Our building has a communal laundry room (washing machine and dryer). You reserve it by writing your name on a board with the date and time to use it. So yesterday i booked it for today, from 830 to 1130.

I took my laundry up at 8 but the machine was in use. Thats fine. No name was on the board but the programe was supposed to finish until 840. 10 minutes into my time but no big deal. So i go up at 845 and a new load is in plus a name on the board. The idiot didnt even look that i had reserved the machine. Im extremely pissed off because i really need to do some washing today.

Their load finishes in an hour. Im using that machine then no matter what!

There is a reset button on the machine , usually by sticking a pen or other sharp device into the little hole ------ USE IT

I will look for it for some other time

This time i will take my OH with me (who speaks french) and tell him to look intimidating. Just in case

I think I would have taken that punk's laundry out. And do my load. But then, one risks coming back to cooked laundry, or some other fun..Maybe leave it there to finish the cycle and tape a note on the washer that he owes you laundry time

...as well as the reset button, most Swiss appartments come with a thing called a Hauswart (don't know what they're called in you're part of town).

They are quite useful for dealing with such major transgressions...

More seriously, I would point out to the person who has done this that you had reserved it.

Or maybe a little clothes dye in the washing powder drawer? now thats really wicked!

We dont have that Hausward person. If its the same thing as a concierge we dont have that.

The problem is that they could claim that they reserved it first. And considering that this is the only problem i have living here (and is the 3rd time in 2 years) i would like to be a bit non confrontational about it

One can also drop a pair of knickers into his laundry and then make a scene and accuse him of stealing my laundry when he squats my laundry time slot.

I am not sure about Hauswart, we usually just talk to neighbors here.

Leave a post-it note downstairs on the machine informing the rogue washer that you had reserved the machine and when his load is finished please leave it free.

I also hate communal laundry though ours is pretty relaxed, usage-wise. For us it's more the problem of people leaving it in a dreadful state; washing powder / liquid splashed all over the place, wet washing left festering in the machine overnight or even over the weekend. Bleugh!

We bought our own machine which we use mostly but I still have to use the bigger communal machine for large loads or if I want to use a tumbler.

The Hausabwart for this building in Glattbrugg is based in Thalwil, more than 30 kms away. Nowadays, "Hauswartungs"-companies are "doing" lots of buildings.

And so I can imagine that it in this case may be similar. The "Hauswart" possibly is based in Rolle or Morges !

An ambush is the only way to go. You know when the perp will re-enter the wash room, so rig up all of their washing powders and liquids in a bucket over the door. You know the rest.

Thats our case. We have a company that does the concierge things

Not a bad idea

Ok off i go (with suitably intimidating OH). Wish me luck!

Take a camera!

good luck

Hahah, and tell them you will post a photo for us to see... (or a pic of their laundry, online..hmmmm)

Good luck!

Ok mission accomplished! As soon as the washing machine finished we took the stuff out, put our stuff in and run! We saw the guy coming up and exchanged goodmornings :P

So far no knocking on the door. Im taking the mutt for his shots now and i will check when i come back. No time to use the dryer but my mood improved dramatically.

Thanks guys!

not very nice referring to your OH as a mutt

For that you needed a man?!?
No wonder they get so full of themselves.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Ideas-W.../dp/B000VPG64I

No sharing. That is all.