WWYD: Borrowed something ore Lockdown 1, how to return it?

[BridgetDrones]

Please be gentle I have severe anxiety. I borrowed a skirt for my DD pre lockdown one (early March 2020) quite specifically for an event. The loaning person is a friend but not a close one. The skirt was brand new with tags, friend was happy to loan it and my DD wore it once for the event then I washed it but haven't returned it yet because of lockdown then fears over transmission between our houses. I still have the skirt hanging up safely but probably getting to a point now where her DD might not even fit in it?! What do I do? I can't get it back to her now anyway, and it's not needed (it's a specific skirt that wouldn't be worn causally). I am mortified to still have it.

Can you post it? Pay for postage online and print out a label, then in the postbox so you don’t have to go to the post office

Can you arrange to put it on doorstep in a bag, knock and stand well back, they can take in the bag then and leave to 'decontaminate'.

If she lives close just drop it off socially distanced. If you drive / in walking distance you don’t have to come in contact with anyone else.
If not then do as pp above says and post it.
Personally I’d include a thank you gesture for her DD as well.

I think you need to drop it off, or even post it. If she's OK with you doing that then quarantined it for 3 days there'd be no transmission risk.

Also it sounds like it is your fear that it will transmit COVID and not necessarily hers. Just deliver it / post it and it’s up to her whether she washes it, quarantines it or does nothing with it.

Can’t you just send her a quick msg and ask if she would like it returned to her now or just wait till able to hand over in person?

i have taken things back to people and simply left it in a secure area in a bag and let them know it is there.

Given its been this long I'd message asking her if she'd rather have it returned or be sent the money to buy a new one, sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear but nearly a year is a bit of a pisstake to borrow something which may no longer fit

Message her and say you spotted the skirt hanging up in the wardrobe and were thinking how you still hadn't returned it.

Ask her if she wants it posted (or dropped outside her house if within walking distance) or if you can buy her a new skirt/send money. If it has been a year the skirt might be too small now.

Ask for her address and post it back obviously

I know how you’re feeling and if your like me you won’t feel better until the situation is resolved. Here’s what I’d do (and when I’m anxious this would feel really big but each step is doable):

1. Text friend and say you’ve just found the skirt and you’re really sorry you haven’t returned it. Ask for her address.
2. Wrap up and stick a little packet of sweets in to say thanks to her DD.
3. Measure and weigh parcel then print postage online and post in postbox near you.

When I read your OP I thought that sounds just like me and something I would worry over instead of doing something. You’ve got this!

@Newjobnewslob

Given its been this long I'd message asking her if she'd rather have it returned or be sent the money to buy a new one, sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear but nearly a year is a bit of a pisstake to borrow something which may no longer fit

That's what I was thinking. Get in touch with the other mum and ask her preference. Given if was brand new what would you have done if DD had stained or damaged it? If its been bought for an event, the event may never happen or have been scaled back. But you do need to offer something for it, either cash or replacement.

You could buy a new one from the website using her address for delivery. Tell her you're doing this as you're so concerned about how long you've had it and ask if she'd like a size larger as it's just been so long?