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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think it’s antisocial to power wash the patio today

184 replies

AirborneElephant · 25/02/2026 15:36

Where I am today is a beautiful sunny day. It’s warm enough to sit out with a jumper. The first sunny day ALL YEAR, and tomorrow and for the rest of the week it’s going back to being wet and dreary. So I made my lunch, sat outside, and revelled in the sun and birdsong. Until about an hour later when my neighbour started pressure washing his patio, and he’s still at it now.

Yes, I know it’s the middle of the day. I know it needs doing, I will do mine at some point. I know I am privileged to have a nice garden to sit in. But TODAY? The only sun we’ve had for months? AIBU to think that’s fucking selfish?

OP posts:
LittlePetitePsychopath · 25/02/2026 17:21

AirborneElephant · 25/02/2026 15:44

It’s the fact that we have had no sun for months. I don’t care in the summer, he does his garden when he wants and I do mine when I want, no big deal. It just feels like the only possible chance for any sun for what feels like forever has been stolen.

What about it has annoyed you?

Has he sprayed you accidentally, or soaked your garden furniture, or is it "just" the noise?

I'd take someone pressure-washing their garden over an old neighbour of mine that used to yodel in the communal garden. She was not especially good at it....

AInightingale · 25/02/2026 17:19

I agree with you OP. Lovely sunny day, spring or summer - neighbours take it as the cue to start up every garden power tool they possess. I hate noise and sympathise, power washers have a really ear-shredding drone/whine. Never as bad on the 'just cloudy' days (which are better for doing chores in the garden anyway) - the sun seems to bring the fuckers out in force.

Bitofashock · 25/02/2026 17:19

I am so on your side OP!!!! Why do people need to do noisy jobs on the first day of nice sun? Why can’t they just listen to the birds and enjoy the warmth and peace. You are not at all selfish for wanting to enjoy your lunch without the background roar of a pressure washer! It’s not like you went round and shoved it where the sun doesn’t shine after all!

Sostewedover · 25/02/2026 17:17

Grip is needed.

Topseyt123 · 25/02/2026 17:16

AirborneElephant · 25/02/2026 15:44

It’s the fact that we have had no sun for months. I don’t care in the summer, he does his garden when he wants and I do mine when I want, no big deal. It just feels like the only possible chance for any sun for what feels like forever has been stolen.

Oh dear. Now you are talking bollocks. 🤣 Save your energy.

There'll hopefully be other sunny days. The year is far from over and we are barely into spring. It's still only February.

goz · 25/02/2026 17:15

No it’s not selfish.

AtIusvue · 25/02/2026 17:13

Try putting up with neighbours who use gardners, whose only tool seems to be a petrol leaf blower. 9 months of the year….hours on end every bloody week!

Topseyt123 · 25/02/2026 17:12

AirborneElephant · 25/02/2026 15:38

But it isn’t a job that needs to be done in the sun. You get wet and dirty regardless.

Show quote history

Yes it is better to do it in the sun. It will dry much more quickly and the results will be clearer much sooner.

I assume they weren't actually spraying and showering you with the jet wash.

Zov · 25/02/2026 17:11

I hate the sound of a naffing pressure washer any day of the year @AirborneElephant so YANBU to be annoyed by the sound, but you can't dictate when people do things in their own garden. We have a man in a garden near us who has a 63 acre lawn - well I reckon it MUST be as the fecker takes 3 fecking hours to fecking mow it! The noise (FOR 3 HOURS) from the bastard petrol mower sends me over the edge! 😠

So I get music on my MP3 player and stick my headphones in my ears when I'm in the garden to drown out the noise. Maybe something to think about for the next time something similar happens? Smile

nb; the annoying man has about 1 acre of lawn/grass. But 3 chuffing bloody bastard HOURS?! Why does it take so long??????? And it's often once a week through summer! ARGH!

.

Gingercatlover · 25/02/2026 17:10

Not as selfish as someone near me who lit a bonfire and I had to take my washing in.

nodoubtinmind · 25/02/2026 17:09

YABU. It’s a nice day. Work around gardens is going to pick up.

pilates · 25/02/2026 17:09

YABVU
I would of if I wasn’t working

StarlingTheConqueror · 25/02/2026 17:03

ERthree · 25/02/2026 16:59

Pressure washing can be done in the rain.

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And then it’s making it an even less nice chore.
Are you always ensuring that the not very nice stuff is made even harder for yourself? Because I sure try to make it nicer/easier instead. Which means a sunny is a much better day. Esp if you get wet!

pictoosh · 25/02/2026 17:02

It's not selfish, no. Don't be daft.

StarlingTheConqueror · 25/02/2026 17:01

I’m a bit at loss as to what you find so disturbing about power washing the patio that it stops you from enjoying the sun.
Is it the noise? Would you have had the same issue with a land mower?
Is the water that might spray around?
Or if they had decided to have aBBQ instead? Would you have minded? Or did you have you washing drying too 😜😜

Brightlittlecanary · 25/02/2026 17:01

ERthree · 25/02/2026 16:59

Pressure washing can be done in the rain.

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It can but it’s miserable and I wouldn’t do that’. He doesn’t need to power wash in the rain so she can take precedence.

latetothefisting · 25/02/2026 17:01

AirborneElephant · 25/02/2026 15:44

It’s the fact that we have had no sun for months. I don’t care in the summer, he does his garden when he wants and I do mine when I want, no big deal. It just feels like the only possible chance for any sun for what feels like forever has been stolen.

grinch AND melodramatic.
It's not "the only possible chance for any sun," ffs. It's still sunny whether he's making a noise or not.
Go for a walk or stick some headphones in if it bothers you that much.

Peacexbliss · 25/02/2026 16:59

I cant see anything wrong in it, you dont own his garden.

Tbh I'd rather hear a power wash than screaming kids.

ERthree · 25/02/2026 16:59

User253853 · 25/02/2026 15:37

Sorry - it’s sunny. Jobs need doing

Pressure washing can be done in the rain.

humptydumptyfelloff · 25/02/2026 16:50

Get some loop ear buds.
I recently bought some as I find too much background noise distracting.
they’re brilliant

ReignOfError · 25/02/2026 16:49

First sunny day here for ages too, so I am out working in my garden, doing lots of the jobs that are overdue because of the weather.

I can’t imagine wasting a nice sunny day sitting about, but each to their own.

stargirl27 · 25/02/2026 16:48

DappledThings · 25/02/2026 16:48

I think he has the world's most powerful washer. It is so strong that it has thrown a dust cloud into the air so wide and thick that the sky around OP now resembles a nuclear winter and her description of the sun as stolen now makes perfect sense.

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😂😂😂

DappledThings · 25/02/2026 16:48

JustMeHello · 25/02/2026 16:46

Why can't you sit and enjoy the sun while he's power washing? I honestly don't understand, unless he's so close you're being splashed?

I think he has the world's most powerful washer. It is so strong that it has thrown a dust cloud into the air so wide and thick that the sky around OP now resembles a nuclear winter and her description of the sun as stolen now makes perfect sense.

Elektra1 · 25/02/2026 16:47

Are they supposed to wait for the rain so they can stand in the rain and do it?

JustMeHello · 25/02/2026 16:46

Why can't you sit and enjoy the sun while he's power washing? I honestly don't understand, unless he's so close you're being splashed?