Would it be acceptable to ask my upstairs neighbour not to do this?

[feedmefudge]

I live in a Georgian flat. Over the years, I have become accustomed to hearing my upstairs neighbour’s every footstep and that’s fair enough. It’s not like that can be helped and she’s a good neighbour. We get on fine.
However her washing machine is directly above my bedroom and the noise from the thing is unbelievable, as there’s no padding underneath it. Normally I wouldn’t notice but I’m a teacher off on holiday now. I also have the new strain of Covid. The worst of the symptoms have passed, thank God, but I am still suffering with a bad cough. Her machine has woken me twice this week shortly before 9am. I know that’s not exactly early! But it’s hard when you’re up in the night with a bad cough and might like a lie-in!
She is retired and lives alone. She can’t hang out her washing, as she has no garden, so could really do it anytime.
WIBU to ask her to use her washing machine slightly later in the holidays?
Thanks 🙂

Yes definitely say something. You can start with, ,'I know this might not be easily resolved.....but ....'

Look up mats or anything that she could put under it and drop it in conversation. 'Have you heard of those mats....'

And you can say -' I really don't wish to interfere with how you live your life, this is becoming so difficult with how loud it is at that time of morning'.

That's totally reasonable.

This, no harm in asking. I'd be happy to oblige.

Definitely don’t do this.

Text her only.

If you don’t have her number then don’t go and don’t go and speak to her in person.

The last thing she’ll want is to catch your illness, especially if it’s so bad.

Maybe bring her some chocolates when you’re better instead.

...and she is retired?

Your cough is probably disturbing her in the night 🤷‍♀️

Could you sweeten your request with an offer to buy her an anti vibration mat?

I'm trying to work out the plumbing in your building which has led to your neighbour's washing machine being above your bedroom!

The good thing about purpose built flats is rooms of the same use are often in the same place - so kitchens above kitchens etc...

I’d always have these types of conversations in person. Easier and there’s no room for misunderstanding. If they agree I’d then grab some flowers and chocolates as a thank you

I used to have nightmare upstairs neighbours, some of the noises they made were utterly baffling. :(. YANBU to ask.

Always reminds me of this: 😂

I would mention it and suggest that you could offer to buy an antibration pad, if she is a decent persin whe would get the message and either buy it herself or do washing later.

I think 'person to person' is rather less welcome when your are carrying a nasty contagious disease!

Such a helpful comment 🙄

Box chocolates and asknif she would mind starting wash later

OP, I would absolutely ask. I used to live in an old Victorian tenement, and when a new person bought the flat above mine he had massive floor standing speakers on wooden flooring which meant the noise was deafening any time he played music. I spoke to him (very nicely) and offered him to come into mine and hear how the sound carried - he hadn’t a clue, was very apologetic, and got his speakers mounted.

No drama, just neighbours being considerate.

I used to live in a flat where the lease forbade using the washing machine between 9pm and 9am. A lot of leases also mandate that the floor is carpeted.

Miele actually manufacture their own anti-vibration feet for laundry machines. They are not a miracle cure, but should help. Ask her if you could buy her some?

I just think all of these things sound like short term problems that aren't worth compromising your good relationship.
You'll recover soon.
You'll be going back to work soon.

To be honest I would be grateful that she was not washing at 7am.

Get her to put some sort of mat underneath it - that should help.
My next door neighbours (semi detached houses) washing machine was very noisy - a mat underneath it sorted it totally. Dunno how well that might work given that your neighbour is above you but its worth a try.

Moaning about her making noise at 9am ish IS unreasonable though..........
But just get her to put a mat under it.
And remember that you wont always want to sleep in every day.

Very good point @Fluffyblackcat7 I’d forgotten about the ‘Covid’ lurgy. Maybe a text would be better in this case

It's not like she's got it set to come on in the early hours like some do. Which isn't advisable to do for fire safety.

I don't think so, BUT I used to rent a flat with a Miele and it was super loud. Upstairs requested that I didn't use it in the afternoons/evenings as it woke their baby from naps, downstairs asked that I didn't use it in the mornings as the man worked nights.... so I never used it, but that wouldn't be an option for everyone. I could only do it by hanging clothes out of my window on one side that had a tiny bit of a balcony.

There’s always one on here with unnecessary opinions 🙄

I'm a middle floor neighbour, if my downstairs neighbour asked me to do my washing later, I'd refuse. Why should I have to do my jobs later, just so you can stay in bed later? It's not even as if your neighbour is doing it that early -you say the spin cycle is about 9am, that's perfectly OK. If you want her to do her washing later, it means she's got less time to get it dried etc.
In the past, I've had to put up with people doing their washing at night - I didn't really appreciate the spin cycle going at 11pm! So, you moaning about 9am seems a bit ridiculous and petty in my opinion.