A year and half ago, two people (middle aged couple) moved next door to my parents. My parents had been living there at our house for 16+ years now. This is in a suburban neighborhood. Here's the problem:

The neighbor washes their laundry EXTREMELY OFTEN (several times a week and sometimes multiple times a day) and they use large amounts of fabric softener. So when they dry, the air is filled with the smell of fabric softener. That "fragrance" stinks! I mean, in little amounts, fine, but this is REALLY STRONG! And it lasts for a long time (they dry for a long time). We believe they are not washing their own clothes, but he's washing stuff from his barber shop (he's a barber). We can smell it from inside our garage with the garage door and back door closed!

This house next door is actually not theirs, they then rent it from the owner. We have tried to talk to them (the neighbor) with no success. We have tried to talk to the owner, no success. We have consulted with a lawyer on this issue, but the lawyer doesn't think we have a case - because what he's doing is techincally not illegal. We've contacted the police and they were not sure what they could do either.

Many people has come and went in the house next door, and we have never had this problem until these people moved in.

Please give some level headed advice.

TIA,
-diskoe

 

Not exactly a friendly way to deal with it, but it sounds like you may be past that anyway. I believe there is usually an exhaust pipe that runs the "fumes" from the drier to outside. You could duct tape that closed. Then again, I definitely did not just tell you to do that so you must have heard it from a little birdie or something! :-)

 

that is what mafia can do now..!! let 'em tell them, "get outa here"....

 

Call the local health department and report a public nuisance. Request that they conduct an inspection.

 

What about asking the owner to run PVC from the existing exhaust vent all the way to the roof? That way, the fumes are vented up & away from everyone. It wouldn't cost that much, heck, you could offer to pay for it yourself.

 

I think S2KFanatic's idea is ideal, especially for a good relationship with the renter.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2KFanatic
[B]What about asking the owner to run PVC from the existing exhaust vent all the way to the roof?

 

Go to the neighborhood association. They'll hopefully do something about it.

 

well.... since theres a such a thing as noise pollution.. why can't there be a smell pollution? go to the cops again and file that their strong smelling stuff is bothering you from your everyday life. remember, your freedom goes only as far till it bothers the next person, and since hes bothering you, hes stepping into your terrtory now. Just like if there was a huge ass pile of shit all over some dude's law and stinking up the whole street, cops would do something bout it. they would have to do something bout it here now. and what raptor said, thats a good idea.

 

If all else fails, just make a stink of your own in your backyard or house. I think they'll come to an agreement fairly quickly. ;P

You could try a) a can of paint thinner or wood stain being left open outside near their house, b) ammonia, c) dog crap (if you have a dog)...

Just an idea. I don't advocate "getting even" at all, but sometimes you have to put them into your shoes to get some cooperation.