It can be somewhat frustrating when a neighbor keeps using your washer and dryer, but what do you think you can do in that situation? One thing is that your washer and dryer are for your personal use, the regular washer and dryer in your home are not made for heavy laundry.
That’s why there are laundromats. So the only reason a neighbor should use your washer and dryer is if theirs is faulty and the laundromat is far away. You can help if it is an emergency laundry, but it must not persist.
Let’s go on a journey as we discuss what to do if your neighbor keeps using your washer and dryer.
What Can I Do if My Neighbor Keeps Using My Washer and Dryer?
Your washer and dryer should be for personal use without any external party, which can be a neighbor using it with you. However, a neighbor needed your help to use your washer and dryer for the first time because their own is faulty.
As a nice person, you decided to help; this is how it started. After this, if your heart of kindness is taken for granted. It has now always been your neighbor’s habit to use your washer and dryer. Is this the case? Let’s check out what to do.
You have to tell them that they won’t be able to use your washer and dryer any longer. Telling them no is good but not enough; tell them why you won’t allow them again. This might feel absurd because you don’t want them to get annoyed, however, it is terrible to inconvenience yourself to please others.
It might make them angry, but they should be if they are understanding people. Don’t be afraid of losing their friendly relationship, and if you lose it after rejecting their request to use your washer and dryer, they are not worthy of having you as friends initially.
Moreover, if you are shy to say it to your neighbor face, send a letter, or you should put a call through to them. With this, you will be able to stop your neighbor from using your washer and dryer.
There is more. Your case might be like the one which will be discussed now:
The first day you rented your apartment, your landlord pointed out that you would be sharing a general basement with other tenants. This basement will serve as a spot where you will do all your laundry. With this, you already know you will have to place your washer and dryer in the basement. You accepted and went on to get the house.
However, after a few weeks, you noticed that a neighbor was using your washer and dryer. This situation worsens when you start seeing dirty water and cloth left in the washer, you are furious; you want to meet the neighbor and knock them out.
It’s best to calm your nerves, this is what you should do.
- Lock your washer and dryer since it’s impossible to put your washer and dryer in the room.
- Report to the landlord: Reporting to the landlord will relieve you of stress, and the owner will know what to do best.
- Leave a letter: If you know the neighbor who uses your washer and dryer, you can drop a note to them to notify them of your resentment towards using your washer and dryer.
Can You Lock Your Washer and Dryer?
Yes, you can lock your washer and dryer. Locking it can be digital or manual.
The digital lock is the child lock that comes with the washer. The child lock feature allows you to lock your washer to prevent misuse by children or people who are unable to handle the product.
To activate the child lock function, press and hold the Rinse and Spin buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. Also, to deactivate the child lock function, you should do the same.
Even if the washing machine is turned off and on again when the child lock function is activated, the child lock remains activated.
Also, once the child lock function is activated, even if the washing machine is turned off, if the door is opened, the water will automatically drain in 30 seconds.
For the manual lock, you will need to get a safe box. This safe box will help you to lock the plug of your washer. No one will be able to connect the plug to the socket for use without having the key to the safe box.
For the first lock system, you will be able to keep your child, even your neighbor, from using the washer behind your back. However, your neighbor might know about the child lock and can deactivate it.
That is where the manual lock comes in, and it is the best—it denials anyone without the key access to your washer and dryer.
What Do You Say to a Neighbor Who Wants to Use Your Washer and Dryer?
Has your neighbor ever requested that they use your washer? If not, what if they ask you what you will say to them?
This is a question worth answering.
A neighbor using your washer and dryer is not bad, but are you comfortable with it? It might be okay with you if you are suitable for it, but if you know, you are not convenient, saying no should not be a problem.
However, the reason behind your no should be known to your neighbor.
Reasons like: “my partner don’t want it“. Yes, it can be tough to turn your neighbor down, but your setting limitations give room for a good relationship.
Does the Landlord Have to Fix the Washer and Dryer?
The landlord who leases his house should be the one who would fix the washer and dryer.
Are you surprised? Okay, Imagine that you have a tenant who has been in the house for ten years, leaves, and another comes in who, after five months, has a broken washing machine. The fault is possibly long-term usage which causes wear and tear, and it cannot be blamed on the new tenant. Therefore, the landlord should always fix appliances.
Then, of course, the tenant can cover light bulbs and other cheap things. But, on the other hand, if the fault is due to the tenant’s negligence, he has to take responsibility for the repair.
Can a Commercial Washer and Dryer be Used at Home?
There is a commercial washer and dryer, and the one regular washer made for private purposes because of what it is used for. The commercial washer and dryer do heavy laundry, which the regular washer won’t do.
However, you might be in need of a washer that does heavy laundry in your home. The only problem you might have is space. If space is something you have in abundance, then you can use a commercial washer and dryer in your home.
Using a commercial washer and dryer at home will benefit you in numerous ways:
- Saves time: The time used for a commercial washer is smaller than that of washers made for home. This is because of the fewer rounds the commercial washer will use. It washes up to 80 pounds while the regular does around 6 to 8 pounds.
- Ease in the heavy-duty laundry: This is one of the exciting parts, and you will be able to wash big clothes like curtains, etc.
- Cheaper: Using a commercial washer would be less expensive than the regular one with time because it used less water and light because it does your laundry at once
How to Prevent Neighbors From Using Washer and Dryer?
Preventing your neighbor from using your dryer is not a complex task. Does your neighbor use your washer when not around or when you go to work or on vacation? Don’t worry, there are things you can do to protect it.
Since you are using a common basement and can carry it into your home, consider switching the circuit breaker connected to the washing machine before going out. If this will be stressful or you don’t know how to do that, buy a safe box and a padlock and lock it whenever you are done with your laundry.
Also, in addition to any of the above two, you can include placing a no trespassing symbol on the washer. This will prevent your neighbors from using your machine because they can’t access it, and there is a warning.
Conclusion
Washers and dryers in homes are bought for personal use. A neighbor using your washer and dryer is most likely taking advantage of you being nice. The best place for anyone to do their laundry is not your home but the laundromat.
Make it clear to your neighbor that you cherish your privacy and won’t allow them to use your washer and dryer. You are not rude in doing that; setting boundaries is a way of having a good relationship with your neighbors.