Or is my neighbour about my laundry...?

[laundryninja]

Name changed in case she's on mumsnet

Don't know NDN well. We are quiet and (I thought!) inoffensive so no issues for the last 6 months we've lived here. There's a low fence between our gardens.

Given that I live in the west of scotland, it's a rare opportunity to hang clothes out on the line to dry, which DH and I have been doing the past few days.

Today NDN appeared at the door and asked me to "be more careful" with my laundry. I initially thought something had blown into her garden and apologised. She said no, that us hanging out "personal items" was embarrassing for her and she didn't want her young sons (who are late primary age I think) seeing things like that. After clarifying she meant bras and knickers I admit I snorted with laughter a bit and said "but don't they see YOUR pants drying indoors!?" to which she said that I clearly didn't want to help and that she'd ask her DH to come over later to speak to my DH once he's in from work!

I have not brought my laundry in and have just done another load. She's glaring from her conservatory. AIBU to ignore her? Or should I bring my offensive undies in off the line?

Love this thread and your DH sounds awesome 👍

haha, my mum has always refused to put any underwear on the line ever, she gave me a really long lecture when DD was small because I'd got a load of little knickers on the line (DD was potty training). Just tell you neighbour the same as I told my mum, It's my garden and my washing line, if it embarrasses you then don't look at it.

Best thread in ages

@mnhq this needs to be a ckassic

Am loving your dh and his gently hooting the twatbag neighbour out.

When I lived in a flat I got told off for pegging undies out but only because there was a knicker theif and ndn didn't want me to lose my maternity bras etc

For goodness sake it's a pair of knickers not a gimp suit !

Has her sons never seen a pair of pants ? They'll see worse walking down the street. I'm in Scotland too and when there is a glimmer of sun, people wander around like their in Spain !

My "unmentionables" ex neighbour is American too! We have a lot round these parts but despite living here for over a decade I never knew they had a different approach to laundry, I just thought ex neighbour was a bit funny about her "unmentionables"

My state actually has a "right to dry" law that is supposed to override those bans. I've never tested it though. Perhaps I should; I live in a very sunny state.

"Hanging out clothes isn't that common in the states so maybe that's why it seems weird to them"

I have heard that as well.

I would be very tempted to say to them that their children will grow up thinking that people don't wear underwear as it is never seen on a washing line.

I have a metric fuckton of tiny g-strings, neon fishnet dresses and sassy mesh attire in the loft from my young and supple days as a podium dancer. My "smalls" really were small.

I should donate them to the cause but your NDN may implode. 😁

Op, same thing happened to me when I first moved here. NDN said she never put smalls out on the line and I replied that I prefer them on the line than drying on radiators where every visitor could see them.

I think putting clothes out on the line is an art form and I am an exceptional artist

Love the idea of "stunt knickers."

Your husband is awesome! Love he wouldn't tolerate their crap. Gorgeous, gorgeous kitten 🐈

First MN thread EVER that DH has actually shown an interest in!

He put all my undercrackers on the line while I was at work today! Quite a mix, mainly bright colourful Brazilian shorts but a couple of thongs, some French knickers (bedwear) and some sturdy all cotton 'running' undies. Doubt my neighbours even noticed.....

OP, I had a friend at uni who came from a devout catholic family and he told me his mum would never hang underwear out to dry on the line...

TBH I'd ignore the neighbour though. It's your washing line. Call them a pervert for gawping at your pants.

I'd buy a large size Bridget jones style pair of knickers and leave that hanging on the line permanently to annoy her.

Once you get to know some other people in the street you'll probably get told other stories about the knicker neighbour. There's bound to be other weird things she's complained about.

We have a house in the US and one of the restrictive covenant items on our residents' agreement is that laundry is not permitted to be dried outside and clotheslines are forbidden.

but, but pleased don't let be darked on ...

Americans wonder why the rest of us think that they are weird when you can sit in your house with a fuck off shot gun and more hand guns that Bruce Willis could get through in all of the Die Hard films, but you cant dry your washing in the garden!

WHY?! What is so offensive about it?

Haha that is epic. Your DH deserves a medal. I think I am going to borrow the word "eejitery" now.

Buzz You should check out state law. The covenant might be unenforceable. More states are enacting "right to dry" laws as part of environmental protection. But changing a culture is hard, and I admit I would not be inclined to test it.

I live in the States; hung laundry out today, and will do so all summer. I've known some Americans do so, but not many. I don't live ina 'Housing Association' area, because we object to being told what we can do in our own house - not just laundry, but paint colours, what a be parked in the drive etc., etc., etc.

'Land of the Free' 😊

'What can be'

Have you tried hanging black bin liners on the line yet?

Have you tried hanging black bin liners on the line yet? did they ever find out what the black bin liners were for?

Maybe she doesn't wear underwear. She doesn't have to look!