I dry my laundry in my garden and my neighbour is really unhappy about it

[WashingWoes]

I really don’t think I’m in the wrong here but keen for opinions which I will take onboard if I come off as unreasonable.
I live in an end-terrace house. Neighbour is attached to me. I peg my washing out to dry on good days. We are a family of four, lots of laundry and I much prefer to peg out than use the (expensive and environmentally unfriendly) drier. My neighbour HATES me for drying my laundry in my garden. Relentless comments about how she can’t enjoy looking at her garden from her bedroom window because she can see my (clean) laundry. About how it’s spoiling her enjoyment of her garden. Why can’t I just use the drier, for everyone’s benefit (not mine, see: bills; climate change…). It’s bad manners to dry ‘smalls’ outside - her husband might see my ‘undergarments’ … honestly it’s relentless. I recently received a birthday card from them (very kind, and appreciated) which said ‘Happy Birthday WashingWoes, we really love seeing your washing on the line, have a lovely birthday’. Please reassure me that I’m normal and neighbours are barmy?

Ah, the alleyways of Naples!

She’s mental. Ignore.

God it pisses me off that Americans are using tumble driers all the time. So damned wasteful. 😔

OP, obviously your neighbour is a nutbar. I think I’d just chuckle every time she mentioned it. No actual response; literally just laugh. Her complaints are not worthy of any other response.

No, Yorkshire.

Funny what people get het up about. Really ramp up the underwear washing at the weekend I think! A load of just your bras and knickers perhaps?

😂😂

How many more washing lines can you fit in your garden? Whatever the answer is do that and buy underwear to hang up, all day long. And the front too.

I think you are perfectly fine to dry your washing outside if you want, but I’ve lived in a few terraced houses over the years and I don’t think I could have hung out two to three loads as you imply you are about to do as I wouldn’t have the space. Perhaps it’s the quantity of washing flapping in the breeze in a relatively small space that she finds difficult to ignore. Still not your problem though.

Oh we had one of those at our last house. She had been there longest so she was apparently 'in charge'. And yes, she actually asked me to remove my washing from the line because it was spoiling her view. I said no I'm not doing that. She didn't ask again!

My dh hates washing out as well.

Can you compromise and not hang washing out at weekends?

You are right, she is wrong. That is all there is to it. I always hang my washing for the same reason as you, and dont own a drier. I do hide my underwear in the centre of my rotary drier as I am embarrassed about how big they are 😁. I have had guests to stay from other countries who find it shocking and consider it a bit peasantry. I ignore them.

Send her this…

https://devonclimateemergency.org.uk/individual-top-tips/washing-and-drying/

Haha THIS

Peg out a Union Jack Flag, if shes like MN she will have a break down. 😂

Put them to dry on line, then give a short cycle in tumble dryer to soften up

This....

It’s not a small space. Ours is big, hers is massive (3 acres, pond, greenhouses etc) so plenty of space for me to hang washing and more space for her to avoid my smalls!

😂😂😂

My DH loves a scratchy towel too, but not as an exfoliator - he says it's the only way he can get dry because he's so hairy! 😂
My age question was more around how patronising she sounds (although I'm early 60s and wouldn't dream of talking to a neighbour like this and much less about their chosen method for drying their ruddy washing! 😳).
Totally agree - she has too much time on her hands.

I would take the card and write underneath:

"I am glad you finally appreciate the fine art of laundry drying. I shall put up another washing line for your viewing pleasure".

And then drop the card back into their mailbox where it belongs.

Why @Steelworks , why should anyone do that? It's a batshit suggestion!!
Do NOT pander to the crazies 😵‍💫🤪

A search on ebay for 'rude tea towels' produced these, which would look lovely on your line, OP.

You’re normal, but if your neighbour thinks her DH might get over-excited by seeing your knickers on the line, she’s got problems…

Ignore.

I’ve just remembered something re: our age. When we moved in, the man clicked his fingers and beckoned to us and said ‘here, now, children…’ I’d forgotten that little gem. Yeah, they are both bonkers, entitled and irritating!