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.

But I'm sure the OP would feel the same had she been given the chance to 'just clean it up'. Not saying anything is hugely disrespectful.

You're not being at all unreasonable, OP.

What type of carpet pile is it? If it's a cut pile carpet you might be able to cut the stain out and replace it.

vm.tiktok.com/ZNdftCLmE/

Yes fair point, her parents should have let her know. Maybe they hadn't noticed?

Thankfully she hasn't said anything to them but she was contemplating doing so, that was the question in the initial post.

True though.

Well your parents sound lovely

🤔

I am in the South East but not London

It’s new, may still benefit from whatever they treat new wool with & follow the manufacturer instructions

ask parents what stain is to you know how to treat it. (coffee tea has tannins which are difficult & may reappear later)

Woolite foam works well, have plenty of white cloths for blotting

Exactly my thoughts! Stunned anyone would demand cleaning fees from their parents, that's absolutely WILD to me

What i find wild is that her parents did this, didn't tell her and have potentially ruined a £1000 carpet! And the OP is supposed to keep quiet? Fuck that

Agree with those who say what the hell to the suggestion that you tell your parents to pay?!?! I am cringing at the thought. I'm actually cringing at the thought of telling adult guests 'no food or drinks upstairs'. This carpet is going to cost you a lot more stress and embarrassment than any carpet could ever be worth. Get yourself some lino and chill out.

And what I find the most wild of all is to get a carpet cleaning company in to remove a coffee stain without trying seriously to get it out yourself. Unless I’ve missed something, I don’t think the OP has said her parents caused the damage deliberately, so it’s entirely possible that they didn’t notice.

But even if it was an accident, there's no way they didn't know they had spilled it

@Idontjetwashthefucker Well we don’t know that. As my mum got a bit older she never noticed when she spilt things, and she had always been really houseproud,. I think it’s entirely possible that the OP’s parents really didn’t notice.

People don’t notice when a cup falls onto the floor and splashes liquid up the wall, and they then have to pick it up from the floor? They don’t notice that?

There’s no way they didn’t realise. I’d be so upset.

My parents house sat for us (suited them because they had many friends in our area but had moved 5 hours away for dad’s job back in the day. They’d had friends over, no issue, but one friend had broken a stained glass wine glass and the manufacturer had stopped producing them. I was gutted. My bf gave me the set.

Am I alone in thinking that adults taking food and drink upstairs is unusual? Maybe because my parents never did, so I never have. I see lots of pp moaning on here about dc taking food/drinks upstairs and making a mess.

I always have a cup of tea in bed in the morning when not working

use a tray though

It could be worse. At least there's a chance professional cleaning may remove the stain, and at least the problem is localised to one room

I remember as a child my parents had just had new carpet fitted all through the hallway, up the stairs and on both landings. It was a large period semi with three storeys so this was no small undertaking.

Three weeks later my granny visited. For some reason she decided to 'help' by cleaning something upstairs. She filled a bucket with dilute bleach in the kitchen and carried it through the hall, up the stairs and across the landing. The bucket had a fairly large hole in it.

We learned some new words that day! 🫣

I have a beautiful cream wool carpet like yours and its had bright red lipstick smushed into it by my 2 year old which the carpet cleaners were able to sort without much trouble so try not to worry. I've had to get used to watching my mum and step father going up the carpeted stairs to the loo in the past in their walking trainers. I've tried to tell them but the idea and effort of having to remove them seemed quite beyond them (they were older than yours and proper country bumpkin walkers) so I've just put it down to a different generation. I guess if they were going to be popping in all the time that would be a different matter. I sympathise though as if you've felt misunderstood or worse still mocked or disrespected thats not good. I also empathise re loosing the pristineness but again its unavoidable and you'll get over it. I'd been looking forward to getting my awful hallway decorated for years and spent month's planning colours and accessories. On the day the painter finished, and it looked beautiful for a few hours - the bulders returned to re fix the radiators and strayed dirty water all over the new wall and said cream carpet. We were furious and they cleaned it as best they could. Carpet is fine F&B wall still has dark farking stain!

Spot on Darlin.

As you can see with people, give them an inch and they take a mile

They really do

Travel mugs for upstairs?

😂totally agree with the above.

It's also different if a guest knocks over a wine glass or drops a bit of food on the floor in the dining room where you'd expect to have a few mishaps as its set out to cope with such spills and its easily seen and easily dealt with.

It's different if someone spills ( as op said quite a lot of )coffee in a newly decorated bedroom and then either doesn't notice or says nothing.

OP it sounds like you've decided on a good way of dealing with it and I can't see anything wrong with quietly asking people not to have food or drink in the bedrooms in future.
Also you noted that your parents don't listen to you or reflect on what you've said to them. This situation has highlighted that. It's something to think about in the future maybe being a bit more vocal (in a kind way) to them about things that are important to you, without letting them dismiss it.

Personally I wouldn't ask them to pay, but I'd certainly let them know that I know (if you see what i mean).

I'd hire a carpet washer or buy a Vax wet hoover. It may not be the last time something is spilt on the carpet.

Also I wouldn't be allowing anyone to take anything other than water upstairs

Yup! What's wrong with having nice things and looking after them? Although my carpet was 'cheap' (still cost nearly £400!) I want to keep it as nice as possible, which involves cleaning up any mess as soon as possible. So when I spill tea (which doesn't really show up because my carpet is a taupey sort of colour) I still get the carpet cleaning spray out. The pooey incident got hit with the antibacterial wipes first though. 😅

"Didn't you ruin things as a child" YES A CHILD! They're grown adults ffs. And for those saying stop making a big deal etc I take it you're all not very house proud? Did you not see the part where she said she saved for ages to have it all done and looking nice. It's her home!! Do you not all have something you value and would be gutted if it got marked/scratched etc. Accidents happen but to not even mention it or offer to clean it..I'd be pissed! So they spilt coffee and just left it? I was raised to be respect others people belongings and I'd be saying straight away. You're being too nice OP get them told.