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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask neighbour to run w.machine at slightly diff hours?

112 replies

dazzledsazzle · 03/09/2012 12:24

I feel bad as otherwise they are great neighbours, but the woman next door does two loads of washing a day, 7 days a week: 7.30 and 5.30 so every morning, getting ready to the noise of it spinning in the bedroom & bathroom & then shaking kitchen/earsplitting noise in the lounge (open plan) while i grab breakkie - & every night i come in to the same.... And no weekend lie ins either . It's a bit grim after a long commute tbh. She used to run it every night at 10pm on top of that: til the neighbours above her complained so she has cut it down to twice a day already .. She is at home all day, 2 kids in school ... Would some cup cakes w. a really polite note (that includes me saying plse tell me if i ever disturb you too) be out of the question ? I only run my machine Sat afternoons by way when everyone is out as conscious walls so thin ..& weirdly tho its in my flat, its way, way quieter - so how does that work/don't understand ?!

OP posts:
LurkingAndLearningLovesCats · 03/09/2012 14:10

I wouldn't destroy neighbourly relations over a Saturday lie in. But that's but my opinion.

StealthPolarBear · 03/09/2012 14:10

It's their washing machine and the OP needs to talk to them. I know this must seem really petty but this thread is really irritating me for that. Or has everyone got me hidden?

Otherworld · 03/09/2012 14:13

I think YANBU - but I'd phrase what you say carefully. Does sound like there's something wrong with the machine if it's that noisy for you. Could you invite her round when it's on so you can show her how noisy it is?

Yes according to blah blah noise rules 7.30am is OK, but if it's annoying then a quiet word might help.

I can't believe the rest of you think it's OK and OP should just put up with it.

thenightsky · 03/09/2012 14:14

God you'd hate me. I have a timer to make mine come on at 3am for the cheap electricity!

Otherworld · 03/09/2012 14:14

Stealth - I've re-read all of the OPs posts and there's no mention of a partner?

Original poster
dazzledsazzle · 03/09/2012 14:16

Susitwoshoes: Her kids are 5 yr old twins and at school all day but maybe they bedwet? So maybe thats why 14 loads ?! It used to be 3 a day til above complained. She is mostly at home as when i was unemployed i would hear the odd bit of quiet kitchen noise & you can't help but notice they don;t go out much when you live next door: and her grocery shopping is online - i have helped her bring it in. Everyone in block and her partner are 9-5 'ers by the way. She is a real homebody and v nice.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 03/09/2012 14:19

she mentioned "they" didn't she? Unless she meant the children, in which case I will admit I am wrong, a bit grouchy and looking to pick a fight Blush. I assmed she meant "they" in a couple-type way

Teeb · 03/09/2012 14:19

I'd guess she is washing bedsheets and pyjamas in the morning load, and she does the half 5 load of washing when her husband gets in to do his work clothes/school uniform/towels all in one go. It seems a sensible enough system to me.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 03/09/2012 14:23

I don't think anyone can reasonably comment on someone doing 14 loads a week - what business is that of anyones. I do more than that and I am not nuts.

And 7.30 and 5.30 are perfectly reasonable times really, she is not being out of order.

She presumably has no idea that the machine is heard in your flat. If you get on well can you suggest that she puts the machine on a mat or something and see if that helps. Ask her to come in your flat and have a listen. Don't dictate what time she does her washing or how frequent it is, just say the noise is a bit intrusive and see if you can work together to sort it.

DON'T write a note and bake her cupcakes ffs, that is a very juvenile way of dealing with things imo.

valiumredhead · 03/09/2012 14:25

If I was really organised I'd probably do 2 loads a days, as it is I do about 5 back to back on a sunday in a mad panic and 3x during the week.

OptimisticPessimist · 03/09/2012 14:29

I don't get the issue with her doing two loads a day? I do 2 or 3 a day because otherwise it builds up and then I put it off Blush

I think the cupcakes thing is just odd tbh. If it's that much of a problem then just speak to her about it, but tbh I don't see a problem with 7.30am or 5.30pm. It's hardly the middle of the night.

StealthPolarBear · 03/09/2012 14:32

Yes, it was the "they" in the very first line I was thinking of. That may of course refer to her and the children.

QueenofPlaids · 03/09/2012 14:34

I think you are being a bit U about the times, but not about the racket. If stuff is vibrating all over the place it sounds like she has an unbalanced washing machine - has it always been that loud?

(I had one at uni that used to jump across the kitchen floor when on spin cycle).

I don't think you're being entirely U about the weekend mornings - IMO it's a bit thoughtless to make a racket early on a weekend - but I'm not sure there's much you can do about it.

Also, if other neighbours have already complained about the 10pm washing, she may be a wee bit sensitive.

If it's really intolerable, the I'd go with the 'is the machine okay' angle, but speak do her, don't write a note and fgs don't take cupcakes.

Original poster
dazzledsazzle · 03/09/2012 14:39

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt - Its not the times its the whole flat shaking .... the cupcakes is because a girl at work had a similar note thru her door and said it was really nice and made her feel the whole thing was done in spirit of neighbourly co-operation and she replied w. muffins & a note saying their dishwasher was indeed on its way out and about to be fixed & sorry for noise.. Guess we all have diff views but personally everyone i know thinks cake both at home and work is never a bad idea ! I didn't realise some people would find it that offensive and i fully accept a person to person would be good but she is chronically shy ..and we both admitted to a love of cupcakes when i helped bring her Tesco shop in ...

OP posts:
GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 03/09/2012 14:42

Of course you know your neighbour - if you think she would appreciate some cakes by all means go for it. Tbh I read it as a note and cupcakes and thought you would just leave a letter and the cakes on the doormat. I think you need to speak to her face to face, cakes or not. Grin

I think it may be a good idea to invite her in and ask her to listen to the machine. It's awkward, though, if she is chronically she she may feel a bit ganged up on.

DottyWottyDooDah · 03/09/2012 14:44

If she fixes the machine cake would be an appropriate thank you, but not cakes and a note and no conversation about the issue.

greenhill · 03/09/2012 14:46

YABU about dictating when someone does their own washing, especially if it isn't in the middle of the night. It has to fit around family life.

YANBU about the noise levels, if you can hear it that clearly there is obviously a problem with sound insulation/ balance of the machine.

I'd knock on their door during a particularly noisy time, when the washing machine was on, explain that it is vibrating parts of your flat etc. and ask if there is anything that can be done to muffle it.

OrangeandGoldMrsDeVere · 03/09/2012 16:22

I dream of doing 14 loads a week
Sigh

QueenStromba · 03/09/2012 18:04

YANBU. We're on the top floor of a house that has been split into two flats. Downstairs have a 16 month old baby that goes to bed at 7 so the latest we'll put a load of washing on is 5.30 so that it will be finished by 6.30. We also wouldn't dream of hoovering after 6.30. They're expecting another baby in a few weeks so they're going to be at home during the day and I'm going to ask them when nap time is so that I can be extra careful about noise levels at that time.

AllPastYears · 03/09/2012 18:17

No cakes - she might then feel embarrassed if she wants to say no.

holyfishnets · 03/09/2012 19:54

Do it in person. Pop round and say that you really love having them as neigbours but please could they run the washer slightly later in the mornings.

CouthyMowWearingOrange · 03/09/2012 19:57

I always stick a load on at 7.30 before I leave to do the school run, so that it is finished when I get back and can be hung out so I can get the next load on.

I reckon my neighbours hate me anyway, I have 3 loads a day minimum to do, never start before 7.30am, last load is always finished by 7pm. So it's not when anyone is sleeping.

CouthyMowWearingOrange · 03/09/2012 20:01

Often I have 4 loads to get through in a day, actually. I'm sure I worked out on a different laundry thread that I get through 30 loads a week. So probably 4 loads a day during the week and 5 a day at weekends.

I have 4 DC's, they generate a LOT of laundry.

If there is a day when I am out all day and busy, I just have to do twice as much the next day.

It has to be done!

CleoSmackYa · 03/09/2012 22:22

YANBU. My old neighbour did this. She also used that time to listen to the radio. I wasn't allowed to make any noise during the day though. It's against her scientology rights stupid fucking twat she was

FuzzzyDuckosaurus · 04/09/2012 01:03

I live in a flat so very conscious of noise. I only put washing machine/Hoover on after 9am and no later that 6pm. Most people in my building are the same/have young kids so I think it's a mutual thing.

One neighbour (child free!) did decide to sand her floors one Sunday morning at 7.30am. I was not impressed Angry

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