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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Guest ruined carpet

277 replies

DeedlessIndeed · 02/07/2025 12:55

OK, logically I know that this is a minor problem in the grand scheme of things. I know people are facing real issues in the world, but this has really annoyed me.

We have just had new wool carpet fitted in the whole of the upstairs. Saved up for a while as it was expensive (for us). After 5 years of renovation, we finally have the upstairs finished! I was so so happy.

Had parents stay this weekend and left yesterday. They've seen the house in all stages of building site and they know how excited I am to have the upstairs done. I explained that we are being careful to keep it looking nice. And they know we are a slippers only house apart from the hard floors in the hall etc.

Well, I went into their room to do the bedding this morning and can see that they've rolled their dirty suitcase wheels all along the carpet. A bit annoying, but oh well. It's dried so I can hoover it up hopefully. Then I see they've spilled a coffee or dark tea next to the bed. There is a huge splatter mark all over the carpet in front of the beside table. It's also on the skirting board and wall, but I can touch that up at least.

I'm just feeling a bit gutted. If they had an accident then why not say and I could have got on it and stop it staining. I'm regretting not getting a easily cleanable carpet but the fact they didn't mention it is the worst part IYSWIM?

Would you say anything to your parents? They do mean well, but they just don't "get" having nice things and looking after them.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 02/07/2025 12:57

Of course I’d tell them- ‘hey mum/dad, one of you has spilled coffee all over my new carpet, it needs cleaning’

SaturdayDream · 02/07/2025 12:57

I would mention it and ask them to pay for it to be cleaned although wool carpet isn’t easy to clean.

CarmellaSopranosKitchen · 02/07/2025 13:00

I think its sad when this happens to lovely new things - but wheeling suitcases I guess this is generally acceptable. It is a shame about the tea/coffee - maybe they didnt realise. I imagine you might be able to get it out there are stain devils for this type of thing. I personally wouldn't say anything as my parents would be mortified - but you must be the judge of that and how they would respond. Next time I'd say : 'no hot drinks upstairs though.'

Original poster
DeedlessIndeed · 02/07/2025 13:01

I don't think they'd pay to have the carpet cleaned.

I imagine my mum would apologise and offer to come clean it, but make out like I was being a bit precious. They are not house proud at all, and whilst I'm not really either they think it's all a bit silly to waste money on anything remotely nice.

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 02/07/2025 13:02

Do they even realise? DSF always seems to spill or splash something when he stays with DM but he is also blissfully unaware. He'd be mortified if he knew how much extra cleaning I have to do once they leave!

Hotelmotelholidayinnnnnn · 02/07/2025 13:04

They should absolutely pay

dairydebris · 02/07/2025 13:05

I'd be fuming about this. The tea / coffee likely won't come out. The suitcase wheels will.

Time to search for rugs.

I'd text mum saying, Im really upset about you spilling on my new carpet. Why didn't you at least tell me at the time so we could clean up? In future please dont take any food or drink upstairs in my home.

BabyBump1212 · 02/07/2025 13:06

Very rude of them. At least let them know and i'd be considering not having them over again if they can't respect your home.

Original poster
DeedlessIndeed · 02/07/2025 13:09

@CarmellaSopranosKitchen - you are right.
I logically know it is silly to be upset but it's that loss of pristine-ness after only a couple of days.

@BaronessBomburst - hmm... potentially they didn't realise. It would make sense why they didn't say anything. It was to the side of the bed and partially under the bedside table, but it looks like a decent quantity was spilled which makes me think surely they would have realised.

My parents stairs carpet is covered in spills etc. They've never got it cleaned and it was fitted before I left home, many many years ago. I wonder if they just don't register it?

OP posts:
Arrivederla · 02/07/2025 13:10

Try Profoam carpet cleaner op - it really does work; I've just used it to get a big spill of liquid fake tan out of a cream carpet.

Guest ruined carpet
CrescentMoonLanding · 02/07/2025 13:11

I would be very upset. It'd be hard but I would raise it with them yes. So disrespectful not to tell you.

Moveoverdarlin · 02/07/2025 13:11

Get yourself a Bissel Spot Cleaner. It will get a tea or coffee stain out of a wool carpet with ease. I’m sure other brands such as Vax / Shark do them.

But I have the Bissell and it’s saved me on many occasion. It’s got ketchup, felt tips, red wine out of a light carpet. Tea / coffee will be a doddle.

I wouldn’t say anything - it was an accident. If your Mum was pissed and sloshing red wine everywhere then fair enough to give her a telling off, but splashing a bit of tea / coffee down the wall, surely that happens to everyone.

Outrageistheopiateofthemasses · 02/07/2025 13:13

It's your parents so you can be totally honest with them

murasaki · 02/07/2025 13:15

I'd be honest as it's your parents. And a no food and drink upstairs rule.

Original poster
DeedlessIndeed · 02/07/2025 13:16

Thanks everyone. I'm going to look at spot cleaners that will be fine on wool.

OP posts:
Original poster
DeedlessIndeed · 02/07/2025 13:18

@murasaki - I have this rule for myself, DH and DC. I just didn't want to be draconian with guests and wanted them to be comfortable! Time to roll it out to everyone.

OP posts:
ButterCrackers · 02/07/2025 13:19

Tell them that they’re paying for the cleaning and repairs. If they’d have at least cleaned up and told you right away it wouldn’t have been the big problem it is now. Next time they can stay in a hotel.

Rispknee · 02/07/2025 13:22

I don't know. It's annoying in the moment, but a home is to be lived in. If you want it to be pristine never invite anyone over, but what sort of life is that?

In a way, I think your parents are right, if nice thing mean you're going to worry about them, where's the joy in that?

Moveoverdarlin · 02/07/2025 13:28

ButterCrackers · 02/07/2025 13:19

Tell them that they’re paying for the cleaning and repairs. If they’d have at least cleaned up and told you right away it wouldn’t have been the big problem it is now. Next time they can stay in a hotel.

Go careful with this advice OP. If you have a good relationship with your parents this could well and truly bite you in the ass for the sake of a bloody tea stain.

Did they ever babysit your kids OP? Have they helped you out over the years? You reckon your kids have never broken something of theirs? Or when you were living with them you didn’t damage anything?

If I said this to my parents they would say?

’You want us to pay for your carpet to be cleaned? We’ve saved you about 50 grand in childcare? Remember that time you were sick on that posh rug in the lounge or when you had a sleepover and your mate broke Mums vase?

Don’t be a twat and ask them to pay. It’s your Mum and Dad FFS.

JayJayj · 02/07/2025 13:33

I can’t imagine spilling something and not cleaning it up. Especially in someone else’s house. The wheel thing I would accept as unavoidable if the cases were too heavy to lift. The coffee/tea is just rude and gross to be honest.

I would definitely mention that and ask why they didn’t clean it up or ask you to clean it!

pinkyredrose · 02/07/2025 13:34

Rispknee · 02/07/2025 13:22

I don't know. It's annoying in the moment, but a home is to be lived in. If you want it to be pristine never invite anyone over, but what sort of life is that?

In a way, I think your parents are right, if nice thing mean you're going to worry about them, where's the joy in that?

You think her parents are right? If i spilled a drink on someone's new carpet I'd be horrified and immediately clean it up.

I wouldn't expect anyone to enjoy their newly carpeted house with a big stain on that I'd caused and then just left to dry in.

EllieEllie25 · 02/07/2025 13:36

Moveoverdarlin · 02/07/2025 13:11

Get yourself a Bissel Spot Cleaner. It will get a tea or coffee stain out of a wool carpet with ease. I’m sure other brands such as Vax / Shark do them.

But I have the Bissell and it’s saved me on many occasion. It’s got ketchup, felt tips, red wine out of a light carpet. Tea / coffee will be a doddle.

I wouldn’t say anything - it was an accident. If your Mum was pissed and sloshing red wine everywhere then fair enough to give her a telling off, but splashing a bit of tea / coffee down the wall, surely that happens to everyone.

Edited

I was going to say the same thing. I got the small pro heat one after seeing someone use it on Instagram and it’s got a nasty patch of smooshed in chocolate off the sofa and various marks off carpets. It’s fab and no bigger than a bucket.

Your parents sound gross and thoughtless OP, sorry. I would be reluctant to have them stay over again.

Steelworks · 02/07/2025 13:36

They should have mentioned at the time but accidents happen.

Rispknee · 02/07/2025 13:36

pinkyredrose · 02/07/2025 13:34

You think her parents are right? If i spilled a drink on someone's new carpet I'd be horrified and immediately clean it up.

I wouldn't expect anyone to enjoy their newly carpeted house with a big stain on that I'd caused and then just left to dry in.

Show quote history

I would too, but I also think it's easy to splash some coffee without realising at the time. I've noticed there's a tea stain on the wall by my stairs. No idea how it got there, but it will have been me.

I think her parents are right not to place so much importance on keeping things nice. In the scheme of things it really doesn't matter.

Hdpr · 02/07/2025 13:40

Accidents happen, I’d just make sure next time they come you’ve covered the carpet with cheap rugs!