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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think neighbours are using my dryer?

486 replies

DontThinkSoBro · 07/04/2021 14:21

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
joey197860 · 08/04/2021 18:35

Very, very calmly and diplomatically, with a warm smile on your face, say to the lady, I'm so sorry for asking but I think there is some confusion about the dryers. I found your socks twice in the dryer and I thought you would like to have them back and also let you know this dryer is for my use.

crosspelican · 08/04/2021 18:42

This is one of the gentler threads on the go right now and somehow the one I am most keen to hear an update for! Grin

DrCoconut · 08/04/2021 18:46

Let me tell you about the ultimate bill related CF. I lived in a flat above a cafe once. At the time we moved in the cafe was closed down so nothing to see. Then it reopened. Our next bill was enormous. We could nearly sit and watch the meters go round. They denied that their property was connected to our meters until an inspection was carried out by norweb and British Gas to try to ascertain the reason for our bills being so high suddenly. We still had to pay off the debt and go on prepayment meters as both companies said there was no way to prove how the bill should have been split but going forward at least they had to pay. They got a whole quarter of free energy on us and for a cafe it was a lot.

PlsSendWine · 08/04/2021 18:48

@Beamur

Smart plug is a good idea. That way you switch on the machine only when you want to use it.
I’m not sure there’s room for these sensible and very reasonable suggestions in the thread 😂Wink
ItsDinah · 08/04/2021 18:48

What you want is a security chain and padlock. You can get chains that are covered with cloth padding so they don't scratch. B and Q have some.

ItsDinah · 08/04/2021 18:50

PS If you want to be a bit subtle,stick an Out of Use notice to the dryer when you put the chain on.

dopeyduck · 08/04/2021 19:06

Return their socks and say 'you've accidentally been using our dryer, yours is the other side...'

It doesn't matter if it actually was an accident or not, they'll get the hint and stop.

mm40 · 08/04/2021 19:11

@DrCoconut

Let me tell you about the ultimate bill related CF. I lived in a flat above a cafe once. At the time we moved in the cafe was closed down so nothing to see. Then it reopened. Our next bill was enormous. We could nearly sit and watch the meters go round. They denied that their property was connected to our meters until an inspection was carried out by norweb and British Gas to try to ascertain the reason for our bills being so high suddenly. We still had to pay off the debt and go on prepayment meters as both companies said there was no way to prove how the bill should have been split but going forward at least they had to pay. They got a whole quarter of free energy on us and for a cafe it was a lot.
I rented a house 20years ago and had the meter man visit one. He was quite insistent about seeing the meter and I had to unscrew a panel to get access to it. It was spinning around quicker than the earth spins.

Being as I was home alone I was confused...... I suddenly had an epiphany and wondered whether the neighbour in the annexe was in (we’ll call her Sally - as that was her name - just to avoid confusion) and she took a while to answer as she was in the shower (incidentally the cooker was on as well).

What we realised was that I was paying for the the electric for her annexe as well as my house whilst Sally was busy pushing 50p’s into her coin-meter as quickly as she could. The CF landlady was collecting the money and pocketing it..... the other things she did are worthy of their own post.

TonTonMacoute · 08/04/2021 19:12

I do think women by and large need to get over the whole fear of awkwardness/ fear of confrontation thing. It’s a common theme on MN.

This!

How hard is it to have a polite conversation with your neighbour FFS?

Mia184 · 08/04/2021 19:14

I would take the socks, go over and pretend that they are yours and ask them whether they have seen the missing ones. If they say that those are their socks, just say no and that they were in your dryer. Obviously that doesn’t work with unusually colored/patterned socks.

Original poster
DontThinkSoBro · 08/04/2021 19:19

I’m lost for words that not only has this thread received so many responses, but it’s now also trending on mumsnet 😂😂😂😂

OP posts:
WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 08/04/2021 19:19

@DontThinkSoBro

I lost the will to live after the first several hundred posts! Sorry.

Do they have children old enough to be sent to put the washing in the drier? If so they might not be good with left & right?!

After your follow up post with the plug being behind the dryer, I'm sure someone will have mentioned this already, but in case you missed it, I'd get a remote control socket. Cheap & cheerful in B&Q etc.

Or one operated by your phone, but I'd prefer just the remote controlled one myself.

Id like to see their faces when it doesn't work next time 😂😂

AngryBananaSund · 08/04/2021 19:25

Smart plug is a good idea. That way you switch on the machine only when you want to use it.

But if the mains socket is in a visible location (highly likely in a utility room) then the smart plug would be obvious

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/04/2021 19:28

If they really find it convenient to use it and wish to do so, then just let them.

However.... fix up one of those coin-operated meter things like they have on kids' rides outside shops or those old rip-off pay-as-you-view companies and set the tariff at about four times the actual cost to you of the electricity and the wear and tear on the machine.

That way, they get to use both dryers for convenience and you turn the tables on them and make a tidy packet. Just make sure you get one with a hidden override code, though (or keep plenty of 50p coins in stock) for when you want to use it!

FlyingBurrito · 08/04/2021 19:29

@DontThinkSoBro

I’m lost for words that not only has this thread received so many responses, but it’s now also trending on mumsnet 😂😂😂😂
Watch out, the next thing you know it will be being discussed in MSM and on Loose Woman Grin
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/04/2021 19:29

I LOVE the idea of hiding inside the dryer and giving them the fright of their lives! Did that remind anybody else of that episode of Not Going Out when the diminutive neighbour hid in Lee & Lucy's fridge?!

Hombadigada · 08/04/2021 19:46

I would just take the socks to them and simply say 'you left these in my dryer' Smile

Beamur · 08/04/2021 19:52

@Hombadigada

I would just take the socks to them and simply say 'you left these in my dryer' Smile
This.
ChangedName4TheSakeOfIt · 08/04/2021 20:03

@AngryBananaSund

Smart plug is a good idea. That way you switch on the machine only when you want to use it.

But if the mains socket is in a visible location (highly likely in a utility room) then the smart plug would be obvious

OP has said the plug socket is behind the dryer so a lockable socket is no good but a smart plug would be very handy providing the CFers don't go to all that trouble dragging the dryer out to find out what's up with it.
hedgehoginthebag · 08/04/2021 20:12

How about a cup of glitter carefully folded into a pair of men’s baggy pants like a giant tbag (that you lift out gently when you use). When you see the neighbours with glittering clothes then you will know for sure he he.

orangegina · 08/04/2021 20:22

Everyone knows that driers eat up the electricity and that's why they're using your machine instead: if theirs is old, it's prob really inefficient

If they're nice people but a bit cheeky, a knock on the door with the socks will
Embarrass them into not doing it again. Hopefully they won't want to fall out with you

I'd go that route first and then add a
Lock if it continues

Sudoku88 · 08/04/2021 20:30

I’d say she’s a CF and knows exactly what she is doing and thinks she can pull a fast one and get her laundry dried at your expense.

Just put socket lock or take the fuse out in your flat when not using. As for the sock etc left in your dryer, I’d just place it on top of her dryer to find. I wouldn’t bother saying anything to her. There’s no point as this is CF behaviour.

BoreOfWhabylon · 08/04/2021 20:35

@SheldonesqueIsAlmostHuman

We used to have drying rooms in our forces accommodation blocks.

Lined with rows of heating pipes, well ventilated. Clothes dried in 6 hours easily. No tumbling required.

If I ever build my own house it will have one.

Oh, I remember those - they were great, weren't they?

Mind, clothes quite often got thieved from the drying rooms.

mm40 · 08/04/2021 21:08

@SheldonesqueIsAlmostHuman

We used to have drying rooms in our forces accommodation blocks.

Lined with rows of heating pipes, well ventilated. Clothes dried in 6 hours easily. No tumbling required.

If I ever build my own house it will have one.

We had the same in school..... name tags used to put off potential thieves but if someone wanted my second hand crusty socks and pants then feel free.
HaveringWavering · 08/04/2021 21:11

To be honest I would be really surprised at them being so money-conscious that the motivation is to save £100 or so a year. Particularly if they know that the other person is paying instead. I think the motivation is more likely that your dryer is faster and they probably think that the electricity cost is too small for you to care about. (Not saying this is true!). Or they are just stupid/not paying attention. Or the cleaner or her mother did it.