ULPT request, my neighbour keep asking for my washing machine. How to avoid
Posted by forbidden-skies@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Also tell me right sub if this is not it.
My neighbour is also my office colleague. Constantly keeps requesting my washing machine. He also now has a homophobic roommate whom I'm unwilling to help. They both keep asking for my machine, and since they're colleagues it gets awkward to deny them and not destroy the relations with him.
luckygingercat@reddit
Why would you give a random person your washing machine?
jooooooooooooose@reddit
I mean a) clearly OP means theyre asking to use it, not literally take it out of their home, and b) its not a random person, its a colleague & a neighbor.
"Why would you ever do a favor for someone you know?" is a very US-based redditor point of view to be honest, its not at all a weird thing for them to ask about (once in a while).
Using it as their main source of laundry is weird & annoying and OP should just say that. Some people will turn a one time favor into an every time entitlement and you gotta nip that in the bud.
zeniiz@reddit
What an incredibly odd thing to say.
jooooooooooooose@reddit
the comment is literally asking this question
zeniiz@reddit
How is it "US based"?
jooooooooooooose@reddit
I've lived in many countries including the US - I am an American - and the degree of individualism in US is much stronger than most other countries. It's literally a defining trait of American culture with many millions of words written about it. Observing this is not even a criticism & you don't need to be offended, lol, it's simply a difference between the US & other places. Reddit is also a (mostly) US website and the sense of individualism / lack of duty to the community is even more amplified on here.
In some places I've lived youd be basically culturally obligated to say yes to a neighbor/colleague's request as long as it's not extreme.
zeniiz@reddit
OP is in India. How does it feel to be completely wrong?
Weekly-Reputation482@reddit
How does it feel to have the reading comprehension of a three year old?
jooooooooooooose@reddit
Well considering I was replying to a comment and not OP, I wouldn't exactly say I am wrong here.
What a silly hill you are dying on.
zeniiz@reddit
Cope harder LMAO
PadmesBabyDaddy@reddit
They are right though. He didn’t reply to the person who made the post (the person from India you are referring to), he replied to a commenter (who if I had to guess, is American). The fact that the OOP is from a country other than the USA actually kinda proves their point, not yours.
ThisAppsForTrolling@reddit
Careful the dude is correct but the hive is strong
jooooooooooooose@reddit
I wish you the very best on your journey to reading comprehension
zeniiz@reddit
Sure, I accept that. But saying that Americans don't understand why you would do favors for others is frankly, an absurd take that no rational person would say. And I don't even like America or it's culture very much.
xboxchick311@reddit
I feel like they read the title, but not the post, and then made a comment.
Miami_Mice2087@reddit
It broke and you're using your mom's until you can get it repaired. You will never get it repaired.
cheesy_bees@reddit
This, but I think just say it's broken or not working, and leave it at that. No more explanation is needed. If they ask any questions like when will it be fixed, where are you doing your washing, etc, just say you're not sure yet. If they don't get the hint and keep asking, say "I don't know when it will be fixed, sorry, I think you need to find somewhere else to wash your clothes from now on". Boring approach but clearly OP wants low confrontation
realDespond@reddit
find a way to frame the homophobe to look like a complete and total uncloseted twink to the point it makes your coworker uncomfortable and kicks them out then go to hr and say your coworker is harassing you outside of work
GoodMilk_GoneBad@reddit
Lie and tell them it's not functioning properly. Maybe it stops in the middle of the cycle. Maybe the clothes are drenched when they come out. Could be it squeaks. Or the balance is off.
If they offer to repair it, say they can't because it will void the warranty.
Ethic suggestion, help them find a cheap used machine. Perhaps chip in on it if it's that important to you.
pacowek@reddit
Plug it into a smart plug, so that you can just kill it randomly even if they are hanging around watching it.
L0ud_Typer@reddit
That’s evil 😈
L0ud_Typer@reddit
Chip in on it? Far too ethical
GoodMilk_GoneBad@reddit
I know, I know.
ThisAppsForTrolling@reddit
Just say no. Tell them no. I’m not going to do it. When they ask why say it’s annoying and awkward. I don’t want you at my place all the time, I don’t want to have to think about it. I would probably say something like *”no dude, I’m not doing that anymore, it’s annoying, I know it sucks for y’all but no you cannot use my washing machine anymore it’s annoying to me.”
BroccoliCompetitive3@reddit
I'm part of the "fuck off!" advice givers, however, I'm the confrontational type. This only works if you have an agitator. They are relatively easy to remove with the right tools. When you aren't using it or if you can get them on a schedule, replace the normal agitator with one that you have created sharp edges on. Tear up their clothes. Even serrations on the edges should do it. Sharpening the hard plastic may be enough though. Test it with a load of unusable clothes until you're happy. Creating any other REMOVABLE sharp cutting surfaces should also do the trick if you don't have an agitator.
sareuhbelle@reddit
Just say no. And if you're uncomfortable leaving it at that, just add, "I'm a bit of a germophobe, sorry!" Then shrug and busy yourself doing something else.
SocYS4@reddit
yeah op needs to grow a spine. what're they gonna do to you if op says no anyway?
World-Critic589@reddit
This ^ need to be able to say no to people. But if you still can’t… Sometimes bleach doesn’t get totally rinsed out of a washing machine. Drop a little in there before they do the next load.
tilldeathdoiparty@reddit
Ghrrum@reddit
Go around to your local coin laundry and take a look at prices. In front of your coworkers and your boss tell him he can use it for 25x the coin laundry load price per month.
Make sure to add up washer and drier when you come up with the number.
This does several things, 1. it drags this issue to light in the office space and makes it accountable. 2. It gives you a solid ground to stand on for refusal. You should be able to get compensation for your stuff being used by someone else. 3. If he pays up, you get money out of them. That price should be for each of them.
Fluffy_Ruin750@reddit
If you really feel like you need to let them use it (i think a flat out "no" best) but want to discourage it, then create rules that make it more annoying than going to a laundromat - $5/use, must clean out and wipe down the whole thing including the drain trap thingy, must only use between 3 and 4pm, must only use x brand detergent, must not change any settings, etc.?
Lumber_Viking@reddit
I’m guessing they’re asking to use your machine, not buy it? If so here’s some ideas:-
Sprinkle in some chalk to the cycle, slowly adding more and more over time. Blame it on hard water/old heating element.
Spray their washing with something musty or buy liquid fart spray. Say your washing is smelling the same too.
Add a small amount of bleach to cycle, enough to fade/discolour their clothes over time.
All of these come with plausible deniability and you could totally say you’re ’suffering’ with the same issues with your clothes. Hopefully they’ll get so fed up with your machine ruining their clothes they’ll stop.
Obviously when it comes to doing your load, put the machine on a 30min cycle to get rid of the leftover bleach/chalk/smell.
myusername1111111@reddit
Tell them is against your belief system to share a washing machine with non family members. Tell them if they were to use it, you would have to get it spirituality cleansed and that can take up to 2 weeks.