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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:
Camembertcufflinks · 30/12/2023 09:26

My MIL does things like this- gives the kids staining food and lets them eat it on the sofa while pointedly looking at me saying don't spill it... my response now is firmly "you said yes, so not my responsibility if they spill it". She HATES that and moans to DH who just backs me up. Leave it- don't treat the stain. It's on her not you.

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 30/12/2023 09:29

In your MILs position I'd be cross (not least because I'd feel it was at least partly my fault) but I'd be beyond livid if you either tried to hide it or tried to clean it up yourself. Both of those would make it impossible for me to get a prompt, professional job done. That would turn a potentially recoverable accident into a permanent disaster.

honeysuckleweeks · 30/12/2023 09:29

HNRTFT

Eucalyptus oil is what you need!!!!
Definitely will work on the wax

Mrsbluesk1 · 30/12/2023 09:33

When I go anywhere pristine with my kids anxiety kicks in. White Sofa would have had me in a state. Hope you got it sorted

CurlewKate · 30/12/2023 09:34

Love that it's the MIL's fault! Of course it is.....

Google says paper and cool iron or hairdryer and then upholstery cleaner.

berksandbeyond · 30/12/2023 09:44

Who wouldn’t notice a babybel case. And just proceed to sit on it?!
This is not your MILS fault, 2 children of that age should be able to be trusted to sit on a white sofa, and she asked them not to bloody eat on it!
At the very least you should be paying for it to be professionally cleaned!

AnotherEmma · 30/12/2023 09:47

berksandbeyond · 30/12/2023 09:44

Who wouldn’t notice a babybel case. And just proceed to sit on it?!
This is not your MILS fault, 2 children of that age should be able to be trusted to sit on a white sofa, and she asked them not to bloody eat on it!
At the very least you should be paying for it to be professionally cleaned!

My 6yo, and most 6yos I know.
you clear don't have kids that age!

Daffodilsandtuplips · 30/12/2023 09:49

I wouldn’t try to clean it, as mentioned upthread she may have had it stain proofed and anything you try may void the warranty. DH is the one to tell her, not you.
The iron method is best with brown parcel paper but not for leather. Don’t use any heat on leather.
Hairspray works on biro pen ink on leather, it might work on red wax stain.
A leather upholstery firm recommended Dove tablet soap to clean leather, he said it’s to do with the PH level in the soap, leather is skin and needs treating as such. He hates leather wipes, they dry the hide out.

berksandbeyond · 30/12/2023 09:49

AnotherEmma · 30/12/2023 09:47

My 6yo, and most 6yos I know.
you clear don't have kids that age!

Show quote history

I have a 5 year old 😂
Who is perfectly capable of sitting nicely to eat. They’re not babies! However I would have made them move away from the sofa to eat, I am quite sure sitting on the 1 day old white sofa wasn’t the only option!

Sorethroatandearache · 30/12/2023 09:52

I would contact the manufacturer for advice - or maybe to order a replacement cushion (which may be the easiest way of solving this)

Hopefully it will be a lesson for all the family on the reality of owning a white sofa.

fr4zzledmum · 30/12/2023 09:54

What was MILs reaction this morning OP?

Bestyearever2024 · 30/12/2023 09:54

Throws are wonderful things 🤣

I hope it works out OK, OP

DeeLusional · 30/12/2023 09:55

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

SO MIL gave them the Babybels? totally her fault then. BTW I hope you haven't used a hot iron on a leather sofa!. That won't remove a stain and might damage the leather.

Zanatdy · 30/12/2023 09:56

You need to be upfront and offer to pay for a professional clean. Your kids are old enough and if told not to eat on it, they shouldn’t have eaten on it. Babybel too, my anxiety would have been high and I’d have been monitoring them. I’d be so upset my sofa was damaged so soon.

Theunamedcat · 30/12/2023 09:57

Honestly I would have unwrapped the cheese to give to the children if they were anywhere within a mile of my brand new WHITE sofa why did she give them snacks like this?

clara778 · 30/12/2023 09:57

Heat removes wax, but I think you are dealing with a stain now. You shouldn't have touched it 😳 Much better to pay a professional, or use her insurance, white sofa...you'd have to get that insured.

Toddlerteaplease · 30/12/2023 09:59

HulahoopsBBQbeef · 29/12/2023 23:08

I wouldn’t do anything to the sofa and just tell her the truth. She may have paid extra for stain proofing especially if it’s that expensive and white. We paid a little extra for five years stain cover and were also given a special cleaning kit too.

Edited

My first thought. Or did she take out the extra insurance that they flog you, that covers damage like this.

Morechocmorechoc · 30/12/2023 10:00

Heating up a stain is going to make it bind to the fabric more.

itsgoingtobeabumpyride · 30/12/2023 10:01

Did she get a cleaning kit with the sofa?
I did with my new suite.
I was also told not to wash the covers or put water on them to get rid of stains as they have a fire resistant coating under the material that would turn to a glue like substance when wet.
I spilt red wax from a wax melt on my cream carpet and I rubbed baking soda into it and it came off.
Personally I'd leave well alone and offer to pay for the cushion to be recovered.
Give us an update

hot2trotter · 30/12/2023 10:07

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

100% this. Why even bother?
MN is full of doormats and people pleasers.
I wouldn't have had anything to do with her after the wedding.

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 30/12/2023 10:10

This thread reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Lisa has gum in her hair and Marge tries everything anyone suggests to get it out 😬

This doesn't help but I'm on team Getting A White Sofa Is Madness. And instructing young children to stand a foot away from the sofa to eat their snacks, and then just leaving them to it is obviously not the way for a white sofa to remain white.

ganglion · 30/12/2023 10:10

Not the point of this thread but look after yourself - if she makes it obvious she doesn't like you, don't spend extended time with her. She didn't come to your wedding because she doesn't like you, I don't know how much of a clearer message she could give you.

This can't be good for your mental health 💐

Fullofxmascbeer · 30/12/2023 10:11

Tell her but don’t let her blame you.

Grey rock
“I wanted to cover the sofa but you said it was ok” every single time she makes a comment targeted at you.

Threewheeler1 · 30/12/2023 10:11

Get the car started, load bags and kids up, quickly administer some WD 40 to the affected area and failing that, some scissors, leave and don't look back...😬
Can't believe this is making me anxious just reading it 😮
Please tell us how it went OP x

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