AIBU to think neighbours are using my dryer?

[DontThinkSoBro]

In our block of flats each floor consists of 2 flats which share a drying room on the landing. The drying rooms are jointly owned by the two flats, we have a key each & our own tumble dryers on each side of the room.

New neighbours have moved in - lovely so far, no issues at all... except over the weekend I found one of their sons socks in my dryer & last night I found one of the woman’s socks in my dryer. 100% no mistaking that they are theirs as we only have plain socks & these are most definitely a little boys socks & a woman’s pair of patterned socks.

I absolutely don’t want to cause an argument about it. Could there be another simple explanation that I’m not thinking of as to how twice now, their socks have ended up in my dryer?

How would I approach this without causing a rift with otherwise very nice people?

If they're using her dryer to save money on the electricity bill, they'll figure out the fuse thing sooner or later. I'd go with switching the fuse off in your flat, and just switching it on when you want to use it.

Give their stuff back and remind them whose dryer is whose. Their reaction will probably let you know how to proceed. I wouldn't use locks or bars unless you need to, because you may as well also put up a poster that reads "I know you are thieving bastards". (But on that note, maybe keep an eye on anything you keep on the shelves...)

I've seen men be just as careful when it comes to neighbours. The last thing you want is neighbours who hate you

They’re hardly going to hate her for not allowing them to use her machine. If they do they’re bonkers. They haven’t worried about her hating them have they?

Our NDN hates us as we (and his other NDNs) objected to him building a massive 3 storey extension. He only got one storey past the planning dept. I care not even the remotest jot.

Do you think OP has had enough of the 250 posts telling her to talk to the people/get a socket lock? Maybe?

Is the washer/dryer on their own circuit on the electrics? If it is I’d just turn it off at the breaker and switch back on when you need to use them.

Slightly overwhelmed by the number of responses.

I took the condenser draw out earlier today as an initial move until I figure out what to do. (Can’t do it long term as it’s a big bulky thing that I don’t have space for inside). Can’t turn off the fuse box as other things inside the flat are connected to it. & the switch is hidden behind the dryer so annoyingly can’t access that for a locking system.

I had a note ready to leave on top of their dryer with the socks - kept it simple with “found in my dryer” - DH says he may make a lighthearted comment when he sees them along the lines of “has little Timmy been using our tumble dryer again without asking” & hand them the pair of his socks (frankly the cringeness of this is too much for me & I said I’d rather not be there if he does that)

They might try to use it without the condenser drawer in.

Why make it hard.
Knock on
Hand socks over
Say I think you've got mixed up with which drier is yours ours is on the right yours is the (shit) one.
Hope you've moved in OK and move on to small talk

Each room circuit has its own fuse. It has to by law. Find your fuse box and by elimination, work out which fuse in the box is for the laundry room. Then mark it clearly and flip it off after you've used it.

The appliance also has its own fuse in the plug, this isn't the one you need, you need to flip off the main fuse to the laundry sockets on your side.

No confrontation, the overhead lights will still work and her drier will still work but yours won't until you flip the fuse back on at your fuse board.

Just talk to them!!

Good idea about the fuse box inside your flat. Or the stick on fridge lock mentioned earlier.

I would throw socks away then get that lockable socket cove on.

Plug your drier into their socket and put a lock on yours so they can't plug it back in. Use it a few times.

Once they have seen it, plug it back into yours and lock it.

Flicking the consumer unit switch for the circuit is by far the most sensible course of action, if it's a modern unit. The machine just won't work if they try it, but there's no evidence that you've done anything.

Put their socks on top of you machine pinned under a huge tub of flea powder !

My first thought when you said that there were small socks is, might a toddler helped with the washing and put the socks in your machine?
I would just put them in top of their washing machine

@DontThinkSoBro

Slightly overwhelmed by the number of responses.

I took the condenser draw out earlier today as an initial move until I figure out what to do. (Can’t do it long term as it’s a big bulky thing that I don’t have space for inside). Can’t turn off the fuse box as other things inside the flat are connected to it. & the switch is hidden behind the dryer so annoyingly can’t access that for a locking system.

I had a note ready to leave on top of their dryer with the socks - kept it simple with “found in my dryer” - DH says he may make a lighthearted comment when he sees them along the lines of “has little Timmy been using our tumble dryer again without asking” & hand them the pair of his socks (frankly the cringeness of this is too much for me & I said I’d rather not be there if he does that)

Are you sure that the laundry room itself definitely hasn't got it's own fuse in the fuse box? It should, it shouldn't be sharing sockets with other rooms.

Failing this can you get a remote control smart socket from Amazon?

Pull the drier away from the wall, plug this in, plug the appliance into it and control the on/off electricity by using your phone. Once the drier is moved back she's unlikely to start moving it out to start it up. She just won't know why it's not working.

Smart Plug WiFi Outlet Smart Sockets Compatible with Alexa Google Home and IFTTT,2 Pack Mini Plug Wireless Remote Control Timer Plug Switch,No Hub Required https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081PMW9Q2/ref=cmswwrcppapiglccfabc08HCN3C32C9GY23Y1D56??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Put the dryer in the flat, and an old dented chest freezer in the laundry room.
Padlock it.
Rusty padlock for extra effect.
Briefly mention in passing that you hope Audrey (who used to live next door) doesn't defrost if there's a power cut.

Wait patiently for them to move out.

Sorted.

Our fuse box doesn't have a separate fuse for each room @purplebagladylovesgin. The house was built about 25 years ago and still has the original wiring, so regulations must have changed in the intervening years. We have the downstairs lights on one fuse, the upstairs lights on another fuse, sockets in some rooms on one fuse etc.

@Hollywolly1

Buy a extra large horrible under pants and rub chocolate into it to make it look like poo and leave it in it and I guarantee she won't want to remove that before putting her fresh clothes in ,I think your little problem will be sorted

Seems like a good plan ^

Get an extension.
Run it from behind the tumble dryer .
Buy something with a lock on and lock both parts of the plug and sockets in the box, with a key.
Then just plug it in when you want to use it.
You can also add a timer so you don't need to watch it.

Jeez or just talk to them!!

@unchienandalusia

Jeez or just talk to them!!

@unchienandalusia How unimaginative 🙄

@Hollywolly1

Buy a extra large horrible under pants and rub chocolate into it to make it look like poo and leave it in it and I guarantee she won't want to remove that before putting her fresh clothes in ,I think your little problem will be sorted

You win!

Haha, this thread is great!

Maybe kid is doing pretend play? My boy is obsessed with washing. And even if they do use it how much that costs? 30 p per wash ?