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 🙂

And award for the most sanctimonious post of the week, goes to.......

Absolutely nothing wrong with asking politely. I’d like my neighbour to tell me if it was upsetting them and could be easily resolved.

Just ask. Worst she can say is no. Yanbu to ask but she wouldn't be unreasonable if she said no either. Anytime after 8 would be reasonable to be for someone to be doing their washing. Or ask her to buy anti vibration pads down so it makes less noise.

If she lives alone, she can’t have much washing to do. I only put mine on about twice a week. You can always ask though.

I’d be more likely to try to chat to her about it could be soundproofed a little. There must be something that would do the job! I don’t think you’d be reasonable to ask her to do it later.

Don’t ask. 9 am is not early, and she prob wants it done before she heads out so it’s not left damp all day. It’ll create unnecessary tension. Buy ear plugs for the hols. I imagine it’s not everyday?

Ask if you can buy her the rubbed pad. If you ask her not to use the machine I think this may cause annoyance, particularly if she is trying and pretty much succeeding to be considerate. Mine is an old Miele and has a short cycle. I think your neighbour might start doing her vacuuming, practice her skipping, make loud phone calls, play her music, go on the noisy swift bicycle machine and other activities that she has tried to do while you are out.

As someone else has suggested, some padding for underneath the washer. I would offer to buy it for her if she would be happy to use it.

No it’s not acceptable wtf!! It’s 830 and beyond absolutely not. If you asked me I’d make sure I put it on every day at 6am. What a ridiculous ask.

That would be insane, or are you really that petty?

Absolutely ☺️

Thanks again everyone! Really appreciate the many, many polite replies … even those of you who nicely said that I’m out of order 🤣
Always good to get different perspectives on things.

As I predicted! So glad I don’t know people like this in real life!

There’s usually something in the lease hold agreement that says you can’t make noise that bothers Neighbours, so I think it’s fair enough to ask her to do something about it. Maybe you could pay to have something put underneath it?

Can you offer to buy padding to put under it ?

Always worth asking.

The feet might just need adjusting, making it bounce and jump around. See if you can make it wobble py pushing it.

I have an old Miele and it can still be almost silent when spinning.

Maybe see if the feet on the washing machine need levelling out as that should be causing the excess noise

If you explained you are ill, only a selfish idiot would mind if they were retired and able to do it at other times

She might put it on around 8am because that works for her, doing a load before heading out to work?
It’s probably the kind of thing I’d be a bit niggled by but I would never ask someone to change the time they do their laundry, I’d just feel a bit awkward. I’d probably just buy some ear plugs.

She’s retired.

You can ask she can say no. I have a 20 year machine so put it on before work so done when I'm back from work so id have to say no to your request if it was me. Just ask politely but understand if she says no

I guess you can ask, as she's retired in theory she could do it anytime, but equally she's absolutely not being unreasonable, she's not setting it off overnight for example. So if she has good reason for doing it early, I think you can't be too annoyed about that. If she ever moves I suspect whoever replaces her will be a lot more annoying than a quiet, retired, single lady.l so appreciate her whilst you've got her I reckon!

I'm surprised how many people put machines on and then leave the house

Imo any washing machine thunder after 8 am is reasonable. I'm also in a block of flats and several neighbours leave for work long before that time. I hear them occasionally as they pass my door while talking and just turn over and go back to sleep. They have no idea they've woken me.

This reminds me of a neighbour years ago in another home. He loved opera. Not only playing it but singing it! Windows closed anyone for miles around could hear. Summertime with the windows open omg 😃 but I don't recall anyone complaining. To be fair it was always day or early evening though.

I never do that. My home would be burned down if I risk it. 🔥