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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have taken my neighbors washing off my line?

49 replies

lola88 · 04/04/2014 08:45

I live in a flat and we have the old style poles and ropes everyone has there own section, I went to put my washing out but my neighbor had put her washing on my lines so I took it down folded it in her basket and left it at her door (she works so wasn't in and I don't have a number). She came up and told me I had no right to touch her clothes and should have left them until she got home (6 hours later). Her argument is our other neighbor uses my line so didn't see a problem however she only uses it after asking to check if I need it.

She's still giving me dirty looks and told our other neighbor I touched her thing property and I had no right. Was I unreasonable to take the clothes down? If it happens again i'd be tempted to just open her pegs so I don't touch her precious clothes and leave them on the bloody grass tbh

OP posts:

WitchWay · 04/04/2014 08:52

Did you tell her the other neighbour asks first? She sounds entitled & a pain.

complexnumber · 04/04/2014 08:54

I sort of think you were both being a bit unreasonable. Your neighbour was unreasonable to hang her washing on your line. But then you were unreasonable to take it down, especially if it was not fully dry.

(It's neighbour in the UK, not neighbor. Really sorry, things like that grate with me.)

NCRegular · 04/04/2014 08:55

I would double load her washing on her line next time. I doubt there will be a next time though.

badidea · 04/04/2014 08:59

YANBU
I can understand her being miffed but the way I see it it like using a launderette. If you don't get back in time to empty your machine, and someone else has taken out your stuff and put in their washing - that's just tough. You might not like it, but it's your own fault.

Same in this case, if she wanted to use your lines she shoudl have asked, she didn't so you had every right to remove her washing - maybe you should have just left it crumpled in her basket though, it might have been the folding that has left her irked (for some reason, someone folding my clothes would pee me off more than just dumping them in a basket)

t3rr3gl35 · 04/04/2014 09:01

Agree with complexnumber. Maybe a better way to have handled it would have been to wait until it was dry before removing it and then having a word with her about asking you if it's OK first? I know you shouldn't have to, and it's an inconvenience if you can't hang out your own washing when you want but some arguments aren't worth the grief. YANB totally U.

Goblinchild · 04/04/2014 09:04

Complex, what was the OP supposed to do with her laundry whilst the neighbour's stuff was occupying her line?

Lagos · 04/04/2014 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

RedRoom · 04/04/2014 09:17

When you say you all have a section each of the communal lines, how does that work? Are they officially allocated? Or just people have come to that arrangement by themselves? I had a communal line about 15 years ago and that was first come, first served. Bit of a mare in summer as it was like the whole stereotype of holiday makers putting out towels to reserve sun loungers...

Original poster

lola88 · 04/04/2014 09:17

I was going out and had 2 lots of bed sheets so I wasn't willing to wait for hers to dry leaving my own wet. I use my line every day it's dry and not to cold so she knows I regularly use it and still decided to use it. I wouldn't have minded if it was a few things she couldn't fit on her own space but it used 4 of my 5 lines so she was obviously planning on using someone else's line.

I did tell her the other neighbour asks first and I didn't exactly fold it just put it neatly in not dumped it crumpled up.

OP posts:

complexnumber · 04/04/2014 09:19

Complex, what was the OP supposed to do I don't know Goblinchild, the neighbour was unreasonable. But I think the OP may have escalated things by removing her washing.

I can imagine people getting quite arsey about a stranger mucking about with something as personal as your laundry

Original poster

lola88 · 04/04/2014 09:20

It's official they are council flats so when you move in you are allocated your lines.

OP posts:

badidea · 04/04/2014 09:22

complex - i can understand people getting grumpy with someone going through their smalls (as it were) but the bottom line is the neighbour used someone elses line and if you're going to hog someone's line and go out all day, you can't expect that person to meekly wait until you come home (and they've missed drying their own washing). I can see why she was peed off, but the way I see it, the OP was in the right.

Original poster

lola88 · 04/04/2014 09:23

It's was towels and jeans no pants! I wouldn't have touched her pants

OP posts:

YouTheCat · 04/04/2014 09:27

If her line was in a different garden and she just came through and used it would that be okay? No it wouldn't. Just because it's an allocated line in the same garden doesn't mean any bugger can use it.

Complex, if the other woman had been bothered so much about other people touching her precious washing maybe she shouldn't have used someone else's line without asking?

I think OP was entirely reasonable. Why should she have to wait to use her line?

twobambinos · 04/04/2014 09:29

I don't think you are being unreasonable. Drying days are few and far between so it would be more than likely you would have your own stuff out to dry.

She could have asked instead of assume. I don't think she will be doing it again somehow.

RedRoom · 04/04/2014 09:32

Well, if it's official, then no, yanbu and nor were ybu when you took down her washing and neatly out it in the basket. If she has run out of her five lines due to washing too much, tough. As for her silly claim about you 'touching' her washing- pathetic attempt to try and find fault with what you did. She 'touched' your line!

Original poster

lola88 · 04/04/2014 09:56

Thanks I feel better know I kind of knew I wasn't bu she certainly doesn't complain about me taking her bin in for her every week so I don't see why I shouldn't remove towels and jeans from my property (I bought the rope :))

OP posts:

t3rr3gl35 · 04/04/2014 10:08

Yip - using 4 out of 5 lines is very naughty - that's a lot of jeans and towels. Revising YANB totally U to YADNBU!

Original poster

lola88 · 04/04/2014 10:15

I did wonder how on earth she washed so much by 10am

OP posts:

eurochick · 04/04/2014 10:15

If you don't want people touching your property then don't hand it on their lines. It's quite simple. YWNBU OP.

Fullpleatherjacket · 04/04/2014 10:19

Totally not U.

I'd have done the same. Hopefully she'll think twice before helping herself next time.

EverythingsDozy · 04/04/2014 10:41

Are you DaleyBums elderly neighbour?

WhereYouLeftIt · 04/04/2014 10:43

YANBU.
"She's still giving me dirty looks and told our other neighbor I touched her thing property and I had no right."
Your other neighbour now thinks she's a loon.

Stinklebell · 04/04/2014 10:44

YANBU

If you don't want someone else touching your washing, you don't hang it on someone else's washing line

SconeRhymesWithGone · 04/04/2014 10:44

I think you were well within your rights, OP. Your neighbor should have asked first.

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