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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why must my neighbour have her washing machine on so early?

243 replies

ohthatbloodycat · 29/08/2021 10:10

Since 9am this morning, it sounds like a Chinook helicopter is landing on my bedroom ceiling. By her own admission, there is no underlay beneath it and the noise is really quite something.
I would sympathise if she was a mum who needed to get the kids' uniforms on to wash, and then hang them outside to dry.
But she lives alone with no garden, and no outside drying area at all. Her washing could be done at ANY time of day.
I've already mentioned this to her and it makes no difference. In all other respects she is a good neighbour, so I don't want to rock the boat.
I am a single mum of 3, who works hard through the week. My kids are at their dad's place for their fortnightly weekend visit, and I'd just have loved a Sunday lie-in. Not even the bloody cat woke me up this morning! Grin
AIBU?

OP posts:
AnonymousCheerleader · 29/08/2021 10:20

What time do you think is reasonable?

icedcoffees · 29/08/2021 10:20

Hmm, thanks all. I probably am being unreasonable then! It's just not something I would do if a neighbour had already raised it with me.

But doing laundry is kind of a necessity. It's not like DIY or having a party - people need clean clothes!

Original poster
ohthatbloodycat · 29/08/2021 10:21

@AnonymousCheerleader

What time do you think is reasonable?
10am on a Sunday.

Bear in mind that it will have already been going for a good while, if it's on full on spin mode by 9!

OP posts:
KurtWilde · 29/08/2021 10:22

9am isn't early. I had mine on at 7 and I'm in a mid terrace. I can hear my neighbour's washer so I'm assuming they can hear mine. I do it then because that's when I want to do it. I'm assuming your neighbour does it for the same reason.

Underbox · 29/08/2021 10:24

9am, even on a Sunday, is perfectly acceptable.

Notthisnotthat · 29/08/2021 10:25

Our upstairs neighbour puts his on really late at night equally annoying but part and parcel of living in a flat. Mine goes on at 7am so we can hang it out before starting work. I'm on the ground floor. 9am isn't early though.

Macncheeseballs · 29/08/2021 10:25

9am is early on a Sunday for some, everyone deserves a lie in, given there are many other hours in the day to do it, your neighbour is being massively unreasonable, you wouldn't start drilling at 9am on a sunday

BreakfastOfWaffles · 29/08/2021 10:26

Is her washing machine getting on a bit? A properly working machine should not be that noisy for more than a few minutes at a time. Two compromises she could make would be to consider getting a new one, or at least put some form of underlay beneath it. I agree with PP that 9am isn't particularly early, but for the sake of neighbourly relations I hope she might consider some form of compromise to dull the noise. I put my washing on the overnight delay setting because that's what suits me best (detached house though) - I can understand why your neighbour might be unwilling to change her schedule.

FrogFairy · 29/08/2021 10:26

An anti vibration mat underneath her washing machine might help.

Caspianberg · 29/08/2021 10:27

I think you could talk to her again about some noise vibration mat underneath, even buy one for her ( about £10) if she will take one.

But 9am isn’t early. It might be Sunday, but because most people do work all week, as well as relaxing, people need to get stuff done at the weekend.

I prefer to get up and washing on, so it’s finished and I can hang on rack to dry before we go out. That way it’s more likely to be dry by evening so I can fold and put away

icedcoffees · 29/08/2021 10:27

@Macncheeseballs

9am is early on a Sunday for some, everyone deserves a lie in, given there are many other hours in the day to do it, your neighbour is being massively unreasonable, you wouldn't start drilling at 9am on a sunday
It's not comparable.

Drilling isn't normal household noise - using a washing machine. You really can't tell people that they can't wash their clothes because it stops you having a lie in!

Caspianberg · 29/08/2021 10:29

Also someone might want quiet at 9am, but others later. So any time is not convenient to everyone. Ie we have toddler who naps, for me it would be more annoying if someone ran machine between 1-3pm as that might wake him

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 29/08/2021 10:30

I'd just have loved a Sunday lie-in.

But if you didn’t hear the machine until 9 am, you had one!

During the week, I have to get up at 6am so by 9, I’d have had a three hour lie-in! How much sleep do you need?!?

PeonyTime · 29/08/2021 10:30

9am isnt early, BUT it is potential lie in material, and above someones bedroom without any dampening mechanism is a bit arseholish.
Can you talk to her again about putting down a mat to try and lessen the impact on you?

Original poster
ohthatbloodycat · 29/08/2021 10:30

Thanks for your comments everyone.

OP posts:
LaBellina · 29/08/2021 10:32

9 is not early.

The lack of underlay is though. I would have a chat with her about this.

newnortherner111 · 29/08/2021 10:32

I don't think that the time is something you can do any more about, but the lack of underlay or a mat or something to reduce the impact is. I'd expect that even some old towels or sheets below each of the wheels/legs could deaden some of the impact.

LaBellina · 29/08/2021 10:32

I mean 9 is not early or antisocial but the lack of underlay is something that should be fixed.

furbabymama87 · 29/08/2021 10:33

It's not early and it's out of your control what time your neighbour turns her washing machine on. FGS.

DifferentHair · 29/08/2021 10:35

9am isn't early.

I suggest you buy some underlay, give it to her and ask her very nicely if she would mind using it, offer to help move her machine to place it.

If you make it that easy for her, no reasonable person would say no and it would make your life better.

NavigatingAdolescence · 29/08/2021 10:35

@insancerre

9am is not early I put mine on at 6.30 this morning Maybe invest in some earplugs?
Ah. Early bird superiority again.

Stick yours on at 2am OP. Ideally with something connecting it to the ceiling for maximum impact.

hifidelityhi · 29/08/2021 10:35

I agree 9am isnt early but if you've specifically asked her not to put it on before 9am on a Sunday as it's your only chance for a lie-in and she's still carried on I do think she's being selfish. I'm Shock at the posters who put theirs on at 6am because 'that's when I want to so I will' - total disregard for anyone else seems incredibly selfish and inconsiderate.

Save yourself the aggro in future and buy her some underlay or a noise mat.

Peanutsandchilli · 29/08/2021 10:36

I'd mention the underlay issue, possibly offer to buy it and help her install it if necessary. I'd also invite her in when the washer is on so she can hear the noise for herself. I'm sure you could reach an amicable solution.

RestingPandaFace · 29/08/2021 10:36

I’ll be honest, if you said to me that it was too early I honestly wouldn’t think you meant 9am.

NavigatingAdolescence · 29/08/2021 10:37

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

I'd just have loved a Sunday lie-in.

But if you didn’t hear the machine until 9 am, you had one!

During the week, I have to get up at 6am so by 9, I’d have had a three hour lie-in! How much sleep do you need?!?

Not everyone gets up early. 9am is barely a lie in in this house (usual wake up time is around 8am!).
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