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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be appalled at the length of time my neighbour leaves her washing on the line

328 replies

Perriwinkle · 14/10/2011 17:47

A whole lineful will appear and then it'll be out for up to two weeks at a time. It can dry, get wet and dry again several times over and be slapped against a concrete wall in the wind. Items only seems to get picked in as and when they're needed and by the end of it's time out there it'll be hanging on by one peg, with longer items dragging on the grass or hitched up against the fence/wall.

There's no real reason I should care - it's not my family's washing after all - but I just can't bear to see washing (something which by definition is supposed to be clean!) being treated like that.

What are some people like?

OP posts:
RainboweBrite · 15/10/2011 20:32

All I'll say is I have a few neighbours who seem to have the washing out for days at a time, and you can't help but notice and wonder why! However, I am someone who only puts washing out if I'm a 110% convinced it won't rain.
On the very rare occasions I've chanced it and it has rained, I actually feel angry that I've gone to all the trouble of pegging out, because I'm also someone who has to have matching clothes pegs on items (from a box with 4 different colours), and nothing must be inside out and similar items have to be next to each other (e.g. top and bottoms of pajamas), so it probably takes me a good 15 minutes to peg out to my satisfaction, and I feel it's a huge waste of time and effort when it's only going to have to go in the tumble dryer or on the clothes horse anyway.
So in a nutshell, anyone who puts washing out when there is a good chance it might rain is U in my opinion anyway, but I wouldn't then go on to make judgements about how slatternly they are!

Ilikedrinkingblood · 15/10/2011 20:34

My washing was still damp this evening so I left it out. I am about to hand myself in to social services now as I obviously can't care for my kids properly and my house must be filthy.

dolphin84 · 15/10/2011 20:37

2 weeks does seem extreme. However, I do sometime leave it out for a day or so if not dry. No way of drying it inside.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 15/10/2011 20:56

I would assume if her washing is out for 2 weeks she is bringing it in and rewashing it. I have left mine out, its rained and i have a load wet and a load in. I would leave the stuff on the line out till i had finished what was in IYSWIM.

I woulnt let it bother me, TBH i wouldnt even notice if my neighbors house was a mess or ho long they had had the same washing on the line.

Im just not that interested in my neighbours

Fifis25StottieCakes · 15/10/2011 20:59

and not everyone can afford to run a dryer and have the heating on constantly drying washing. I know i cant afford to use my dryer since my bills doubled

vogonmothership · 15/10/2011 21:00

my neighbour and I have a long standing competition to see who can leave it out the longest Grin
may go and flagellate myself now

dozyrosie · 15/10/2011 22:36

If the subject even crosses your mind all you have to worry about is another persons washing then you are a very lucky lady!

worldgonemad72 · 15/10/2011 22:47

mines been out about 5 days now tbh, its been too wet an dark when i get in from work to go out an get it, it will have be rewashed Blush

Original poster
Perriwinkle · 15/10/2011 22:47

Fifis25StottieCakes Sat 15-Oct-11 20:56:16

"I would assume if her washing is out for 2 weeks she is bringing it in and rewashing it..."

Then that would not account for the fact that she brings it in piecemeal. If she was bringing it in to rewash it she would surely take the whole lot in, would she not...?

She must just take stuff in as she needs it. It disappears bit by bit and then all of a sudden there's none and you'll then see two whole lines worth appear again and the process will start over again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perriwinkle · 15/10/2011 22:52

worldgonemad72 to be fair to you, at least you acknowledge the fact that it would need rewashing.

Others don't see to grasp that. Instead they appear to think it's a crime to want to be clean and think that you must be stark raving mad, have no "life" or assume you don't have a job if you seek to observe decent standards of hygiene and cleanliness in your home.

OP posts:
SugarPasteLadybird · 15/10/2011 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

billysolloxx · 15/10/2011 23:02

do you think said neighbour would start a thread with - AIBU to tell my nosy neighbour to stop staring at my smalls on washing line.

Maryz · 15/10/2011 23:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dozyrosie · 15/10/2011 23:03

There is nothing at all wrong with wanting to be clean, I in fact started a post on it earlier today. I just think that if you can be appalled by someone's laundry then you are lucky, as you must have the time and energy to worry about an issue so trivial. I honestly don't think I would notice how long my neighbours have their washing out for, let alone what items they brought in and when.

Original poster
Perriwinkle · 15/10/2011 23:12

LOL!!!!!!! @ "Personally, I think a washing line can provide useful extra storage" - My neighbour obviously agrees with that theory!!! Grin

Seriously, do people think I spend all day studying this woman's washing? I simply idley glance out of one of DCs bedroom windows when I'm in there and see it. It actually amuses me to see the state it's in - particularly after a wild night of weather. It's a standing joke in our house. Believe me I have a busy life; a family to look after, a job, friends, hobbies etc. Do you people not observe anything about your neighbours - not even for comedy value?

OP posts:
TheBestWitch · 16/10/2011 00:05

I wouldn't know what most of the neighbourhood do with their washing no.

dozyrosie · 16/10/2011 00:07

My neighbour and his endlessly changing live in DP's, and what can only be described as an exciting and vocal sex life, yes I find that entertaining Envy. Would I worry if he left his washing out for a couple of days and let it get in a state, no not may washing so not my concern. If my sex life was that good I wouldn't leave the house all week. OP find something more interesting to be nosey about and then come back to us with the juicy details please.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 16/10/2011 01:04

Others don't see to grasp that. Instead they appear to think it's a crime to want to be clean and think that you must be stark raving mad, have no "life" or assume you don't have a job if you seek to observe decent standards of hygiene and cleanliness in your home.

But your clean and do your washing so its not a problem is it. Its your neighbours washing and she can do what she sees fit with it. Shes not doing anything to YOUR washing so whats the problem.

I cant honestly believe that your seem to keep some sort of mental record as to what goes in and out.

Maybe she leaves it out cause every time she goes to the washing line you taking mental notes and taking the piss.

Sorry but i think what your doing is weirder than leaving washing out for two weeks. Frankly its non of your business.

AnxiousElephant · 16/10/2011 01:19

I have to laugh at this Grin I'm glad I have a tumble drier so nobody can judge my length of line drying! Grin

duchesse · 16/10/2011 01:19

Maybe your neighbour doesn't actually own a washing machine and is letting mother nature do the job?

Honestly, unless you are proposing hopping over the fence and giving him/her a hand with his/her household chores, I suggest you find something that's actually your business something better to worry about.

AnxiousElephant · 16/10/2011 01:21

OP I think if you have that much time on your hands to keep track on her washing you probably have the time to bring it in and fold it for her if it bothers you that much! Grin

MsMarple · 16/10/2011 01:23

Hmmm, you might be my neighbour OP. I'm sure you can't be as my neighbour is very nice, but just in case I am wrong: I am not putting those clothes out there to dry, but to get some air to them.

I'm sensitive to perfumes, so I might leave things outside to air if I've been wearing them with friends who douse themselves in scent before going out. Or if I've just bought clothes they sometimes smell quite strongly chemically. Or if DH someone has misguidedly gone and bought some washing powder that I am allergic to, and washed a whole load of things in it before I realise what he's done...etc etc

So, just to set the record straight, I know they won't get dry out there in the rain. But the various horrible smells might wear off eventually, and then I will put them in the washing machine to get them clean afterwards. It seems to work better this way round than washing them first, finding out they still smell, and airing them afterwards.

I hope you will now understand the reason for my appalling behaviour, and feel able to get on with your own life Wink

Fifis25StottieCakes · 16/10/2011 01:23

Maybe she is suffering a bout of scabbies Wink

MsMarple · 16/10/2011 01:26

Sorry, just re-read. Didn't mean to imply that my neighbour is nice and you are not. Am sure you are very nice too, and washing-watching is no indication one way or the other of niceness.

Think it's time for bed!

Fifis25StottieCakes · 16/10/2011 01:29

Nite, remember to get your washing in.