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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:
TossaCoinToYerWitcher · 29/08/2021 12:17

@IfNot

Who are all you weirdos who think 9 am on a Sunday is not early!? I used to live in flats and in my block people mainly didn’t make noise til after 10 on a weekend, even those getting up got work were quiet, no loud music etc. Sunday lie ins are are really nice! When I had small dc I occasionally used to leave them with grandma so I could go out dancing on a Saturday night and I wouldn’t have gone to bed til 2 am! I like the sound of Germany, very civilised. Having said that you can’t really complain to neighbour as it’s clearly not early for some! Having children has nowt to do with needing to dry washing tho.
Wish I lived in those flats. My upstairs neighbour regularly does his washing at midnight so it makes noise till 2am. I presume it’s because we’re all on Economy 10, so he saves on energy bills by doing it then.
LakieLady · 29/08/2021 12:27

I think 9am is fine.

My neighbours run theirs during the night, approx 4am. The machine itself doesn't disturb me, but they have a hot water tank on the other side of the party wall from my bed and the constant gushing and refilling makes it like trying to sleep next to Niagara Falls.

I'd move the bed, but every other wall has an alcove, or a radiator in, so it won't fit anywhere else. I looked into getting the radiator moved, but it would have shedloads.

NewFlav · 29/08/2021 12:27

We live in a flat too and there's nothing worse. Everyone in my building is respectful of the other residents with the exception of my upstairs neighbours. They like to put theirs on throughout the night even though they are retired and are home all day every day so could use it any time really. From speaking with the other neighbours, it can be heard throughout the whole building! No good when you work shifts and have a small child.

Everyone else sticks to 9am on week days and 10am Sat-Sun. It's nice to be nice when we are all living on top of each other in small confined spaces.

icedcoffees · 29/08/2021 12:32

Who are all you weirdos who think 9 am on a Sunday is not early!?

Why is it weird to think 9am on a Sunday is a reasonable hour to be up and doing things?

Lots of people work on weekends, or have children or dogs who get up early and need sorting out. I was up and out by 8am today to walk the dog! During the week I'm up at 7am so 9am is already a two-hour lie-in for me.

Pugdogmom · 29/08/2021 12:33

As a lot of people say, 9am is not early, but I do get the annoyance of washing machines. Hers maybe isn't balanced properly, so I would maybe suggest that to her. I don't live in a flat anymore, but mine making that noise would annoy ME, and one of mine did that, so had to get it leveled properly.

Rhythmisadancer · 29/08/2021 12:39

Is there a prize for the poster who is up earliest on a Sunday doing chores and achieving stuff? 9-10 on a Sunday is for drinking tea in bed with the paper in my house. Bastard geese outside were having some kind of shindig this morning, because they are totally U.
Seriously, your neighbour needs to get some underlay.

Username817391920384747 · 29/08/2021 12:40

9am isn’t that early. And if someone needs to wash their clothes they need to wash their clothes. Yabu.

FrankGrillosWrist · 29/08/2021 12:42

You want to live above my neighbours OP, I can hear them at all hours. They wake me up at around 5am every day, so I just make as much noise as I like now. That’s if I don’t hear them hammering & banging earlier, which happens quite often. This morning I’d done a load of washing, Hoovered, & talked loudly on the phone for an hour, before 8am. If they ever say anything I’d just tell them that I thought they liked noise seeing as they make so much if it. I’ve got good think carpets & decent underlay too, they stamp around for hours on end on their laminated flooring.

MissTrip82 · 29/08/2021 12:44

I lived in flats for years. This is one of the downsides. There are lots of upsides.

It wouldn’t occur to me that 9am was early. But
I’m a shiftworker, so when my neighbours put their washing on or mow the lawn or use a leaf blower at 3pm it’s like 3am to me. There’s never a perfect time. This is how it is when you live amongst people.

BertramLacey · 29/08/2021 12:46

Don't be ridiculous. The only reason I mentioned it is because Mumsnetters would reasonably point out 'but what if she needs to wash her child's soiled bedding/pyjamas/school uniform/soft toy that he won't sleep without' etc.

You mean instead of quite reasonably pointing out that even child-free people may have reasons to do washing at 9am on a Sunday? With that answer you're still showing that you think only those with children have schedules they need to stick to, or things to do at certain times.

Givemethatknife · 29/08/2021 12:54

In a flat that is antisocial - does she know how loud it is though?

Go up and nicely give her time limits 8-7 on weekdays, 9-7 on Saturdays, 10-7 on Sundays would be reasonable

LakieLady · 29/08/2021 12:55

@PollyValent

My modern washing machine takes about 3 hours to get to the spin cycle. That would take a 6am start. 😲
Digressing slightly, but I would hate that. My (old!) machine only takes 60 minutes on its longest cycle and I do almost everything most stuff on a 15 minute quick wash, which is more adequate for anything that's not absolutely minging.

Three hours to do a load is mind boggling. And they must use so much more water and energy than a shorter programme. I do get that if you've got a job or a hobby that gets your clothes really dirty, or kids that are still at the messy age, a quick wash probably won't cut it, though.

Wingingit15 · 29/08/2021 13:04

@Givemethatknife

In a flat that is antisocial - does she know how loud it is though?

Go up and nicely give her time limits 8-7 on weekdays, 9-7 on Saturdays, 10-7 on Sundays would be reasonable

That would totally rule me out of doing any washing during the week (also a single parent and work) and sorry but if someone tried to mandate me not doing it before 10 on a Sunday I’d think they were living in some blissful cocoon of unreality.
icedcoffees · 29/08/2021 13:06

Is there a prize for the poster who is up earliest on a Sunday doing chores and achieving stuff? 9-10 on a Sunday is for drinking tea in bed with the paper in my house.

I mean, I love doing that do, but my want/need for a lie-in doesn't trump someone elses' need to do their laundry. 9am is a perfectly normal time for people to be up and about at the weekend.

icedcoffees · 29/08/2021 13:07

@Givemethatknife

In a flat that is antisocial - does she know how loud it is though?

Go up and nicely give her time limits 8-7 on weekdays, 9-7 on Saturdays, 10-7 on Sundays would be reasonable

If someone genuinely came round and asked me that, I would just close the door on them.

Please don't be so ridiculous.

hugocat · 29/08/2021 13:08

I disagree , I get up for work Monday - Friday at 6.30 am and at the weekend, I have a lie in , so does my daughter . 9 am on a Sunday is early IMO

hugocat · 29/08/2021 13:09

@FindingMeno

I don't leave a washing machine on when I'm out, so often run it much earlier than 9am. 9am is mid-morning!
Mid morning Grin
simitra · 29/08/2021 13:10

What your neighbour is doing is simply her "lifestyle choice" and if you want her to compromise to suit you then I suggest you discuss it.

I had a downstairs neighbour (flat many years ago) who complained that I was walking around my flat til after midnight, using the loo, running the shower etc. Of course these are just normal household noises and the problem was that she liked to go to bed about 10pm and get up at 6am. She would then proceed to hoover her flat, run her washer, etc. I had a 1-9pm shift twice a week and did not appreciate being woken at 7 am on those days by her hoovering.

She complained to the management committee (housing cooperative) about my activities and they said "well sorry but this is just a clash of lifestyles and you will have to settle it between yourselves." Obviously I was not going to offer to go to bed at 10pm like her. But I did offer the compromise of being extra quiet, having my shower earlier, making sure I didnt bang about in the kitchen etc. In return I expected her to delay the washer and the hoovering until after 9am. At first she refused. So of course I continued to "bang about" extra loudly on the nights when she was hoovering and washing. Eventually she learned that if you want a neighbur to alter their lifestyle for your benefit you have to offer them something in return. This produces a win-win situation.

Suggest a bit of banging about and noisy jobs at times when you know they may want peace and quiet. Then you have something to bargain with!

TacoSunday · 29/08/2021 13:18

Sorry not RTFT but I wonder if there is mention of this in the lease. I know mine states when washing machines can be used (not before 10am on Sunday from memory). The noisy bit is the spin near the end isn’t it? I wonder whether the neighbour is trying to use cheaper electricity by using the watching machine early.

BertramLacey · 29/08/2021 13:23

Go up and nicely give her time limits 8-7 on weekdays, 9-7 on Saturdays, 10-7 on Sundays would be reasonable

If you did that to me, I'd very nicely tell you where to go, how far, and how fast.

TerriblyNaice · 29/08/2021 13:26

Mumsnet is hilarious when someone even suggests they don't like being woke up from a morning 'lie-in' 🤣

OP you should have realised that by 9am you should be at the aga, wearing an apron and making brunch for your apple cheeked children.

RavingAnnie · 29/08/2021 13:26

I think it's unreasonable to make that much noise everyday just above your bedroom. You should be able to have a lie in if you want one. As others have said try bringing her down so she can hear how noisy it is. She needs to either fit some underlay or anti vibration pad or on at least one day a week do her washing at another time of day.

AnAutumnAfternoon · 29/08/2021 13:36

@LakieLady My new washing machine takes 3 hours for a standard wash too, and that's not even the Eco setting. It takes 3 hours 45 minutes on Eco setting.

LimitIsUp · 29/08/2021 13:51

9am is not too early

Hyppogriff · 29/08/2021 13:58

Annoying but yes 9 is not early sorry