To never open my kitchen window? See pic

[cakedup]

I live in a flat on the 2nd floor. My kitchen window immediately looks out to the refuse point below. The pic you see here is on a good day. On a bad day (which is often), the bin carts are overflowing with rubbish in ripped bags or not in bags at all and there is fox shit everywhere.

In warmer weather, the kitchen is boiling. To the point that I never use the oven and I have to shower after washing up as i end up swimming in my own sweat.

Often there is a strong breeze (that i yearn for on those sweaty washing up days) that comes through the kitchen window.

Problem is, that strong breeze comes from the direction of a busy A road. The outside of my kitchen windows are black with grime.

So bearing all this in mind, aibu to never open my kitchen windows?? Would you?

Are you high enough up to feel safe leaving it open overnight? Presumably there’s less traffic in the small hours so less noise and grime, and the kitchen could get nice and cool with the chillier night air.

I sympathise though. That’s not a pretty outlook!

Do you have a good thick blind for the window? It really helps to keep our kitchen cooler in summer (can’t open the windows wide here due to our cats).

If never open it and get a couple off good fans.

No I dont have a blind at all, never thought of that as an option!

Mrsfrumble but the bins would still stink which I feel contaminates my kitchen!

I would still be tempted to open it to change the air, so if I woke in the early hours say when there isn’t much traffic I’d leave it open for a few hours. We had an air purifying thing when lived in a city which was good too.

We have two rooms where the windows won’t open and I hate it as even after carpet cleaning 3 x they always smell stale.

But yanbu in the sense that it’s up to you! It does sound tricky

I'd get the blind and a good fan. I'd look at portable air con units too but that might be prohibitive due to cost.

www.jmldirect.com/at-home/utensils-and-gadgets/arctic-air-portable-personal-space-air-cooler-and-humidifier/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1YbO2KL_4gIVwpPtCh3P9QQgEAQYBCABEgLEOvD_BwE

This is the cheesiest at £40. There are a lot more if you are prepared to spend a bit more

Cheapest not cheesiest

I couldn't do without having a through flow of air on a hot day. I think I'd be contacting Environmental Health at my LA for advice on how to ensure the bin area was kept clean.

I have new windows which deflect the heat so the thermal blind might work. I could put up with the traffic noise but not the smell.

Oh, that is horrible. Sorry.

Is the glass patterned opaque or is it condensation running down ?

Yes, I'm normally one who likes to 'change the air' and all other windows get opened daily whatever the weather.

I am tempted by the air cooler/purifier unit. Might get that for the living room actually. Still not sure if I would be convinced that the rubbish and A road air wouldn't be contaminating my kitchen.

Contact your council as they may be able to speak to landlord etc re better bin situation

AnyFucker its patterned opaque. I'm kind of glad that you all think its grim because my friend came over and was like "dont be silly, open the windows, the bins are too far down" so just wanted to check I wasn't just being extra.

The flats are managed by a housing association. The problem is, they cant control how people dump their rubbish, stop the foxes going through the bins, or stop the pollution from the roads. The whole area is about to go through a massive regeneration so it'll get even worse, I'll basically be living on a building site.

That’s really awful, I’d struggle with that! Have you got a good extractor fan, can you improve that?
Would the landlord consider getting that area sheltered? Like bike sheds for the bins?

If you not opening the window causes mould in the house, would you lose your deposit or would it be grounds to terminate your contract? You need to talk to the landlord and find a solution - many are perfectly reasonable to proactively fix something before it causes a serious problem.

Herocomplex you've just made me think, perhaps I should ask for a solution. Covered or relocated even. I just kind of accepted and put up with it. What a stupid place to put the bins. Can you imagine what it's like for the ground and 1st floor flats? They dont open their kitchen windows either.

Teddybear45 my landlord is a housing association. It doesn't cause mould and they are not the best at being proactive anyway. They deal with hundreds of issues a day, dont think mine would stand out. Very occasionally they do a big clean of the bin area (it gets overloaded with fly tipping too...then people cant get to the bins so end up chucking them anywhere) but it's back to being a mess again in no time.

Also, I feel so grateful to have a housing association flat which I moved into 3 years ago. I guess I just think I should count my blessings and get on with it. The tenancy gets reviewed every 5 years so dont want to stand out as a troublesome tenant. I know that's not right, but it's the way it is.

I think I would at least open the windows for a few minutes a day early morning or late at night, but otherwise I'd do the same as you and just keep them shut.

Is getting cover/lids put on the bins an option if you were to ask your HA? It might help with the smell and to deter foxes and rodents.

I agree with pp blinds help with heat massively. Re the bins, there are no lids? Surely with that & the foxes getting into it you'll end up with a rat issue & that's environmental health thing. I'd ask if you can have lidded industrial bins. We got them after all 3 flats normal size household bins were stolen (twice) . Tho what you steel bins for I still don't know.

A decent extractor in the kitchen would pull expel the hot air (and water vapour and cooking smells) through the wall and pull in cooler air from other rooms without you having to open the window.

Its difficult to not look like you’re complaining, I think offering some solutions is the best way. It may be that your neighbours don’t care, which makes it harder for you. I think managing rubbish and bins is a constant headache in shared accommodation.

I do have an extractor fan in the kitchen which I use when I'm frying food. However it does not alter the room temperature at all.

The bins had lids which were removed as they stayed open. If one bin had its lid closed then everyone would use the other bins which would then overflow quicker.

clean your window!