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AIBU?

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What could this be? Panicking a little

63 replies

Muchadobird · 05/01/2026 03:45

My son (10) was just sat on sofa and about for me to come and he’s covered in some sort of yellowish foamy/sandy substance. Pic attached. Cannot figure out what this can be?!
for context, son been there for past hour, just reading. The substance is all in his hair and covering his body and clothing from head to foot. When he stood up there was a mark/outline where he’d been sat as though the substance fell on his or originated on him. He’s showered and washed his hair. I’ve throughly hoovered sofa- the substance was difficult to Hoover out in one go, took a few goes over to get it all up. There nothing on the ceiling above where he was at- it’s all smooth, clean and white. Google reverse image search and general google is unhelpful. Anyone seen this before and any clue?

OP posts:
BrownyMousy · 07/01/2026 18:19

CountryMouse22 · 07/01/2026 16:30

what is a ranch slider?

I think it's the NZ equivalent of a patio door.

CountryMouse22 · 07/01/2026 16:30

WinterWooliesBaa · 05/01/2026 04:40

Was the ranch slider open?

what is a ranch slider?

BunnyLake · 07/01/2026 12:02

Have you kept a sample of it?

TwinklyWrinkly · 07/01/2026 11:32

I'm afraid I'm another one who thinks your son knows and just doesn't want to say. Unless he is very ND, a 10 year old, even engrossed in a book would feel a gust of wind from an open door and / or feel things landing on him.

thewillandtheway · 07/01/2026 11:25

That’s the foam kind of material found inside the stress / squishy toys. Like these:

What could this be? Panicking a little
Skybluepinky · 07/01/2026 11:19

Your son knows what it is, but is too scared to say you, looks like they have pulled something apart. Hope you get to the bottom of what it is.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 07/01/2026 11:13

It’s deteriorating foam. If you take the cover off you’ll see the stockingette will have moved or deteriorated abd the foam will then be accessible through the zip or a hole or something.

IwishIcouldconfess · 07/01/2026 11:09

Why are you panicking?

HScully · 07/01/2026 10:54

user98732 · 07/01/2026 10:41

This - at 10 years old he knows but isn't saying. He's probably absentmindedly picked at something like the inside of the sofa and knows he shouldn't have.

this 100% he is having you on

Bess91 · 07/01/2026 10:49

He's not 2, he can tell you what it is himself.

user98732 · 07/01/2026 10:41

tinybeautiful · 06/01/2026 13:42

Oh come on, your son knows what this is! He popped or picked or shredded something.

This - at 10 years old he knows but isn't saying. He's probably absentmindedly picked at something like the inside of the sofa and knows he shouldn't have.

TeeBee · 07/01/2026 09:38

Try sitting on the sofa again for a while and see what happens.

Imgoingtobefree · 07/01/2026 08:41

I thought I had mad dandruff! It was flick from taking down my artificial Christmas tree.

Parsleyforme · 07/01/2026 08:35

Is it near the door/window and could’ve blown in? If not, it looks like the foam cushion of the sofa has disintegrated, they go really crumbly when they get old

sofaquery · 07/01/2026 08:25

Did he get sprayed / splattered by the sea? Sea salt?

Lupin61190 · 07/01/2026 07:12

Gust of wind through the open door spread some pollen stuff? or a bird flew in and deposited it?

WhatTheDemographic · 07/01/2026 04:55

Does it dissolve into powder? Pollen? Only on him? Nowhere else?

SouthernNights59 · 07/01/2026 04:26

To me it looks like either pollen, or foam stuffing.

mondaytosunday · 06/01/2026 14:32

If it looks like pollen and your doors are open then that’s what it is. Is it on the floor or anywhere else?

tinybeautiful · 06/01/2026 13:42

Oh come on, your son knows what this is! He popped or picked or shredded something.

Jessbow · 05/01/2026 06:53

Looks like foam disintergrating inside the grey cover

Upcyled · 05/01/2026 06:38

It looks like the stuff inside the kids squishy rubber toys. Does he have one of those?

Muchadobird · 05/01/2026 05:42

No odour. Dog is clean, she had a wash after the walk as had been in the sea. And she was outside at the time of spotting this. no established trees in garden. Just small lemon and mandarin trees and bay tree and banana palms much farther back. And a veg plot with tomatoes, blueberries. peppers and herbs but agin not near open doors.

OP posts:
Glitchymn1 · 05/01/2026 05:20

Pollen? What trees do you have close by? Does it smell? Anything on the fog?