round my area who puts washing out at night 🤷‍♀️

I often hang mine out overnight. Can’t be arsed to hang it out before work in the morning

Popfan · 20/08/2023 19:07

I also really want to know what you do when it's raining / in the winter?!!

I put my washing out over night all the time and get in following evening so I'd be doing the same as you (when it's sunny!)

Createausername1970 · 20/08/2023 19:04

I sometimes hang washing out overnight if it's going to be a nice day the following day. It's usually dry by the time I get out to it. We also have foxes in the neighbourhood, and I can't say I have ever noticed anything amiss with my washing in the morning.

It does mess with the security light though, so I have to remember to turn that off.

Friggingfrog · 20/08/2023 19:04

Ignore him and don’t apologise to him - you’ve done nothing wrong.

also what do you do in winter? Or in the rain? I’d just have a clothes horse, how would they know?

Pineapples198 · 20/08/2023 19:03

Just ignore him. It’s nothing to do with him. do the old killing with mindless routine. Big smile and “good morning Mr Smith!” Whenever you see him.

that being said I wouldn’t leave my washing out overnight. It doesn’t dry very well. Even on dry nights the dew can wet it again. Something I find useful is the delay start function on my washing machine. I put it on at night, delay start to start at 6am. At 7am it is spinning as im getting up. I hang it out before work and bring it in after.

lovemycbf · 20/08/2023 18:56

thatsn0tmyname · 20/08/2023 18:47

Every Mumsnetter knows, if you leave your washing out at night it will get darked on.

Haha and spider willies on it too Grin

8misskitty8 · 20/08/2023 18:56

Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 18:21

We were told they will look through your windows and knock on your door... Unless you want to permanently have your blinds or curtains shut!

But not really the point of the thread as we would also prefer to hang outside.

What a load of rubbish ! Who told you that ?
People looking through windows ? They’d get the finger from me.
So what if they knock on your door ? You don’t need to let them in !
How do you dry washing in winter or when it’s raining ? Impossible unless you dry inside. (Not everything can go in a tumble dryer)

MaydinEssex · 20/08/2023 18:53

I used to live in a maisonette with communal washing lines, and there was an old woman who thought the washing lines were for her and her alone. For example, if she washed her bedding she would hang the duvet on one line, the sheet on another and the pillow cases on yet another line! I just bought a rotary dryer and hung my washing on that as it was so petty behaviour and I couldn't be arsed to fight for line space. People can be strange.

thatsn0tmyname · 20/08/2023 18:47

Every Mumsnetter knows, if you leave your washing out at night it will get darked on.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 20/08/2023 18:46

He’s bullshitting. I’d guess he doesn’t want your washing out near his flat. I’ve had experience of this, living in a flat with shared washing lines. I frequently leave my washing out overnight (in my own garden) and don’t get why people find this weird.

CatsOnTheChair · 20/08/2023 18:45

If it goes up now, on a decent day, it would be pretty dry by bedtime.
DH and I frequently set off a load after work, hung it up at 7pm, and brought it in at 10. It was then perfectly dry by morning even in mid winter.

DishonourOnYouDishonourOnYourCow · 20/08/2023 18:42

What are you going to do in the winter when it’s cold? Surely you’ll have to put it up inside?

Original poster
Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 18:40

We would definitely have complaints from the resident's association for this as they have a dedicated washing line area which is separate from the main gardens. They're also large and nice washing lines which dry better than a clothes horse.

OP posts:
supersonicginandtonic · 20/08/2023 18:40

I honestly don't know anybody or have I seen anybody round my area who puts washing out at night 🤷‍♀️

Applesandpears23 · 20/08/2023 18:38

Can you get a clothes horse and put it out in the garden in a different spot? I put clothes on a clothes horse and lift it outside then in the evening I bring it in to finish drying if necessary.

Original poster
Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 18:35

Thank you, this is completely how we feel and unfortunately the washing machine doesn't have a timer.

OP posts:
Original poster
Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 18:34

I mean it's all dependent on the situation and weather. Sometimes I might want to sleep a bit later in the morning instead of worrying about pushing the washing out. It could be that the weather is good overnight but bad in the morning. Alternatively I could have forgotten to put the washing out during the day and just need to do it overnight to stop it smelling. I'm not saying I would only ever do washing overnight, we mainly do it during the day but sometimes it's necessary.

OP posts:
supersonicginandtonic · 20/08/2023 18:30

Why don't you just hang your washing out in the morning before you leave 🤷‍♀️ or if you work nights before you go to bed

heidifrombarnet · 20/08/2023 18:29

LooselyBasedOnAMadeUpStory · 20/08/2023 18:24

If you set the timer on your machine you can have it finishing a load just as you get up then put it out before you go out so it doesn’t matter if you are out all day.
I find it’s always a bit damp overnight so doesn’t get fully dry so wouldn’t put it out at night anyway tbh.

Perhaps they don't have a timer on it? They want to get up and get to work, not mess about hanging washing out to suit some busybody!

Original poster
Suburbanswings · 20/08/2023 18:27

Yes, we live in a flat which is share of freehold, but comes with a lease and that's in the terms of it.

Again though, not that fussed about that actually happening, we would prefer to hang outside anyway.

OP posts:
heidifrombarnet · 20/08/2023 18:27

Who would keep living somewhere that the neighbours are potentially looking through your windows? I would complain about that as its unreasonable behaviour and affects quiet enjoyment of your home. Anyway, put your washing out whenever you like, perhaps the man has dementia or something? I personally, could not stand living there as I would feel watched and judged all the time!