Can someone explain why my upstairs neighbors....

[stanthedevil]

...were vaccuuming at 1:30am???

Luckily, I was still up watching Heroes. Otherwise, I would not be a happy camper.*

*When I first moved into the apartment, the neighbors did this all the time.  They would noisely leave (doors slamming, stomping footsteps, yelling and shrieking) for destinations unknown about 11:00pm (waking me up) and then return between 1:30am and 2:00am (waking me up).  After which time they would vaccuum their apartment (waking me up). Thankfully, when I complained to the owner, she sent out a general memo reminding residents about being respectful of quiet hours (10:00pm - 7:00am).

[housewife2k]

When I lived in an appartment I was guilty of vacuuming and other somewhat noisy housecleaning at odd hours of the night/morning, but as soon as my neighbor let me know they could hear me, I stopped. Having small children, sometimes the only time I can effectively clean is the middle of the night. I am not trying to excuse their behaviour, but maybe they aren't aware of how well the noise travels?

[Chocolate Cake]

You could always handle it like I did when noisy "neighbors" at a hotel kept up their ruckus until 2:00am.   Bright and early the next morning when I got up, I turned the TV around to where the speaker faced the wall, turned up the volume, and then went to take a nice, long shower.   

[stanthedevil]

I am not trying to excuse their behaviour, but maybe they aren't aware of how well the noise travels?

While that may be a valid excuse, they should be aware of how well sound travels since both the neighbors next to them and myself have spoke with them about certain *ahem* extra-curricular activities and how well sound travels in the apartments.  They just seem to have poor short term memory.

[housewife2k]

I am not trying to excuse their behaviour, but maybe they aren't aware of how well the noise travels?

While that may be a valid excuse, they should be aware of how well sound travels since both the neighbors next to them and myself have spoke with them about certain *ahem* extra-curricular activities and how well sound travels in the apartments.  They just seem to have poor short term memory.

Nope-no excuses then, once you've been told, especially by more than one person, you need to adjust your behaviour accordingly. This is just plain rudeness on their part. Make sure you lodge a complaint each time it happens, and have your neighbors and their neighbors do the same if the problem persists. Management generally takes noise complaint into consideration when deciding to offer an extension on a lease.