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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask her not to put her washing machine on

72 replies

lovelystar · 07/01/2018 10:31

I think I already know the answer to this so am fully expecting to be shot down here but my lack of sleep is making me a bit loopy!
Me and my partner have just moved into a block of flats and have considered ourselves very lucky in that we managed to get it in a good location and a good size for the price we are paying. Everything here is lovely HOWEVER the lady above us puts on her washing machine almost every day from about 8.30am until about 12pm. It makes the most irritating loud sqeauking sound which does not stop the whole time it is on and can also be heard from outside the block! For most not a problem, however my partner works nights so by the time he gets in and gets settled to sleep in the morning the washing machine is on again and part of us dies inside everytime we hear it start up :( I'm also 34 weeks pregnant with quite a high risk pregnancy so do not want to be causing drama in our block and causing stress to myself. What I'm asking is wibu to write her a note asking her nicely to not put the machine on until maybe a bit later in the day or should I just count myself lucky and leave it?? We've only just moved in and she's been here a long long time. Sorry for the ramble.

OP posts:
Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 10:52

@saucy I don't like complaining at all, was more a tounge in cheek post I guess, I know there are plenty of solutions and we are mainly the anti social ones with his work hours :)

OP posts:
agentdaisy · 07/01/2018 10:54

I completely understand that it's irritating but it's a perfectly reasonable time to have a washing machine on. It's a downside of living in flats in this country that there is usually a lack of sound insulation and you hear noise from other flats.

It's disturbing your dp's sleep because he works nights but if she had her machine going during the night it would disturb the majority of the people in the block. Equally having it on in the afternoon could disturb someone who works the swing/late shift.

Unfortunately it's a drawback of working nights in that most people will be awake when you're trying to sleep. You'll be responsible for a lot of nighttime noise in a few weeks and if you complain about a washing machine being on in the morning then you're opening yourself up to your neighbour complaining about your baby crying several times during the night.

genever · 07/01/2018 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 10:55

@miranda maybe I should be more concerned about why she needs the washing on that much instead Grin although when the baby is here I'm fully expecting to have the washing machine on a lot of the time

OP posts:
Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 10:58

@genever It was more a tounge in cheek post as I mentioned I was fully expecting to be told I'm BU. I've lived in flats in the city as a student and as a resident so am fully aware of the positives and negatives of flat living. I actually really like it here and consider myself very lucky :)

OP posts:
Notreallyarsed · 07/01/2018 10:59

@lovelystar I’ve got 3 and when the youngest two were babies I swear my washing machine actually begged me for a break (Well it bloody broke), it was on 5-6 hours a day (2 sicky babies)

Oldraver · 07/01/2018 11:01

Get him some decent earplugs..My OH works nights and while it is annoying when outside noise wakes you there is nothing you can do to syop it

genever · 07/01/2018 11:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mustbemad17 · 07/01/2018 11:04

Just wait until your bub is here...payback time 😝😝

Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 11:07

@genever maybe I need to work on my tone a bit then Grin I was expecting responses like that hence why I mentioned before the response I was expecting :) I've already mentioned I think it's perfectly reasonable. I would happily listen to the washing machine all day everyday over any other issues I've experienced during my pregnancy Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 11:09

@mustbemmad yes I guess I could look at it this way, although alot of the older generation living in the block have mentioned how much they are looking foward to having a LO in the block l! Shows how nice alot of them are really!

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MadyaunMylford · 07/01/2018 11:09

Boots foam earplugs - life changing!!

Viviennemary · 07/01/2018 11:09

It's annoying but I don't think your neighbour is to blame because she is doing her washing at a reasonable time. There isn't much you can do about it.

Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 11:11

@notreally exactly what I anticipate Grin Sad maybe it's just jealousy as we've only just go a washing machine so haven't been able to use one...

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Notreallyarsed · 07/01/2018 11:14

@lovelystar it’s a lovely feeling isn’t it though? I didn’t have one for ages and did all our washing by hand (just me and DS1 at the time). I got a really old Hotpoint one and it was wonderful! 3 bairns, 1 DP who works crawling about lofts and outbuildings and a dog later I’m bloody grateful for my washing machine!

SixSausages · 07/01/2018 11:15

Unfortunately some people do need to use their washing machine a lot.

I'm one of those as me and DH both work in a greasy environment and have to wear fresh uniform each day. We also have a teething 4 month old who goes through many many many bibs and clothes due to endless dribbling.

I also live in an upstairs flat however I have an amazing downstairs neighbour who never complains.

TenancyTroublesAgain · 07/01/2018 11:17

I feel for you OP. had a nightmare washing machine issue too. It was on above where I was sitting for 4 hours at a time and my entire flat hummed and vibrated for the entire time it was on... I took to going out because it eventually drove me insane.

makingmiracles · 07/01/2018 11:17

Yabu , annoying for your dp as he is on nights but unfortunately the lady isn’t doing anything wrong and yabu for not wanting her to use her washing machine between those hours!
A more reasonable suggestion would be earplugs for your dp, once you have the baby and baby gets past the sleep all day stage there will be a lot more noise in your house than the sound of a neighbours washing machine!

I mean if you’re friendly and talk to the neighbour, it might be worth mentioning the machine is loud and dp is on nights but if you don’t normally chat to her then I think it’s unreasonable to approach her about this!

FruitCider · 07/01/2018 11:18

You are lucky she doesn’t put her washer on at night to take advantage of economy 7 😉

PocketCoffeeEspresso · 07/01/2018 11:19

Unfortunately I think you would be unreasonable - if she did the washing in the afternoon, then drying becomes an issue.

I suspect that you'll stop hearing it soon - not just because of the baby, but because you just get used to stuff - when DS1 was a baby we lived directly above a fire station (viewed the flat at night and didn't see it!) - within a couple of weeks we honestly didn't hear the massively loud sirens going off at all hours of the night and day!

Plus, well.. baby...

Could he sleep with white noise/earplugs? I use earplugs for DP's awful snoring and they're a godsend. Whitenoise doesn't work for me though (although it does for DP)

ForalltheSaints · 07/01/2018 11:19

Maybe 830am on a Sunday is a bit early, but perfectly reasonable on other days. Much better than early evening too.

Gwenhwyfar · 07/01/2018 11:20

"I'm in a flat & we have a cut off point of 7pm - 8am here. "

Wow. I live in a flat and would never expect quiet from 7pm. From 10pm would make sense to me. When are people who work supposed to to their washing with those hours?

Unreasonable to ask someone not to do their washing during the day though.

PinkyBlunder · 07/01/2018 11:23

Serious question - when is a reasonable time for her to do her washing of those times aren’t? I know my washing machine is on pretty much constantly apart from the evening and over night!

Very soon OP you are going to have a baby which are noisy creatures by nature and your washing machine will be on all the time.

Im going to hospital soon (snoring gives me the rage!) and I just bought 20 sets of earplugs for about £3 from Amazon. Might be a good investment?

BluthsFrozenBananas · 07/01/2018 11:26

As well as ear plugs at your end white noise can really help. A fan or a white noise app running while your partner sleeps might be enough.

Some insulation under your neighbour's machine would cut down on the vibration, but approaching her about it might be difficult.

Original poster
lovelystar · 07/01/2018 11:36

@notreally yes it really is and the baby hasn't even arrived! Never really realised how much I took for granted until I moved into an unfurnished place. Makes the waiting for thing so much more worth it. I think the arrival of a bed was the best bit though

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