Rat party on a high chair

[Pinkchicken85]

Hello all! Thought I’d post here as I don’t know if I’m being over the top or not. We’re not that flush at the moment so could really do without another expense.
When we moved into our new house a few months ago I put our high chair into the shed in the garden. Fast forward to today when I went to get it to clean it I noticed rat crap on it and a bit of mould... maybe some pee else where too... basically the neighbourhood rats have been using it as a playground. Regretting not covering it... oh well you live and learn.

I’m very inclined to get rid, as I think bleach can only do so much. My husband thinks we can clean it and use it.

So tell me
No: I’m not being unreasonable, rat excrement and mould are hard to totally get rid off and a baby will eating off that surface.

Yes; your being unreasonable, just give it a good wash and bleach.

Definitely get a new highchair. I personally wouldn't like the thought of mould/dirt/etc on highchair and for sake of £20 get a new one.

We replaced all padded bits on ours for dc3. Perhaps get new paddinging and straps

@VelvetChairGirl

Just clean it, its just a bit of animal poo and piss, they are doing it all over the soil your food grows in you know.

and if you wear shoes in the house your constantly walking animal piss and shit around your home thats stuck to your shoes

This.

It’s fine.

I can't vote. I'd feel the same as you, in fact I'd want it incinerated. Sorry to the animal lovers but I hate mice and rats. However being practical, I would send your husband out with rubber gloves, face mask and goggles and make him scrub it with bleach and boiling water. After he has done that you Don the protective gear and finish it off properly. I would also get some good old sticky back plastic and cover the tray in it plus if you can find a kids waterproof/painting apron I would hot glue that to the seat/cushioning. Hmm reading back, it might be cheaper just to buy a very basic one 🤔

Bin it and buy a new one

@Pinkchicken85

Plastic Chico monstrosity. So many nooks and crannies... to those who suggested IKEA... good idea but I live in a very rural area... nearest IKEA is about an hour and a half away and last time I tried to buy one of those 15€ high chairs they’d sold out ... everywhere.

Put it in the bath/shower. Scrub, bleach and rinse with the shower hose. That should get into most of the nooks and crannies.

Its perfectly OK to clean it and use it. Soap and dettol and you're all set.

Anybody who lives in an old house, or ancient furniture, toys, or even, vintage clothing. needs to remember that in its past history, it was very unhygienic, people died in it, it had various infestations, it literally survived wars, and yet today it's still a safe happy home fit to live in .

There are specific diseases that rats carry that are a H&S Hazard and as such I would be inclined to get rid and look at getting something new. Don't store kids stuff in the shed, get the ratcatcher out and move on

Leptospirosis

Some people on here have said hot water and bleach. I thought bleach had to be used with cold water only. I just googled it and found this "Cold water should be used for dilution as hot water decomposes the active ingredient of bleach and renders it ineffective."

So cold water with bleach.

Personally I'd throw it away as I'd always be thinking about that rat poo! You can get the ilea ones on Amazon I think.

I have pretty low standards but I think this would put me off. Its not expensive to replace.

I would send your husband out with rubber gloves, face mask and goggles and make him scrub it with bleach and boiling water. After he has done that you Don the protective gear and finish it off properly

Why would OP need to "finish it off properly"?

If her husband has scrubbed it with bleach and boiling water, what would she need to do to "finish it off properly"?

Why couldn't he finish it off properly?

DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND HOT WATER

Sorry, just putting that there in capitals in the hope that people see it. Hot water makes bleach less effective, you need cold water.

If you're bothered about icky stuff then how could you have put it in the shed in the first place!

Bleach can do it all, but it may always give you ick.

Not read the entire thread but rat wee is very dangerous and can make an adult very ill. It gets in via the mouth and eyes. Get rid immediately.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/leptospirosis/

Try argos, Halford, smythes toys, the range or the larger supermarkets like asda.

@stealthninjamum

Rationally I know your husband is right, bleach would get rid of germs and mould but I couldn’t let my baby eat off it so I’d chuck it out

Me too. Irrational, I suppose, but I would never trust the chair.

Weil's disease is terrifying, dispose of it.

I'd like to say "just clean it, you can can rid of the germs". but if it were me I'd always think of the rat party that happened on it. Mind you, we had a rat problem in our walls (now sorted thank god) and so I have a bit of a thing about them..
I'd probably look for an IKEA one second hand, loads on fb marketplace near where I am.

Omg just chuck it away.

It’s a highchair, ikea sells the best one for £14 but you can get them for free on marketplace. Why even attempt to save one covered in rat shit unless it’s a £250 one or something…

I'd personally get a new one, they carry all kind of diseases

Rats carry disease in their urine, no way would I keep, dump it and replace.

I'd bin it, even if I cleaned it within an inch of its life I'd still imagine it had rat poo and pee on it.