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

[ohthatbloodycat]

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!
AIBU?

@ThreeWitches

I'd bring her into your flat when her machine is going (supply tea and biscuits) and demonstrate how loud it is

What a weird thing to do

Especially given that it seems to be above OPs bedroom. Imagine inviting a neighbour into your bedroom for tea and biscuits haha!

She may be on economy 7 and want to save money

I'd bring her into your flat when her machine is going (supply tea and biscuits) and demonstrate how loud it is

This would be super weird.

So would it be OK for op's children to shriek scream and play from 6am, waking up neighbour, and when asked if she could stop them, just shoulder shrug and say it's just what kids do? We should all try and live without adversely affecting others, - single, childless, with children, what ever, its just kinder

I wouldn't say anything.
As she lives alone and there is 4 people living in your house I'm sure even with the best intentions she has had disturbance from your household.

Buy her a square of thick rubber matting from Amazon. I have one under my machine

@Macncheeseballs

So would it be OK for op's children to shriek scream and play from 6am, waking up neighbour, and when asked if she could stop them, just shoulder shrug and say it's just what kids do? We should all try and live without adversely affecting others, - single, childless, with children, what ever, its just kinder

But it's not 6am, it's 9am?

Plus shrieking and screaming is unreasonable noise, whereas running a washing machine is just something everyone has to do. And she isn't doing it at 6am.

Maybe she has her heating on during the morning and wants to use that to dry the washing.

@RacistAngst

Well… I’m sure people would be up in arms if their NDN was using the lawnmower at 9.00am. Or have the dcs outside play8ng in the garden or the front door. I can’t see that being different. Washing machines are noisy when they get the spinning cycle. That’s the unfortunate truth.

I don't think so, I feel like 9am is the start of the acceptable hours to make noise! Maybe because that's when most start work so in our heads it's the start of the 'normal' day?

Anything before that is early, but 9am onwards surely is free game.

Can I ask why you think it's only people with kids who can be excused for using a washing machine at times you class as unreasonable.
I don't have children and I work all sorts of hours and I have to do washing when I am able to. I don't think 9am is too early at all.

@LittleMysSister, well not on MN or where I live.

On a SUNDAY morning, people want to be able to have a lie because let’s be honest, that’s the one day when you can do that!

Another day… I would agree with you.

Contrary to many posters, I think 9am IS early for a Sunday. 11 is more in keeping. Have you complained?

While I don't consider 9am early (for anyone else but me as I'm still not even out my bedroom yet and it's 11:30am) I do think that someone who lives in a flat where the layout means the washing machine is directly above a bedroom, putting a washer on when a neighbour is likely to be sleeping and you have the ability to do it at any other time, you really should wait. Normal household noise is to be expected but it wouldn't hurt to be a little more considerate if you can.

Sometimes, it's nice to be nice.
I'm sorry OP. But seriously, what architect thought up that design? Noisy washer directly above a bedroom? I can hear my upstairs neighbour peeing but our bathrooms line up so his peeing only disturbs my peeing!

9am is perfectly acceptable, before this not so much. Get yourself ear plugs. You need to learn to block out the noise and cope within your surroundings.

@beboopbadoop

I live in Germany and on Sundays here you are not allowed to use your washing machine, hoover or make any other loud noises all day, plus almost all shops are closed (including supermarkets) They take their Sunday peace super seriously here!

Interesting. I had heard of this being the case in Switzerland -or in some cantons at least - but wasn't aware it was common practice in Germany.

Is it possible that, being a single mum of 3, on other days your kids are up early and she can hear them so thinks its fair enough that she can put her washing machine on at 9am even if you have spoken to her about it? I agree 9am isn't early. Appreciate when it's right above you its different to house next door, for example

I would think after 8am is reasonable

[quote RacistAngst]@LittleMysSister, well not on MN or where I live.

On a SUNDAY morning, people want to be able to have a lie because let’s be honest, that’s the one day when you can do that!

Another day… I would agree with you.[/quote]
See I think it's pretty normal to hear mowing or whatever on a Sunday morning! I feel like for a lot of people that's their gardening/DIY day.

Not before 9, but after 9 I really feel like it's common. But maybe not everywhere then!

• Sometimes, it's nice to be nice. I'm sorry OP. But seriously, what architect thought up that design?*

I'm not sure architects in Georgian times would have paid it much heed

I think 9am on a Sunday is fair game for doing chores to be honest. I would see 9am as a lie in but then when I’m at work I’m up at 6am and currently on maternity with a nine month old so you know. 🤣

However, noisy washing machines are annoying so you have my sympathy. Luckily we have a new one now but when our old one was on its way out, it sounded like a chinook helicopter (loved your description) was taking off in our living room, despite there being 3 closed doors between us and it!

@Beboopbadoop We are allowed to use our washing machines on a Sunday, we're just not allowed to hang it outside. We can use our Hoover's too on a Sunday.
I use both every day of the week.
I'm German btw.

I am in 2 minds here. I don't think that 9 am is early to use a washing machine. That said if my neighbour had mentioned that the noise had disturbed me before I would try and use the machine later.

I think Op it's one of those annoying things that people living in close proximity to each other have to deal with unfortunately.

I have a noisy washing machine and live above my neighbour (but wm isn’t above her bedroom). I use one of these

YABU to think 9am is early even if it is a Sunday though, also for thinking that she should fit her chores around your lie-ins.

@insancerre

Why do people live in flats and complain about noise from their neighbours Flats are cheaper than houses for a reason

Why do people post such pointlessness? You try affording a house here!

I live in a flat

I don’t put mine on early or late

When living in a flat you have to be more considerate I hear my neighbours it’s on at reasonable times in the day my neighbours are considerate too that’s why we get on

My washer was on at 9am this morning, I wanted it done prior to the gym.

I'd do it later if a neighbour asked, if (and it's a big if!) they agreed to keep the noise down Saturday and Sunday afternoons as I like a nap. I can never lie in so love an afternoon nap!