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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take neighbours washing down

170 replies

FrussoHathor · 27/07/2013 15:02

Just took my washing in as clouds looked threatening. Got mine in and the heavens opened.

Neighbours have washing out. And gone out for day.

I have access to their garden (fire escape route) so I took their washing down, into one of my tubs, and pinned a large bag over the top and left by their door.

Is this acceptable? It is tipping it down out there now.

Would you be annoyed if it was your washing? We're not really on speaking terms.

OP posts:

MadBusLady · 27/07/2013 17:41

Who said anything about knickers? It's the idea of people looking into my garden and taking decisions about my stuff. I'm not that comfortable with it, bite me.

MadBusLady · 27/07/2013 17:44

Oh ok Lizzabadger did. Well, I'm not fussed about the knickers bit per se, but it comes to the same thing really. We all have different boundaries and this is - pay close attention, here - not wrong.

Original poster

FrussoHathor · 27/07/2013 18:02

Ooh I'm actually pretty intrigued that i could be the neighbourhood weirdo.

OP posts:

MrsWolowitz · 27/07/2013 18:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

footphobic · 27/07/2013 18:22

When I was growing up everyone would do this for each other where we lived, it was normal, expected even. Not so much these days, but still a nice thing to do.

I wouldn't worry about the ironing aspect of it.

I didn't know there were people who didn't iron until I joined MN, but then I was brought up by my grandparents and my gm ironed everything...pants, socks, tea towels!

HotCrossPun · 27/07/2013 18:29

deepfried You would leave washing that has been soaked by the rain to dry out so you could fold it and put it away

It was a nice thing you did OP, some people overthink things way too much.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 27/07/2013 18:36

We always did this when I was a child - if it rained, slack Alice over the cut would have everyone's washing in in a trice. She could do four houses in three minutes!

KirjavaTheCat · 27/07/2013 18:38

I was tempted to do this for my neighbours the other day whilst bringing mine in and getting soaked at the same time, but didn't for the reasons outlined already.

I don't think I'd appreciate it in reverse, we don't talk at all.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 27/07/2013 18:42

Where I grew up, all the neighbours used to do this for one another. I think it's nice.

OrangeLily · 27/07/2013 18:49

I don't have any stained pants at all, despite many leakages over the years. Always soak in salted water before wash to get out.

revealall · 27/07/2013 19:05

I would absolutely hate this for many reasons.

Going into my garden
Touching my things
Someone seeing my grotty knickers
Feeling I owed them a favour
Not knowing who did it (you left a note but you aren't a friend).

I would only do it for someone (which I did the other day) if I knew the person well enough to know they wouldn't mind. Sorry - a kind thought but I would be livid.

revealall · 27/07/2013 19:06

OrangeLily - doesn't salt set colour?

apostropheuse · 27/07/2013 19:13

salt removes blood stains actually.
Milk removes ink stains.

...and I'm a boring person.

revealall · 27/07/2013 19:39

My mother told me that too but in my experience it didn't work. How much salt do you need? Is it just a bleaching action?

Jux · 27/07/2013 19:43

Oooh apostropheuse, does that include ink from a leaky biro which covered a tape measure in leaky goo which was then used to measure dd's waist which left sticky goo biro leak on her school summer polo shirt which then got soaked and scrubbed in Vanish for some time and then put in the wash but didn't come out?

If it does, then you will have become my new hero

Sallystyle · 27/07/2013 19:49

I wouldn't like it. I like my privacy and don't want anyone in my garden without my permission. However, I would take it in the spirit it was intended and thank them.

BackforGood · 27/07/2013 20:00

I would be extremely appreciative but I have seen other threads on here where some loony MNers have got very uptight about it. Still, there's nowt so queer as folk, as they say.

inneedofrain · 27/07/2013 20:03

Many years ago, someone did this when we were on holiday. All the washing including the big heavy beach towels where on a line on the Balacony we had gone out for the day in our hire car (hence the reason the big heavy beach towels where being washed) it hacked it down. Flooded the roads out, the resturant we were staying above out. distroyed peoples houses, some roads where inpassable for a week or more etc.

The Mum in the appartment next door (also on holiday) climbed over onto out balcony (a good 15 foot drop if she had fallen) took all the washing down folded neatly and put the blind down to prevent it from getting wet (couldn´t get in as we were out and the doors off of the balcony were locked)

We were incredibly grateful when we got back! It was a very kind thing which saved us alot of work as there was no washing machine, so the beach towels had been rinsed in the bath etc.

As a beside the point, we later that evening wondered down to the resturant to each to find the waiters, owner etc heart broken as it was flooded, the chairs tables etc soaked. In typical style for us we rolled up our torusers kicked our shoes off (about 2 foots of water on the outside patio)and got mops, brooms, buckets, cloths and said "we english rain we understand"! and cleaned the resturant for them, once they realised that we were not going to quit they joined in, took 8 people a total of 1 hour to have them back open. It was the only resturant open for the next three days! They were incredibly grateful and couldn´t believe that we would just "help"!

You did the right thing!

eurozammo · 27/07/2013 20:08

How would rain ruin clothes? It's only water. Like, um, the stuff the clothes were just washed in...

MikeOxard · 27/07/2013 20:20

How lovely of you, I'd be really grateful.

Bumblebee333 · 27/07/2013 20:20

I would appreciate it. its a kibd and thoughtful thing to do.

I would never hang my knickers outside on a washing line unless I had no neighbours.

2rebecca · 27/07/2013 20:58

I think it sounds a nice thing to do

Maggietess · 27/07/2013 21:02

revealall you'd be livid??? About someone doing a kind thing for you??? Some of the responses here astound me. And the OP clearly didn't do it so someone "owed her" she did it to be nice.

Gosh is it any wonder people don't talk to their neighbours anymore if you have to worry about being so judged from being kind never mind if you actually did something that could be wrong.

We've got a lovely relaxed relationship with all out neighbours, they've taken in parcels, we've brought in bins, kept an eye when they were on holiday, called them when their alarm went off one day, they've let us know about loose tiles, we've jointly arranged for trees/shrubs facing our houses to be tidied up. It's just win win all around to have a nice relationship with your neighbours, makes life so much easier!

I'm really really shocked that this could be viewed in any other way than nice.

ClothesPegs · 27/07/2013 21:23

Lovely thing to do, you sound like a great neighbour!

mmmuffins · 27/07/2013 21:28

While I understand how a lot of people would think this is a nice thing, I would be really upset to find you'd done this.

I don't want you in my private space, I didn't invite you. I don't want you touching my clothes. I don't mind if they get rained on, and as I don't own an iron I certainly don't want the clothes left in a heap.

Mainly I would feel very creeped out. Some of us really value our privacy, and to have someone invade it is quite upsetting.

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