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?

Just return the socks and ask them not to use your dryer...?

@UntamedWisteria

Another example of a mumsnetter not doing the obvious and most simple thing, which is communicate with the neighbours!

Just like on the landlord/tray thread.

Why does she need to communicate? They know it's not their dryer. Why does she owe them a bloody chat or conversation? Just stop them from doing it with socket locks, removing the water container, turning the power supply to it off at the source, etc.

Take socks around, check they belong to them, have light-hearted convo about who owns which drier / electricity.

Leave own stealth sock in own drier, folded in a particular way. Check regularly to see if stealth sock has been moved, which would suggest they are continuing to use your drier.

If they are, install locking socket. If stealth sock doesn't move, they've got the message and were perhaps genuinely mistaken.

Alternatively to the stealth sock, you could leave their socks attached to their door with a dagger.

Should send a message.

This takes me back to my first studio flat, I had a kitchen and bathroom but the kitchen was very small. In the hall was a pay phone and in the basement a huge drying rooms with washing machines and dryers, electricity ( for basement) was included in the rent.
Oddly we didn’t have water bills either but had to pay that to the housing cooperation.

Dryers use a lot of energy relatively-speaking. I'd have a word.

@AppleBarrel

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.

Nice!

There are so many cheeky fuckers around that simply would take the piss and use someone else’s electricity and wear and tear, it’s absolutely appalling, but I love this idea.

@Standrewsschool

I assume they had lots to dry, and assumed they weren’t doing any harm in using yours.

Really?

I’d speak to them about it, personally, then install the locking socket cover someone linked to.

@CentBoppers

Does anyone remember the very long (and possibly unresolved) thread where the poster was convinced someone was using her tumble drier at night?

Maybe she found the culprits and they have relocated next door to OP.

I do! Wasn’t it a farmhouse or something where the dryer was In like an adjacent building?

I think it’s a roll out situation:

1st instance: friendly chat with neighbour

Still issues?

2nd: take fuse or drawer out as others have suggested

I really want to know how this turns out! I think it is very possible that the conversation that OP had went in one ear and out the other- perhaps they were preoccupied with all the other hassle of moving and not really listening, maybe only one of the couple was there or paying attention. Or maybe a relative has visited and used your dryer in error? The setup is really unusual in the U.K.

You just give them the benefit of the doubt, say “not sure if you realise but”. Don’t say anything like “it’s not fair for us to pay for your washing to be dried” or anything as obvious as that, be more subtle. You could even say something like “gosh that one that Betty left you must be on its last legs, are you thinking of buying a new one now you’re settled in? I really like my Zanussi, it’s quite energy efficient so it keeps my bills down, I think they are on offer at Curry’s at the moment.”

I know you think a convo might be awks, but passive-aggressively putting a lock on the socket or whatever is worse, surely? This way they get to save face. But do the checking the filter trick to make sure they are complying, and if not, declare war!

I’d get an old pair of white kecks and stain them with something (that didn’t smell but looked really dodgy and soiled) and leave them in the drier every time you are done. Anyone opening your drier to that will not want to touch them and will move on...

Or you could just knock and have the chat...

I would give them a chance to stop it first.

Say you have found their stuff in your dryer a couple of times and they aren't shared machines.

If they do it again I would put on a socket lock.

But I would listen for when they are doing their washing and try to catch them out.

Conversations like this can be awkward.

OP, make 2 sock bunnies out of the errant socks. Then knock on your neighbours door and when they answer do a 'play' with the bunnies:

Sock bunny 1: "You've been using my drier. Please stop as it costs me money."

Sock bunny 2: "Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't realise"

Sock bunny 1: "No problem neighbour. Let's be friends"

@ApocalypseNowt

Conversations like this can be awkward.

OP, make 2 sock bunnies out of the errant socks. Then knock on your neighbours door and when they answer do a 'play' with the bunnies:

Sock bunny 1: "You've been using my drier. Please stop as it costs me money."

Sock bunny 2: "Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't realise"

Sock bunny 1: "No problem neighbour. Let's be friends"

LOVE this

But I would listen for when they are doing their washing and try to catch them out.

Also this, have you tried that?

@ApocalypseNowt

Conversations like this can be awkward.

OP, make 2 sock bunnies out of the errant socks. Then knock on your neighbours door and when they answer do a 'play' with the bunnies:

Sock bunny 1: "You've been using my drier. Please stop as it costs me money."

Sock bunny 2: "Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't realise"

Sock bunny 1: "No problem neighbour. Let's be friends"

you are a genius

As PP has mentioned, it may be a separate fuse switch - check your fuse box; simpler than faffing around unscrewing the plug to remove the fuse.
If you have shelves, is there a bracket that you can padlock the plug to so that it doesn't reach the socket when the padlock is on?
I'd speak to them politely before doing that, and only do it if they continued to use your drier.
& if you catch them with a load in there, hopefully wet, dump it on the floor.

There is no point having a conversation, they'll just be more careful in future not to get caught.
Lock it, or remove the condenser. Say nothing, they'll get the hint that they've been busted.

@ApocalypseNowt

This, and I can't stress it enough, is the best idea by miles. Genius! 🤣

Definitely needs a locking socket. If they really are determined to use the OPs electricity they could run an extension lead from their dryer to her socket.

Id do the lock plug thing, surely the only way they'd be affected by it would be if they used your machine so really they shouldn't notice?

I also thought they are probably using both at the same time to save time

You should tell them but if they know one is yours and are doing this anyway I suspect they would continue to do so and just be more careful about leaving evidence behind!

Can you put a lock on it or do something so that they can't use it?

Could it be a toddler? My one year old loves to 'help' by putting dirty clothes in the dryer.