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Neighbor really ticking me off!!!

Posted: Apr 5, 2014

Approximately 4 apartments. The landlord provides a washer & dryer because we don't have washer and dryer hook-ups in our apartments. There is me & my husband living in one apartment, one of our daughters live next door, a single guy in another apartment and a couple with a small child in the fourth apt. The single guy is never home and works second shift and my daughter and her boyfriend are hardly home and they both work second shift also. The couple IS constantly and I do mean CONSTANTLY washing - Mainly the woman. Yesterday when I got home she was washing all the way into the middle of the night. This morning I went to start a load and of course, she was washing again. Went to run my errands figuring when I got home I could do laundry, but nope - She's still washing. So now here it is 10 o'clock, I get out the shower thinking she's finally finished, went and put my quarters in, started the machine only to open it and see SHE STILL has clothes in the washer. So not only am I not gonna get a load of clothes done tonight, but I just lost 4 quarters. This woman is home all throughout the week, she works maybe 4 hours two days a week so no way should her laundry ever get backed up. The weekends is the only time I get to wash. I suppose I could wash on a week night after work, but heck she's usually washing then too. I don't get it, she barely works her boyfriend doesn't work, she seldom leaves the house so why in the world does she have so much laundry and where does she get the money to wash like that!!??! It's like good grief, have some consideration lady. Sorry if I sound petty, but my husbands not home so cant vent to him at the moment and I needed to get that off my chest. I did make it a point to knock on her door and ask for my quarters back, but of course she didn't have anymore nor did she have a dollar to pay me back for rewashing a load of her clothes. I think it was obvious to her that I was pissed.;

Maybe she is doing washing for other - people trying to make some extra money

[ In Reply To ..]
Or else she and her brood have the cleanest clothes in town. If this continues then apparently you need to speak to the owners where you live and tell them enough is enough and they might have to work out a schedule for people to go by, that is all I can think.

I bet that's what she's doing... - laundry for hire

[ In Reply To ..]
I would tell the landlord. If that's what she's doing, making money by using the laundry center that's meant for ALL tenants, then she should take it to a local laundromat.

Well I know for a fact that her boyfriend's sister washes - here, I have seen her here on

[ In Reply To ..]
Multiple occasions doing her laundry. She started them up one day and left them. I went to wash and there were clothes in the washer and dryer, knocked on their door & turns out they were his sisters clothes and he had to call her on the phone to come back and get them.

Where I used to live, there was a guy who lived - down the street (in his own house!) -

[ In Reply To ..]
and since he worked at home, during the day he'd come to our building and do his laundry because our machines were only 50 cents. But they were for tenants only, and we only had 2 washers and 2 dryers for 16 apartment units. Working at home normally allowed me to use them during the day, when everyone else was at work. Then he started doing laundry there, and I believe he started doing extra loads for extra money, too. Then he would sit outside my living room window (right next to my computer) and smoke cigars. (No smoking was allowed anywhere on the property.) He never cleaned out the lint traps, either.

It got to be where the only time I could get to the washers was around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, and this wasn't fair to the tenants who lived right next to, or above, the laundry room. They were working people, and they needed to sleep!

So, I tattled on the guy to the landlord, and he was told that since he wasn't a tenant, he wasn't allowed on the property at ALL. End of problem.

you can't do that with a machine that is provided by the landlord - and shared

[ In Reply To ..]
That's not fair. That means the landlord is paying for the machines, water, and electricity for people that don't even live in the apartments. That's wrong.

Yup - see msg

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This does affect everyone. One way or another, it could easily come out of all the tenants' pockets. I would for sure tell the landlord. He may have to put restrictions for all if he doesn't nip this in the bud.

I would not approach the woman again, this is a job for the landlord---or manager. Often, the landlord doesn't live in the same state, but they hire managers.

I wouldn't wait one minute longer. Having a washer and dryer on site is a convenience, and this perk could easily be taken away from all if his bills are too high to maintain the costs of having them.

Guess look first next time and take her stuff out - sm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
If she left her laundry basket then just put all the clothes in it, if not the floor or table if one is there. Tape a note to the washer saying you took her stuff out, etc. Since it appears she is doing laundry for others than you should either tell the landlord or tell her she cannot hog the machines 24/7. They will break eventually with that much use as it is. Yor're supposed to wait 30 mins between loads in a regular washer so it can cool down, so nonstop laundry cannot be good for any washer. Too bad there is only one washer and dryer, least then you could limit her to one though from the sounds of it doubt she'd be that considerate and would probably use both of them then. But I would definitely make some noise, no one has that much laundry ALL the time.

Thank you all for the responses. At least I know now - Im not the only one who thinks

[ In Reply To ..]
It's ridiculous, last night she didn't leave a laundry basket so that's why I thought she was done. Lessened learns - Check the washer for clothes before putting in quarters and starting it. Thanks ladies.

washing clothes - msdaisy

[ In Reply To ..]
maybe she washes other peoples laundry as a job? is she approachable to ask why she monopolizes them?

Talk to her - Best option

[ In Reply To ..]
I would approach her and tell your problem getting your laundry done and you need access to the washer and dryer. Maybe she can tell you her schedule and you can work around it. (Be sure to check washer and/or dryer to see it is empty before putting coins in.) Not sure if the landlord would want to get involved but if push comes to shove and she does not respond nicely about your need to do laundry I would notify owner.

Apartment size washer - 2 Many Apartments, 2 few washers

[ In Reply To ..]
I had the same problem so I can sympathize wholeheartedly. Worse, the landlord locked the laundry room at 8 pm. If you look on amazon, you can find all sorts of little washers/spinners/dryers for not a lot of money. You can hook them up to the sink do your laundry. They are small and they won't do your blankets and such, but you can keep up with your regular laundry without all the hassle of going to the laundromat. After you look on Amazon to see what is avialable, you can check Craigslist, etc., and possibly find the same machines used which is what I did. I found a small (panda) washer and laundry spinner (Laundry Alternative) for $150. I hang things up on a rack for now. When I get my income tax refund, I am going to buy a dryer that runs on 110. I should be able to finda used one for around $100.

I did that too - - with a regular-sized washer

[ In Reply To ..]
Years ago I moved to an apartment and I already had a washing machine (in storage). I happened to walk by someone else's place and noticed they had a washing machine hooked up to the kitchen sink. I knocked on their door to ask about it and they said all I had to do was buy a small adapter at a hardware store.

It was such a relief to be able to do laundry in my own place and not have to constantly hunt for quarters.

I got a portable washer and portable dryer - made by Haier. (s/Msg)

[ In Reply To ..]
The washer hooks up to my kitchen sink. All I had to do was unscrew the original strainer at the tip of the faucet, and screw in the one that came with the washer. Then the water hose just snaps on. You control volume, hot/cold with the kitchen sink knobs. Mine is the smallest in their series, and does small loads, but that's all I need. It uses the "HE" (high efficiency) laundry detergent, and for my tiny machine, all I need is a TABLESPOON of it, so it saves $ on detergent, too.

It drains into the sink by a hose you just drop in, and which has a hook which keeps it in place. I put a little strainer in the sink so lint & pet hair won't clog the pipes. I also put all that soapy gray water to good use by putting dirty dishes in the sink and letting the gray water run over them as sort of a "pre-soak". Whatever's in that laundry detergent does a great job of breaking up grease and cheese, and other stuff I'd normally have to scrub. Instead, once I'm done washing clothes and am ready to do the dishes, they're already well-started, and whatever's left on them washes off with ease.

The machine is reliable, quiet, and the tiny one I have has no agitator in the center of the drum, so it works great for delicate fabrics.

I think it cost in the neighborhood of $300 new (got it on Amazon and had it delivered). I bought it with the Economic Stimulus check I received about 6 years ago, and also got a mini-dryer with it.

Even though my triplex apartment has washer hookups, the landlady had bad experiences with people flooding the kitchen with them, so she said no washer or dryer. My town has no laundromat, so I had to drive to another town to do laundry, and the price was ridiculous - $2.75 per load!

So I got this and just didn't tell her about it at first. As it turns out, these really don't flood, and even if they did, they don't use much water. If needed, it can also be placed in a plastic catch-pan for extra security, but I found I never needed that. By the time the landlady realized I had a washer, I'd had it for something like 3 years, and it had never leaked once. So she was sold on the idea, and now recommends a similar setup to new tenants when they learn there's no washer/dryer here, and no laundromat in town. My little Haier paid for itself in less than a year.

Yuck - see msg please

[ In Reply To ..]
So, you soak your dishes in dirty water from the washing machine? That is gross. I'd have enough trouble just washing dishes in the same sink, thought I could probably get over it if I had to. I hope it's not underwear water, LOL.

FYI all: They also have those little manual spin thingies for some clothing. I don't reckon they'd work on jeans or other heavy/large items.

I've used my bathtub in a pinch when the washer busted. I just rolled up the items in a big thirsty towel to squish out excess water. I do have a porch I can hang clothes on.

Soaking dishes in gray water is done pre-WASH. - I wash the dishes completely in - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
clean, hot, soapy water afterwards. The pre-soak is just to bust up grease and baked-on cheese. I live in a drought-affected area, where every drop of water counts.

Ever hear the old saying about toilets? ("If it's yellow let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down.") We do that here too. Can't wash our cars, hose off our sidewalks or water our plants more than once a week. Letting gray water just run down the drain without performing some type of secondary duty would be wasteful.

It's still creepy - But okay

[ In Reply To ..]
I would probably put a little bleach in the final dish washing.

I don't think laundry water any dirtier than dishwater - just too fussy

[ In Reply To ..]
Sounds perfectly sensible, sanitary, and a time saver to me; unless her family has a habit of wallowing in radioactive raw sewage, her laundry water is not that dirty. After all, the dishes are soiled and contain plenty of bacteria which are all rinsed washed away with the hot soapy laundry water. The reality is the dishes are probably perfectly clean and just need to be rinsed, although I think we all would be inclined to give the dishes a second wash in clean water. There really is such a thing as being too clean and too fussy, and as a consequence getting sick all the time because you have never developed an immune system.

Panda apartment-size washer... - mtny

[ In Reply To ..]
Bought my Panda through Amazon last Christmas-time, and it has already more than paid for itself. Such a relief to do laundry any time I want in my own apartment. (Only need to use the laundry room approximately once a month to do sheets and towels.)

Washing clothes all the time` - outahere

[ In Reply To ..]
While you were asking for your dollar back why didn't you tell her you need the washer too and that it belongs to the entire building, not just her? You may have thought it was obvious you were pissed, but her brain may not be operating on all four thrusters. Besudesm you should be taking this problem up with your landlord!

I would tell landlord - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
I think this is the landlord's problem, so he should know. (A) They are his pieces of equipment and are getting abused. (B) If he is paying all the water and electricity in the building, then it's his business to know why his bills are so high. (C) If you all pay your own water and electricity, and he just pays the common areas, he might have to raise your rent to cover her abuse, and that affects you now in your pocketbook.

I think the landlord should be told because this could ruin it for all of you.

One note: Be extremely careful washing laundry in a machine on anything but the ground floor. A hose breaks, and you've just flooded the building. Some buildings have washers upstairs, but they have special drip pans and such.

Re your own dryer, make sure the building is legally able to handle the electrical load.

my suggestion - would be

[ In Reply To ..]
to buy a really barky small dog.

Complain to landlord nonstop until it's taken care of - I hated complex living

[ In Reply To ..]
I had that same issue in an apartment complex of 8 apartments, 4 upstairs and 4 downstairs, and 1 washer/dryer per bldg. I had to either go to the laundromat or my parents' to do laundry. I kept complaining but it did no good. This one lady did laundry everyday for just 4 people (plus others staying there illegally) and her husband's restaurant uniform laundry. I lived right next to the washer/dryer. Drove me nuts! This is why I'll never live in a complex again! Fighting for a washer or a parking space is ridiculous! I wouldn't live in one for free! Anyway, sorry about the rant, bad memories just popped up LOL

Anyway, first try nicely talking to her and if that doesn't work then complain to the landlord and ask about assigned laundry days where each tenant is only allowed to do their laundry on a certain day or else 1 load per apartment per day.

Or you could be a sneaky B and do what my friend did, pour bleach in the washer after she leaves. I'm not suggesting that but it stopped that chick from doing it again because she couldn't figure out how her clothes got ruined. LMAO

Snarkily ask her to do your laundry too since she's doing everyone else's - LOL

[ In Reply To ..]
Before I had my own home with a washer/dryer, I would soak and hand wash bras, undies, socks, and delicates in the sink and then hang to drip dry in the shower or else lay flat on a towel on the table or counter. I would wear shirts 2-3 times and pants/jeans 4-5 times before washing them unless they were very smoky or badly stained. I learned to love Febreeze and hanging my clothes on hangers in the window on nice days to let them air out. I would only wash bulk clothes, sheets, and towels once a month at the laundromat or my mom's house so I could just do 10 loads in one day and get it done and get rolls of quarters from the bank. I was also lucky enough to have alot of clothes that I could wear a new outfit every day for a month and didn't have to repeat, not like that now :-( but I have a washer/dryer in my own house that I only have to share with hubby and we do 4 loads a week, his, mine, towels, and whites. Bedding is still once a month.

BTW the poster who said that you have to wait 30 minutes between washing loads is not correct. It is actually better to run the washer/dryer back to back so they do not cool down, heat up, cool down, heat up, especially the dryer. Unless they are older machines, then yes.

The new HE nice quality ones do not need to cool down. I do know this because I've asked, got my machines at Sears :-)

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