The block of flats where I live has a well supplied common laundry facility. There are shelves in place, and for a while now, like other residents I've left my laundry powder and pegs close to where I use them. Just recently my laundry powder has been going down rather rapidly, and this evening I watched another resident 'borrow' some, stashing it in a container and carrying it off home. Now, if I wanted to replace my laundry powder with something interesting that looked like laundry powder, but wasn't - what would you suggest? Not dangerous or injurious - I'd just like to teach the naughty one a wee lesson.
Any suggestions?
iluvmuse,
Feb 17, 10:55pm
Cove Bond (plaster adhesive) would make a nice mess. Will stuff the washer though
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 17, 10:59pm
No, I don't want to do that - nice image though thank you!
shanreagh,
Feb 17, 11:01pm
Epsom salts, salt, borax or washing soda mixed in with some laundry powder.
Or get one of those dummy security cameras accompanied by notices about being filmed.
Or bring it up at a residents meeting and ask for solutions - make sure the offender is there.
howgoodisit,
Feb 17, 11:12pm
Mix like 75% sugar. but seriously just do plaster dust or similar.
Maybe change to liquid and but bleach in it.
No problem whatsoever if you write your name on it and "do not use".
iluvmuse,
Feb 17, 11:18pm
Chlorine granules (for swimming pools) would give their clothes a nuclear bleaching without destroying the washer. My Countdown sells it in small tubs.
aj.2.,
Feb 18, 12:29am
Ha ha, OP, that reminds me of years ago , when in drilling, we used a product that was a jellying agent used to thicken up the water, used to bring up the drill cuttings. It was hell to get off clothing or hands, it stuck like sh!t to a blanket. . One of the lads put some in a shampoo bottle and left in the hotel shower, and next morning it , at breakfast it Sure Was easy to see Who had used it. That person was not a Happy camper. It was hard for us guys to sit in the same room and not laugh, at his rant and raving about it. We got out of there as fast as we could, into work trucks, splitting our sides laughing.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 18, 2:03am
I just want the naughty one to know someone is onto her. That should stop her with luck. I like the chlorine idea, but I'd use so little it'd be a waste. Epsom salts though and sugar. that's a good idea.
Gee, I hope I'm not making a bomb here. I failed 4th form chemistry.
zak410,
Feb 18, 2:20am
cold dye?
budgel,
Feb 18, 2:24am
Some sort of dye powder would be good.
mercbens,
Feb 18, 2:31am
How about a bit of flour mixed in with it?
shanreagh,
Feb 18, 2:44am
Well salt you know, sugar you know.
'Epsom salt has been traditionally used as a component of bath salts. Epsom salt can also be used as a beauty product. Athletes use it to soothe sore muscles, while gardeners use it to improve crops. It has a variety of other uses. Epsom salt is also effective in the removal of splinters.'
Washing soda or sodium carbonate is well known domestically for its everyday use as a water softener.
Borax i would probably leave out and it may be harder to get. Here are some uses of borax powder and pure borax in water:
insect killer, particularly in roach killing products and as moth-preventative (10% solution on wool) fungicide herbicide desiccant laundry booster household cleaner
The thing about water softeners is that they enhance the action of detergents so putting them in might make bubbles galore as the water would be so soft.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 18, 2:54am
The concrete floor could do with a wash.
tmenz,
Feb 18, 2:58am
Just put an empty box up there and include an unsigned IOU for a 'quantity of washing powder' and a dotted line at the bottom! Or just a note stating - 'Please refill'
brightlights60,
Feb 18, 3:08am
What about putting a wee suprise in an empty box or container? Like a big rubber spider. Lol. Wife used to work in a hospital and put it in the bins of packed sterile packets of bandages etc. She knew when the level would be down to a certain amount and sure enough, there was always a squalk followed by the usual language! Or you could put a non drying ink or paint on the box so that the fingers of the cuprit were marked. Then ask inocently if she knows where the powder has gone. You could refill it with something harmless like icing sugar or maybe sugar with a bit of food colouring in it. Won't harm the machine but will give her clothes a distinct tinge.
books4nz,
Feb 18, 9:05am
So you don't use anything that could damage the washing machine. how about baking soda, or something that will froth a lot, with bubbles coming up out of the machine.
pauldw,
Feb 18, 12:53pm
if you saw it happen why didn't you confront the thief at the time? Being clever with fake powder will just shift the target to someone else's stash.
laspaz,
Feb 18, 12:55pm
I saw the title, and the common laundry part and decided we were dealing with a panty thief. Kinda pleased and disappointed to read on and see that was not the case. lol
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 18, 4:32pm
Probably because I was some distance away, and really? I don't care that much. I did find it rather funny that someone wants to nick laundry powder. But now I think it's a bit sad too eh.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 18, 4:33pm
No one would want anything to do with ours, lol.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 18, 4:34pm
While dreaming up good responses is fun, it's much easier just to remove temptation. And be wary.
thea4,
Feb 18, 4:58pm
Either don't leave tthe box in the laundry or write on it personal property please replace what you have taken or if you have a body corp mention it to them
mechnificent,
Feb 19, 8:38pm
Hunni. Do you really want to get into a possible vendeta situation with a thief ?
Either get some evidence, photo, record the level and have it confirmed before and after the thief goes into the laundry, and then confront them very publicly with it, or, go to all the neighbors and ask them to keep a look out for your stuff, explain there's a theif and perhaps hint who it is. Don't mention names unless you can prove it. When you are talking to the good neighbors, also speak to the thief and tell them same thing, that you are going around telling everyone there is a thief, and ask the thief to watch out for your stuff. It will stop.
mechnificent,
Feb 19, 8:40pm
Most importantly Hunni. you will have taught the thief a lesson. that they will be detected, that people will get onto them.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 19, 8:48pm
No, I don't intend doing anything beyond the very simple. I'll use up the rest of the powder, and replace the empty box closed with a piece of paper inside with a single word clearly visible to anyone who opens it. And that's all I'll do. All I need to do really. It is fascinating though, the domestic dramas that take place in this quiet little backwater. I could write a book. In fact should, lol.
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