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AIBU?

To replace piss soaked mattress

55 replies

MintBaileysMilkshake · 18/11/2013 10:00

I think our houseguest pissed the bed in the spare room. One side is musty and soaked through to the mattress (through sheets, mattress topper and mattress itself!). I'm trying to be kind and think maybe he just suffers from night sweats possibly...but realistically it's piss.

Anyway, will replace bedding and mattress topper. What I'm wondering about is the mattress itself. It's a bloody nice, expensive one. Do I need to replace it? Or what else can I do. I need to get it completely clean and unpissy as I sometimes sleep in it with my new baby. Fuck fuck fuck!

Houseguest is in slightly poor health, which may explain, so obviously I won't make a song and dance about it, but I could cry.

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StealthPolarBear · 18/11/2013 10:03

Ugh. Replace I think. Which reminds me I still need to replace kids' mattresses

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DameDeepRedBetty · 18/11/2013 10:05

I'm sorry, I don't think it's curable. Replace.

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Whatisaweekend · 18/11/2013 10:05

Surely your house guest should be replacing it?? I know you say they are in 'slightly poor health' but still. Quite an expensive thing to have to replace...

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LoofahVanDross · 18/11/2013 10:06

replace - you could just get a cheapy if just for guests, then if it happens again not such a great expense.

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CocacolaMum · 18/11/2013 10:07

Gross, they should be offering to pay though

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Jinty64 · 18/11/2013 10:08

Replace and cover with waterproof sheet so that this doesn't happen again.

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Shonajoy · 18/11/2013 10:09

Did they turn the mattress? I think that's a foul thing to do, and not to mention it, despite being in poor health.

They should offer to replace.

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Notcontent · 18/11/2013 10:13

No matter how embarrassing, the house guest should have told you. And if I was in poor health and ran risk of wetting myself then I would take appropriate measures. But that's besides the point I guess...

I think you need to replace it unfortunately. I would be pretty upset too.

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steppemum · 18/11/2013 10:31

My Mum has had mattresses steam cleaned. A company came in and steam cleaned them in her house (2 mattresses I think), they were sort of instantly dry, and it removed smells and stains and leaves them sterile.

Can't remember why she did it, but it was cheaper than replacing with good mattresses.

You don't need to throw away bedding and mattress topper if they are washable, wash in hottest wash possible, bleach if you feel the need, but once washed should be nice and clean. Wash twice if necessary.

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Katinkia · 18/11/2013 10:36

Agree with Steppemum. Although I've never heard of this steam clean thing. My autistic son is 13 and still wets the bed. Expensive and good mattress protectors are definitely the way to go. Quality sheets that will stand being washed over and over at hot temps also.

Well that's not what you were asking about really but I think I'd either do this steam thing or buy a new one and get protectors. I wouldn't ask the friend to pay but you would be in your rights to do so.

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steppemum · 18/11/2013 10:56

I think the company did beds in old peoples homes, so they needed to be smell free and guaranteed sterile.

(although thinking about it, wouldn't beds be plastic covered?)

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MintBaileysMilkshake · 18/11/2013 10:59

Thank you, I'll look into the steam cleaner. I'm trying not to let myself get angry about this...could scream though. Guest came down for breakfast not even slightly embarrassed, or maybe didnt realise

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DeepThought · 18/11/2013 11:04

Dont organise replacement til guest is gorn

poor you

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GideonKipper · 18/11/2013 11:09

Surely they couldn't not realise they'd wet themselves? Their nightstuff would be wet, the sheets they were lying on were wet! Maybe it was just sweat? I say just like that's nothing, but you know what I mean.

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ophiotaurus · 18/11/2013 11:18

My husband sweats a lot and the bed is always damp in the morning so have to air it (nice). It doesn't smell like pee though :-/

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MintBaileysMilkshake · 18/11/2013 11:50

Hmm well the patch of damp is somewhat localised to the upper middle of one side of the bed...and the smell is, musty slash stale brown sugary (sorry!) not ammonia like, although it might be quite fresh. Any thoughts on what that could be? A spilt drink??

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SootikinAndSweep · 18/11/2013 11:56

Spilled Coke?

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MintBaileysMilkshake · 18/11/2013 12:05

Is there any way I can know for sure?

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gobbynorthernbird · 18/11/2013 12:17

If you don't want to steam clean, John Lewis has 'value' mattresses that are really good for occasional use. Our spare was £100 or so for a king size.

But poor you. Who does that and doesn't tell their host?

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SootikinAndSweep · 18/11/2013 12:34

Can you ask your guest whether they spilled a drink? If it was a spilled drink I wouldn't replace the mattress, unless it was something like a milkshake.

I've sponged DD's mattress and aired it. If you're already thinking it's ruined experimenting with a wet cloth and some washing detergent can't make it worse!

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girlywhirly · 18/11/2013 12:35

I would soak the sheets and mattress protector in biological laundry solution, and then wash as usual. I think it would smell quite obviously of ammonia if it was urine.

I think the steam cleaning sounds a good idea for the mattress itself, and buy a good waterproof mattress cover to use thereafter. You can get some very discreet ones that just look like the quilted-top styles, so guests wouldn't realise. Occasionally sleeping in it with the new baby, did you not worry about nappy leaks or sickness soaking through? Or you possibly leaking milk or a maternity pad fail?

I used to have a waterproof mattress cover on our guest bed, especially when elderly FIL stayed in case of accidents, he never had any, but better to be prepared and in the event be able to genuinely tell him not to panic that he had ruined the mattress.

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seriouslion · 18/11/2013 13:52

Spilled tea? I think you'd be able to smell urine.

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Gruntfuttock · 18/11/2013 13:57

I think you'll have to ask your guest what it is. I'm not sure why you haven't already.

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MintBaileysMilkshake · 18/11/2013 14:06

Yes I guess I will have to ask, I don't know why I feel awkward about it

There's a definite smell, like I said sugary, quite strong but musty not ammonia like, although the mustiness is increasing as day goes on. The mattress protector has a wet patch that is yellow around the perimeter and it's still damp. The whole room smells like this and it certainly didnt before. Not sure coke would do that, and pretty sure he only took water to bed.

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ratspeaker · 18/11/2013 14:13

If it was urine you'd smell it, even more so after a few hours.

Sponge down the area on the mattress with bicarbonate solution,dab with towel or paper towels and leave to air dry. You could use a hairdryer to speed things up
Wash the bedding.

Invest in a water resistant mattress protector, can be found on Amazon or in Argos,tesco and the like

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