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Original poster

Help! My housesitting job has gone horribly wrong!

123 replies

Jewel1984 · 08/04/2023 23:11

Hello mumsnetters, I’m a long time lurker but haven’t ever really posted (not sure I’ve ever got anything useful to add to discussions and I tend to ramble on!)
so my family (7 yo old, 4yo and baby) are housesitting at the moment, visiting my sister. The air bnb we had booked pulled out at the last minute, and my sister put a post on her local fb page and the owner of this house responded saying we could stay here and look after their dogs. The house is really lovely and the furnishings are quite high end. The owner seems nice (I haven’t met her face to face tho my sister has) but she seems very highly strung. She went through all the instructions about the dogs, including to take them out to do toilet before bed, which we’ve followed religiously. She also was very adamant we didn’t go into the front living room of the house (which was fine!! )
so yesterday I realised that a coffee cup left on the bench next to the sink (it doesn’t have a metal drained) has stained the terazzo worktop. I’ve tried a load of (gentle) cleaning and nothing has worked. I’ve ordered a specific terazzo cleaner product and will try that when it comes. Woke up this morning and one of the dogs had somehow gotten into the bin and chewed a used nappy, and done a big yellow wee and poo on the ‘good room’ white rug (there’s no door you can shut) and I’ve cleaned it with carpet cleaner I found in the cupboard but I’ll have to have another go. Finally, my son has broken one of her son’s toys. This all sounds as if we’re a family of brutes and that’s not the case! I’ve managed to source the exact toy in a local shop and have done click and collect for Monday (they are back Wednesday)
I am EXTREMELY anxious now - the absolute last thing I wanted to do was wreck her house!! Any tips on how to approach the subject with her? We’ll be gone by the time she gets back. Needless to say I’ll never be housesitting again, and I don’t want to cause her distress, I feel like she is the kind of person who will find this all upsetting.
I should add there are people in our house doing the same thing (though we have no pets) and I am very chill about it - though our house isn’t as high end as this one!
sorry for the Ted talk 🙈🙈🙈

OP posts:
HarlanPepper · 09/04/2023 06:33

Not helpful, but what is the point of a kitchen surface that stains so easily? Do people who buy this stuff not actually use their kitchens?

CantBeArsedOrAsked · 09/04/2023 06:37

3 young children in a house with unknown dogs is a disaster waiting to happen.

You'll be lucky to get away with just a stained worktop and rug and a broken toy

IssyJ · 09/04/2023 06:37

For the worktop, try Faber no mac gel stain remover. I've seen it recommended and do incredible things!

Rainallnight · 09/04/2023 06:41

OP, I really feel for you. SO stressful. We stayed in a friend’s highly decorated and be-ornamented house when DS was 3 and it’s a bloody miracle we ‘only’ broke a couple of tiny things. I was so stressed the entire stay. My friend has offered us the house subsequently and I’ve turned it down because my nerves couldn’t take it.

And another one here thinking Man Vs Bee!

marzipansux · 09/04/2023 06:42

vinegar and bicarb on the (white? I'm hoping carpet).
Then rinse and as a pp said if it' s a rug drag it out to the sun.
Definitely block the "good " room . Just use dining room chairs. What breed of dogs are they? If they are little just use a clothes airer or something.
Don't worry about the nappy if it's been more than 24 hours - they'd be dead by now or appearing very unwell if there was a blockage. Check with vet via phone though to confirm. Also definitely depends what type of dog it is. My lab ate most of the end of an electric plug last night and is bouncing around. Blew the damn safety fuse though.
You've sorted the toy so cross that off your list.
Have you tried toothpaste on the terrazzo - damn stupid surface for a kitchen countertop.
Use an actual toothbrush and actual WHITE toothpaste.
Are you sure it wasn't there before you arrived? The stain?
Best wishes!

Jojobalone · 09/04/2023 06:46

WizdomE · 09/04/2023 06:30

I would leave a letter and a contact number. So you can discuss it in person. And ultimately unless you agreed to pay for damage, I would guide her to house insurance. That is what it is there for.

What this woman doesn’t realise in all likelihood

that by having an unknown family stay in her house to dog sit… she has utterly invalidated her home insurance

MrsHsGirl · 09/04/2023 06:49

I have one of these ridiculous work tops too - I find that the Pink Stuff usually gets this type of stain out so that's worth a try!

lottie2888 · 09/04/2023 07:07

We have granite and not sure if it’s the same thing but the gutters told us to use CiF ( the thing that used to be JIF) and it is like a miracle.

lottie2888 · 09/04/2023 07:12

That should have said fitters not gutters and also I have found out it’s not granite it’s quartz. But maybe you could still try?

Shouldbeworkingnotreadingtalk · 09/04/2023 07:16

For the worktop use some bleach ... we are always staining ours, bleach works fine ;-). . Neat, leave on for 5 minutes, thoroughly wash off. Repeat if needed. 100% works.
Good luck ;)

thegrain · 09/04/2023 07:19

Apologise and offer to pay all bills

Yerroblemom1923 · 09/04/2023 07:20

If she has dogs she can't be that precious about her house, OP.
Two options: own up and offer to pay for the damage or
Say nothing and hope she doesn't notice the damage.

Roselilly36 · 09/04/2023 07:23

Cif is amazing for worktop stains.

Inkypinkee · 09/04/2023 07:24

I use bleach on my white worktop too, it’s great for organic stains. I find detol mold and mildew bleach amazing for worktop stains.

Ludo19 · 09/04/2023 07:25

Simonjt · 08/04/2023 23:25

Ah thats a bugger, if the dog has eaten a nappy they do need to see a vet. Fingers crossed the cleaner works when it arrives.

This

The dog needs to see a vet if it's eaten a nappy or other contents out the bin. That is a VERY expensive mistake.

Likewhatever · 09/04/2023 07:25

DH spilt a full mug of coffee on our pale sitting room carpet. We got it out completely with Vanish Gold Foam. The secret is spray, rub in, then stand on the stain and blot, blot, blot. Be prepared to lose a towel and a kitchen roll or two, and tread it out. Good luck!

Mammillaria · 09/04/2023 07:26

For the rug you really need to be physically 'lifting' and removing the dirt when you clean it. If you are still struggling I would highly recommend a spot-cleaning mini carpet cleaning machine. We have this one and I spotted a similar one by Vax for £99.

I have a dog and children and I couldn't live without mine.

No recommendations for the worktop I'm afraid, but be careful of following well meaning advice on this thread without checking whether it will damage it. Maybe try phoning a company who supply/fit these worktops for advice?

dew141 · 09/04/2023 07:40

HarlanPepper · 09/04/2023 06:33

Not helpful, but what is the point of a kitchen surface that stains so easily? Do people who buy this stuff not actually use their kitchens?

My granite worktop sometimes stains. Can be something random like flower pollen.

If the other tips don't work you could try flooding it out by leaving a pool of water on top of the stain. If the worktop absorbs the water, it might dilute the stain. Don't leave for days though - our granite worktop is permanently darker around the sink area.

Toomanylosthours · 09/04/2023 07:41

HermioneKipper · 09/04/2023 00:31

As for the carpet try doctor beckmans carpet cleaner - has got ground in toddler shit out of our carpets. Along with cat sick and various other grim stuff.

I second Dr Beckhams for dog poop and vomit, plus red wine and muddy feet marks

dew141 · 09/04/2023 07:44

On the carpet stain, I like the vanish products (although they can slightly bleach the area). But the last time we had the carpets professionally cleaned, the man made such a big thing of how he could get out any stain except where vanish had been used (he recommended washing up liquid).

He then proceeded to puff and sigh his way through my house muttering about how awful Vanish was. I did wonder whether it was a ruse to avoid getting the stains out himself.

May09Bump · 09/04/2023 07:46

This for the worktops on kitchen towel - removes coffee and red wine from ours without scratching Method Granite & Marble Cleaner and I'd get a carpet cleaner to come in for the dog pee. Toy is sorted, well done.

Very stressful!

CaveatmTOR · 09/04/2023 07:47

I used to house sit through an agency. After eight gigs I stopped. It was too much pressure and anxiety and also people with haunted houses can't get friends or relatives to sit and that is where the likes of professional sitters come in.

Mammillaria · 09/04/2023 07:50

and also people with haunted houses can't get friends or relatives to sit and that is where the likes of professional sitters come in

Ummmm WHAT? 💀

surreygirl1987 · 09/04/2023 07:51

Oh you poor thing. That would stress me out no end. Reallt hope the advice on here works.

Schnooze · 09/04/2023 07:51

How stressful.

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