Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

My kids got baby-bell wax all over my mother in laws new sofa.

438 replies

jennan · 29/12/2023 23:00

Hey,
I'm not really sure how to use this website so apologies if wrong.
So I'm at my mother in laws house for Xmas and she had just brought herself this VERY expensive sofa for herself as a self gift.
she has just had it delivered today and its a brand new white sofa, as I have two boys (6 and 7) I told them not to go on it but my mother in law INSISTED they could go on it.
they had just finished watching TV and were getting ready for bed when my husband alerted me to the fact that someone had obviously eaten a baby-bell and than somehow sat on the wax, there is now a VERY noticeable red patch on the sofa.
I have removed the excess wax but there is still a stain.
my boys and mother in law are in bed now but I dont know how to remove it.
me and my husband dont have the money to replace this sofa and my mother in law doesn't really like me as it is.
Does anyone know how to remove cheese wax from a sofa?
Thanks.

OP posts:
NigellaAwesome · 29/12/2023 23:29

I feel so stressed just reading this. Get DH to deal with this and his mother. I second fessing up and getting her to sort it with her insurance / care policy.

Goldwakeme · 29/12/2023 23:30

Don't iron it, there may be some special instructions for stains. Heat might get the wax off but set the colour.

SecondUsername4me · 29/12/2023 23:32

jennan · 29/12/2023 23:10

Thanks for such quick reply's, I wasn't expecting that.
A lot of you have said to use a iron and paper so I'm going to try that, hope it works.
My mil has never liked me, she straight up refused to come to me and my husbands wedding, I think we are getting a bit better...
She DID tell the kids not to eat on it but brought them snacks and put it on a small table next to the sofa, she told them to stand up when they were eating it..

Edited

Why do you and dh even entertain spending any time with her at all, let alone go stay with her, if she hates you so much she didn't attend her own sons wedding?

Go to bed and leave dh to sort it. You could buy her a brand new one and she'd still hate you so there's nothing to be lost here.

BunnyBunnyJabberJabber · 29/12/2023 23:32

Found this on Google search

How do you get Babybel wax out of upholstery?

Take an ice cube and get the wax really cold and brittle. Then use a table knife to scrape it loose. It'll come off in little pieces so vacuum it up and keep repeating until it's all off. Once it's off you can use Xylol on a clean rag from an old bath towel to dissolve the wax residue and blot it out

HelloDaisy · 29/12/2023 23:33

Not sure ironing it is a good idea..

Would she have taken out insurance with it as that may cover the cleaning or replacement.

starynightskys · 29/12/2023 23:36

The joys of having kids.

SoOutingWhoCares · 29/12/2023 23:36

Something similar happened to a friend this Christmas, they had paid extra to have it protected against stains when they bought it so it will be repaired or replaced.

Do NOT Iron it, what if you scorch it?!

Tell mil honestly what happened. Suggest she contacts the manufacturer for advice. Check if it's covered by an insurance policy (either when bought like my friend or home contents). Be prepared to pay for the repair if not.

mollyfolk · 29/12/2023 23:39

I’d try the ice cube method and then I wouldn’t say a word! Practice your concerned face if she mentions it. Never stay with her again - she didn’t even go to your wedding!

Arthursmom · 29/12/2023 23:41

Eeep. What’s it made of?

Codlingmoths · 29/12/2023 23:42

SecondUsername4me · 29/12/2023 23:32

Why do you and dh even entertain spending any time with her at all, let alone go stay with her, if she hates you so much she didn't attend her own sons wedding?

Go to bed and leave dh to sort it. You could buy her a brand new one and she'd still hate you so there's nothing to be lost here.

Show quote history

Haha this. Smile to yourself a little and think karma delivers.

ilovethecoldsideofapillow · 29/12/2023 23:43

Flip the cushion

1982mommaof4 · 29/12/2023 23:45

I won't be able to sleep now...

TimeToStopLurking · 29/12/2023 23:46

Try to do a patch test first. If it's just wax (rather than red dye) the iron should work. I've got wax out of a carpet before by placing a brown envelope over it and then ironing the envelope on low heat. Make sure the steam is switched off. Good luck!

Original poster
jennan · 29/12/2023 23:48

Arthursmom · 29/12/2023 23:41

Eeep. What’s it made of?

I'm pretty sure its fabric - it is tufted so it has buttons all over the place, with my luck you can guess that its kind of wedged in the corner of one of them.🤦

OP posts:
Itslegitimatesalvage · 29/12/2023 23:49

She hated you and didn’t come to the wedding? Get the baby bells out and start sitting on them all over the sofa! But seriously, she brought them snacks while they sat on a white sofa and no one supervised them? This is sort of on her… as well as you two for not supervising. But, as they are your kids, you’re going to have to offer some sort of solution. Ironing isn’t going to work; it isn’t the wax leftover causing the red mark, it’s the dye. It needs professional cleaning but even then, it’s been dyed so might just need a new cover. If the sofa is in segments and this is just one of the seat parts, you can probably just buy a new cover for that part of the seat and not the whole sofa.

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 29/12/2023 23:50

Also a vote for avoiding the iron!!
We actually had a similar incident with a mini cheddar once.
Try the ice cube option.

Marmaladegin · 29/12/2023 23:53

Right I actually am pretty confident you do not want grease proof paper here

Grimchmas · 29/12/2023 23:53

Another vote cautioning against ironing - if the wax leaks dye you'll be worse off! Ice cube method won't harm.

Let's hope she has insurance. If not, I would imagine you would be able to buy a replacement cover for just that cushion, or worst case scenario pay for some kind of specialist cleaner.

Avatartar · 29/12/2023 23:54

I’d feign ignorance- let MIL find it tomorrow - as long as you didn’t give them the babybels you’re in the clear

Grimchmas · 29/12/2023 23:54

Marmaladegin · 29/12/2023 23:53

Right I actually am pretty confident you do not want grease proof paper here

I was thinking the same. Absorbant paper needed, if trying the iron route.

But do not try the iron route.

Marmaladegin · 29/12/2023 23:55

Or rather some types are not ideal. What you want is regular paper- photocopier, notebook anything. Newspaper would be fine if sofa was very dark but assuming it isn't, you want paper with no dye in it. Keep iron on low and change paper frequently to get as much wax off as possible

Noseybookworm · 29/12/2023 23:55

Sorry but anyone who buys a white sofa is a psycho 🤣 I would just get your DH to tell her ASAP and offer to pay for it to be cleaned. Don't mess about ironing, you might make it worse!

Stoufer · 29/12/2023 23:55

It happened with us - baby bel on a microfibre habitat sofa - I never managed to get it out completely, and had to use a throw over it after that. I second being honest with your MIL in the morning, and getting professional advice from an upholstery cleaner. Good luck..

Original poster
jennan · 29/12/2023 23:56

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 29/12/2023 23:50

Also a vote for avoiding the iron!!
We actually had a similar incident with a mini cheddar once.
Try the ice cube option.

We have just tried the iron and we managed to scrape a bit more wax of but the color is still there.
My mil doesn't have any ice🤦. My husbands just about to go to the local morrisons to get some.
I just might start buying my kids blocks of cheese instead of the wax covered ones 🤣.

OP posts:
Winter2020 · 29/12/2023 23:56

Those "magic eraser" that are like a brittle sponge can be good for getting marks off things. Dampened just with water. Test in an area that won't be seen.
Good luck whatever you try

Swipe left for the next trending thread