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?

@NVision

You need to get a folding security post in front of the dryer door

Or a penguin bollard!

She probably doesn't realise it's costing you money. Personally I would find the fuse for it and shit it off when not in use, it won't take long for her to stop trying to use it.

Ooh, this is a new type of CFery to break up the parking threads!

They're obviously using your dryer to save on electricity. May I suggest a penguin bollard?

I would give them the socks back and remind them thats ur own dryer. Can u possibly install a locker system on it.

Damnit @UhtredRagnarson, you beat me to it!

Can we have a diagram of the dryer room please?

@UhtredRagnarson 😂😂

You could just switch the power off? If it runs from your flat you should have a switch in your fuse box which powers your socket in the shared laundry room. They probably run both of the dryers at once to get more laundry dry in one go!

It does seem a set up that this would easily happen. I find it hard to imagine that this hasn't happen on any of the other floors. I'd have though there would be a switch inside each flat so the power to each drier can be controlled by the flat that owns it.

As for a simple explanation your husband has moved his second family into the flat across the way. It was his turn to do their laundry and therefore used your machine. If that not the case the it might be the less realistic 😀 possibility of they are using your dryer either in error or so not to add to thier bill.

@amusedbush

Damnit *@UhtredRagnarson*, you beat me to it!

You need a lockable socket cover. When you have finished with your dryer you can turn it off at the socket and lock it up.

I'd be telling the thieving fuckers to stop using your dryer and switch the power off if necessary. This would really piss me off.

You say they are otherwise nice people - why not just talk to them about it? Ask them if they've used your drier and if so, can they not in future.

Don't really understand why it's a big deal when you've said they're nice, nobody seems to talk anymore!

I'm agreeing using either the fuse box or the plug socket to disable it when you're not using it.

Put up cctv and hire a security guard.

Job done.

@PembrokeshireDreaming

You need a lockable socket cover. When you have finished with your dryer you can turn it off at the socket and lock it up.

Those are handy. Never seen them before.

I’m also quite partial to a penguin bollard, but they do take up space.

@Cavagirl it’s literally a rectangle room with my dryer on the left (my flats on the left) & their dryer on the right (their flats on the right)

For further clarity our side also has shelves with our stuff on it next to our dryer. There’s absolutely nothing to mistake which side belongs to each flat, it’s that basic

I know that’s not the point of the thread, but having a dryer room is a fab idea! Is this in the UK? One of my big grumbles is that most flats and houses in the uk have inadequate laundry facilities - even though washing and drying clothing and bedding is such a necessary part of modern life.

Start using her dryer.

I had the same issue.

Because I hate confrontation, I just removed the water collection drawer and kept it in my flat - it was a condenser dryer, so wouldn't run without it.

They are doing it deliberately for sure and I think you need to find a solution as they will just get better at being sneaky about it.

I'd be tempted to just use theirs unless the lockable socket will work?

Or just speak to them like a normal person would. Not everything need be a drama or a confrontation.

The time youve spent faffing about on here, this issue could have been resolved.

What Stormwhale said.

Perhaps they don't realise how it is paid for - think it's coming from rates or something

Just discuss it then find a way of locking it if you suspect it is still happening.

They have their own dryer which comes off their electricity so of course they know that the op is paying when they use hers. They are just cheeky fuckers who want to dry their clothes for free.
Get a lock so they can’t.