Neighbor borrowing stuff.

[Pereie]

AIBU?

I recently introduced myself to a new neighbour on the street. She seems really nice, like someone I would like to get to know.

I noticed she was struggling with something so offered to help out. It wasn't a big deal and easy for me to help.

This was last week.

Literally every day since we met I have had a text message from her asking me to help with something or to borrow something or other.

A few days ago she asked to borrow my vacuum cleaner, she has a young baby so I took it over the road in the pissing rain to save her faffing with baby. I was just in the door and had my jacket on so again, no big deal. I did mention when I dropped it off that I feel very nauseous and couldn't face emptying the compartment. (I have horrid morning sickness) I apologised and mentioned that it would need to be emptied before she used it. It really was already full so I was quite embarrassed, but just couldn't face doing it.

ANYWAY. Later on that night the door bell goes and I answer with a cheerful HELLLLOOOOO! (I was waiting for a friend and fully expected it to be her!) I was quite flustered to find a stranger on my doorstep holding my vacuum. I laughed off the strange hello I gave when I answered the door explaining that I though he was someone else. He didn't really say anything, grunted and handed the vacuum back. He looked annoyed and it was just weird. Maybe because it was raining? I haven't met this guy before and I assume it's neighbours partner.

The vacuum cleaner was stuffed full when it came back. Like, her dirt on top of my dirt full. That really annoyed me because I'm pretty sure it's not good for the hoover to be so full and I asked her to empty it before she used it. I wouldn't have minded so much if it came back just full of her dirt (though out of politeness I would have though she would empty it) but the fact that it wasn't emptied when she started really annoyed me.

I haven't heard from her or grumpy partner since so maybe she thinks I was being unreasonable to ask her to empty it to start with.

Apologies for long post about vacuum dust!

(Oh and I know it wasn't emptied before because my vacuum was full of glitter and brightly coloured feathers so it was pretty obvious!)

Tip: Vacujm contents empty into garden bin.

I don’t think this is a good idea. Cross contamination from carpet fibres. The contents should go in non recyclable waste.

I always bag hoover waste or I wind up breathing it

I don’t think this is a good idea. Cross contamination from carpet fibres. The contents should go in non recyclable waste. That'll make little difference, think of all the crap you sweep up in the garden that goes into the garden bin. I should have added before about putting it in to the compost bin/pile if you have one too, as someone mentioned on a previous thread,

It's pretty disgusting to lend a vacuum cleaner full of crap. If I couldn't be bothered to empty it, I wouldn't have lent it. I personally don't think she is any worse returning it full as you for lending it full. both pretty minging just don't lend her stuff.

Vitalogy
That'll make little difference, think of all the crap you sweep up in the garden that goes into the garden bin.

I'm not sure what crap you have in your garden but there are many things that are vacuumed up from the floors of a typical home that aren't present in the natural environment. In the OP's case, glitter and brightly-coloured fake feathers.

@LolitaLempicka OP was feeling nauseous due to morning sickness, I don't think neighbour would have appreciated a vomit covered vacuum if OP had rushed to empty it. Either way it's OP's vacuum, she's entitled to leave her vacuum in any way she sees fit, it's hers!

Most of the dirt/dust in the home is made up of skin cells, hair, dirt from outside and food droppings. There's no glitter in my house these days
The general consensus seems to be composing or garden bin is the best bet for disposal/recycling.

*composting

Quite soon after my DH died, a neighbour came to borrow power tools, ones that had never asked for when DH was alive. I said no, they were broken (coward emoticon). I didn't want to lend what would cost a lot to replace if it got knackered/not returned.

I'm moving into a house soon and personally I wish there want any neighbours lol. For me, I would of just said that I don't have the item they want and then they would stop asking eventually.

If the hoover still worked without emptying it then maybe she didn't think it was a big deal? But the rest of the things she has been asking for clearly bothers you so say no. That you can't find something and leave it at that

Absolutely @Vitalogy but if the OP was embarrassed about lending a full vacuum why did she lend it rather than say no?

Lolita, I was embarrassed to hand over a full hoover but thought it was better than not loaning it at all. If it were me I would have appreciated the loan regardless if it needed emptied.

Do you really wanna be mates with some one who needs to borrow a vacuum cleaner?

I've lent a couple of things to neighbours. When I have I've specified when I want it back by. Such as "Yes you can borrow my air purifier to help with your paint smell. But I need it back by this day as I do use it a lot."
Altthough once lent a neighbour a spade thinking it was for him and he lived close by so easy to get back. When I went to get it out of the garage his grandson was waiting as it was for him (he lived somewhere else). Wasn't too happy. Said I needed it back the next day. It didn't arrive back in time. Had a word with the grandad who is luckily quite a responsible person. He said he'd sort it and it was back same day.
I think specifying a return date gives you a reason to ask for it back after that date. Rather than feeling awkward about asking for it back

Next time she asks tell her vacuum cleaner is broken (due to being overfilled with carpet crapology). Likewise - just ran out of milk/sugar etc etc. She will stop asking.......

Fortunately nobody asks to borrow my gear. But if they did, I would be like why would I want to lend my expensive stuff to anyone and risk it breaking? Just get your own or hire your own.

I might be convinced to lend a screw driver but none of my other expensive tools no chance.

There seems to be an impression that the vacuum cleaner was full of toxic waste... Yes, it's a bit gross, but that's part of vacuuming, and as the OP was doing the neighbor a favor by loaning it (and carrying it over!), it does seem very rude not to do as she asked and empty it first. The only possible excuse is that maybe she didn't understand that it was a request to empty it first, but more of an "if it doesn't work, try emptying it" helpful tip.

The man who brought it over without a thank-you, on the other hand, sounds grumpy and rude.

I'd definitely distance myself from the pair, for the time being.