Guest ruined carpet

[DeedlessIndeed]

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.

Apparently, yes it does according to some posters!

This makes OP's parents sound like toddlers who can't help making a mess but who can't be reprimanded.

So many thoughtless or in many cases downright vindictive parents on this thread. I can’t get my head around these family scenarios. Family get togethers must be something you endure rather than enjoy

There was a spillage and marks from suitcase wheels, nothing major. They probably didn't even notice they'd done it.

I wouldn't say anything, never mind reprimand.

Right, I'll get that in writing then... 😁📝

Hardly. OP had said:

'To the PP who said about all my parents do for me such as childcare etc, my parents have not looked after DD apart from one evening when she was a new born when DH and I went out to dinner. It was 90 minutes.'

If that adds up to a £50,000 saving on child care, that must mean that most babysitters and childcare providers charge about £33,000 per hour.

People are just making stuff up about OP's parents to show them in a good light and OP as the villain of the piece. She isn't going to say anything to her parents and she is going to pay a professional carpet cleaner to try and fix the mess that her parents have made. She is allowed to be pissed off.

I'd be miffed by this too, definitely needs a conversation. Beware of some carpet cleaners- I used Vax Carpet Boost Shampoo on a spill on a beige carpet and it bleached the carpet. It's a daily reminder of the spilt drink!

Ooooh that seems all wrong. It was her parents not a lodger, seems a bit unkind. It won't have been done on purpose. I get it it's rubbish it happened but it needs a kind and compassionate reaction.

. . . gravity being a right bastard!

Tea or coffee should come out. Either hire a carpet cleaner or have a go with stain devils etc first - try putting coffee/tea stains on wool carpet into a search, it should come up with something.

@DeedlessIndeed

White vinegar, half and half with water, will get out the coffee/tea stains. Slosh and blot is what I do. You can even use the vinegar neat if necessary, it won’t damage your wool carpet.
I have also used this to get red wine off a cream carpet.
Good luck.

Yes, I don't allow food or drink upstairs these days (adults DC have left home), with the exception of water.

Time for a rule for everyone no drinks apart from water upstairs, l would be upset too, you are not being unreasonable.

you need your own carpet cleaner - the house we rent has pale cream wool carpets and I can't tell you what comes out with carpet cleaning but we have gotten out spag bog before and the cat's constant vomit / hair balls.
We bought this one for half price last Christmas - it has a drying function which I would not be without again.
VAX UK | VAX Smartwash Pet-Design

It’s not illogical to be upset. You have saved for nice things and you value them, you don’t have to apologize for that. I would absolutely express your disappointment to your parents, if they don’t offer to help put things right I’d tell them no food or drink upstairs if they visit again. They need to respect your values and things in your house.

I totally see why you’re so upset. I’d stay calm - as you are! - and say that you found a tea/coffee stain on the carpet in their room. You wish they had told you about it, because, as they know, the carpet was new and it’s so upsetting for it to be damaged so soon. Ask them why they didn’t tell you, and ask them to tell you in future if they damage anything in your house.

You are being very reasonable!!

This

Really? Were her parents ‘kind and compassionate’ by causing the damage then not mentioning it? No. No, they were not.

Did they even notice they had done it?

I was on holiday once many years ago, I came home and found a cigarette burn on my bedroom carpet. My mum was the only person I knew that smoked and she had a key. I was naturally VERY angry but decided not to say anything in the end, not only because it would cause a lot of upset for us both, but it would not remove the burn. Not long after I put locks on my 2 bedroom doors, telling her I was worried about burglars!

FWIW I had wool carpets for 20 years through house parties pre-children, toddlers x2 etc. Vanish carpet cleaner and a load of muslins or tea towels to blot the stains, quite a bit of elbow grease and they always came out. I found them far easier to maintain than the polypropylene ones we had later.

We don’t know that, do we?

They’d have to be pretty un observant not to notice…

and op says they have form for this sort of thing

My parents are both dead. The grief is sickening. Seriously, a spill on a carpet may be a lovely reminder for you when they are long gone. Or Make a joke out of it and get it sorted.

I’ve had this numerous times . And the wall splashes are hard to get out as are the carpet. I’ve bought a small stain strike type carpet thing now.
I’m not sure what age your parents are but as mine got older the splashes definitely got bigger and more . I used to give them the best bedding but eventually bought new best bedding and kept a set for them with all the tea coffee chocolate lipstick shoe polish stains on .

its v v annoying but what can you do . Like you I gave the please be careful but at a certain age they don’t seem to notice .
Even though they have a cleaner their house carpet kitchen fronts doors are all covered in tea coffee and sticky . Nothing you can do really.

You are the second poster telling OP that she should be grateful for them ruining her carpet as the stain can be turned into a shrine after they have died. Her mum is mid-60s so hardly at death's door so it could be decades before the stain stops being an annoying eyesore and becomes a beloved tribute to her dead parents.

Her parents sound quite difficult and self-centred and their relationship is distant. They don't help with childcare at all (apart from babysitting for 90 minutes on one occasion). OP isn't going to speak to her parents about the stain as she doesn't want to upset them, but to expect her to be happy about it is pretty ridiculous.