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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:
Catsknowbest · 30/12/2023 10:43

InSpainTheRain · 30/12/2023 10:42

I feel your stress. But MIL getting a new white sofa with 2 grand children at a young age means it is entirely on her. Personally I wouldn't try removing it but leave it to a professional cleaner. Ger your DH to let her know.

Totally agree!

Notcontent · 30/12/2023 10:44

Seriously, who buys a white fabric sofa even without small children around??

I have a sofa that is not particularly pale but a block colour that would show stains so I always have it covered with a large throw (it actually looks good).

thedementedelf · 30/12/2023 10:52

It's good colouring but you need to wash the whole cushion cover because a spot stain on a white couch will leave a watermark.

Carouselfish · 30/12/2023 10:53

Ah memories of sleeping on a white futon with an unnoticed packet of minstrels spilling onto it...

As she is so horrid OP, I would feel distinctly unguilty.

LuckySantangelo35 · 30/12/2023 10:55

If you have kids are you supposed to have an old brown sofa or whatever so they can eat on it and stain on it? Seems a big sacrifice if you want something else!

Needsomesupport84 · 30/12/2023 10:56

LuckySantangelo35 · 30/12/2023 10:55

If you have kids are you supposed to have an old brown sofa or whatever so they can eat on it and stain on it? Seems a big sacrifice if you want something else!

you could use a throw. Or you could agree with the mum who says don’t go on the sofa rather than saying the kids should.

Growlybear83 · 30/12/2023 10:59

I don't understand the people who are saying that it is the mother in law's fault that a six or seven year old grandchild has sat on a red wax cheese covering on her new sofa. When she chose her new sofa, why should she have had to take into account that her grandchildren would visit and might stain it by sitting on red wax? She has the right to buy whatever sofa she wants in her own home and to expect that visiting children will be supervised properly and will respect her property. I realise that she encouraged the children to sit on the sofa but she did tell them not to eat on it. At six and seven, they should be able to understand a simple instruction like this, but if not, then it's up to the parents to make sure that they didn't eat while sitting on the sofa.

Whatwouldnanado · 30/12/2023 11:03

Don’t mess with it, fess up and suggest insurance or offer to get it professionally sorted.

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/12/2023 11:04

Hopefully her home insurance will cover this.

KissTheRains · 30/12/2023 11:08

LuckySantangelo35 · 30/12/2023 10:55

If you have kids are you supposed to have an old brown sofa or whatever so they can eat on it and stain on it? Seems a big sacrifice if you want something else!

I got a cheap one from the local charity shop... £50 for a 2 seater. Kid stained it, cat scratched it, puppy weed on it etc. I've had it cleaned a couple times and it's ok with a soft faux fur throw.
I'm glad I got it tbh, when I needed the sofa, I went to SCS and othe places and the cost if some of them, I'd have never sat on it.. 🤣

WonderingAboutThus · 30/12/2023 11:08

If you want to play it this way... then the good thing is it just got delivered so if she calls the company immediately they might presume it's their problem.

My neighbour has a similar thing once. JUST delivered dishwasher and the toddler stands on it while open and cracks it. Manufacturing or installation fault was presumed...

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 30/12/2023 11:12

How the heck is this the MIL‘s fault?!!!

She can own whatever sofa she likes. Her home. OP should take responsibility for what her kids do.

Good grief!

AnotherEmma · 30/12/2023 11:16

Growlybear83 · 30/12/2023 10:59

I don't understand the people who are saying that it is the mother in law's fault that a six or seven year old grandchild has sat on a red wax cheese covering on her new sofa. When she chose her new sofa, why should she have had to take into account that her grandchildren would visit and might stain it by sitting on red wax? She has the right to buy whatever sofa she wants in her own home and to expect that visiting children will be supervised properly and will respect her property. I realise that she encouraged the children to sit on the sofa but she did tell them not to eat on it. At six and seven, they should be able to understand a simple instruction like this, but if not, then it's up to the parents to make sure that they didn't eat while sitting on the sofa.

I told them not to go on it but my mother in law INSISTED they could go on it.

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

It's actually not the parents' responsibility if she is undermining their parenting by insisting the children sit on the sofa when the parents told them not to.

MIL should have put a throw or blanket on the sofa and/or served the snacks elsewhere and ensured the children had finished eating and wiped their hands before going on the sofa.

I have young children, my sofa is not white but the children are not allowed to eat on/near it unless we have said they can, in which case we'll put a throw or blanket on the sofa and supervise carefully.

It's not rocket science!

RedToothBrush · 30/12/2023 11:23

Your mother in law bought a WHITE sofa.

And she has grandkids over.

I have no sympathy whatsoever.

Some aquaintences of ours bought a white sofa for their house. They had a 3 year old and a one year old at the time. I don't like them. I howled when I saw the pictures, thinking of the trauma that sofa would cause.

Its just STOOOPPPPID to buy a white sofa. You have to be off your rocker to buy one.

Sunshinemoon2020 · 30/12/2023 11:23

This one made me laugh 😂😂😂

Mumoftwo1312 · 30/12/2023 11:24

LuckySantangelo35 · 30/12/2023 10:55

If you have kids are you supposed to have an old brown sofa or whatever so they can eat on it and stain on it? Seems a big sacrifice if you want something else!

Yes...? Surely all parents of small kids only buy dark sofas with machine washable covers, I thought that was normal.

Otherwise they find themselves in a fix like op's.

Lost count of the number of times we've washed our sofa cushions. I've never had to bother with irons or ice or stain removers etc. Life is too short

Sunshinemoon2020 · 30/12/2023 11:24

Sorry , i meant the comment about time the cushion over and run!
we all feel your stress , poor you, hope it’s not ended sour 😆🙏🏼

Nandyb · 30/12/2023 11:27

Try liquid lighter fuel on a tissue it removes grease, might work😊

PrincessZelda89 · 30/12/2023 11:27

I’m so glad someone else said this! Absolutely wild to me that some parents are so entitled that it’s someone else’s fault that THEIR children messed up someone’s brand new sofa. The MIL asked they don’t eat on it, so why did they? At 6/7 you know how to follow a simple instruction. The MIL said they could sit on it, not eat on it. It’s simple as.

If my best friend has a brand new cream carpet installed and my kids come and mess it up, is it then her fault that she chose to have a cream carpet knowing I’ve got children and might be at her house often?!

PrincessZelda89 · 30/12/2023 11:28

Growlybear83 · 30/12/2023 10:59

I don't understand the people who are saying that it is the mother in law's fault that a six or seven year old grandchild has sat on a red wax cheese covering on her new sofa. When she chose her new sofa, why should she have had to take into account that her grandchildren would visit and might stain it by sitting on red wax? She has the right to buy whatever sofa she wants in her own home and to expect that visiting children will be supervised properly and will respect her property. I realise that she encouraged the children to sit on the sofa but she did tell them not to eat on it. At six and seven, they should be able to understand a simple instruction like this, but if not, then it's up to the parents to make sure that they didn't eat while sitting on the sofa.

I’m so glad someone else said this! Absolutely wild to me that some parents are so entitled that it’s someone else’s fault that THEIR children messed up someone’s brand new sofa. The MIL asked they don’t eat on it, so why did they? At 6/7 you know how to follow a simple instruction. The MIL said they could sit on it, not eat on it. It’s simple as.

If my best friend has a brand new cream carpet installed and my kids come and mess it up, is it then her fault that she chose to have a cream carpet knowing I’ve got children and might be at her house often?!

Growlybear83 · 30/12/2023 11:28

The mother in law may have insisted that the children sat on the sofa but she DID tell them that they were not to eat on it. If the children are incapable of understanding instructions, it's up to their parents to make sure that they didn't eat the food she brought them and which she told them they were to eat standing up. It's not the mother in law's fault that they did not do as they were told and then went on to drop a lump of red wax onto the sofa and sit in it until it had stained! It was a brand new sofa so maybe she wanted to enjoy it without covering it up. I think she should have been able to expect that at six and seven, children should be able to follow basic instructions.

LeonoraFlorence · 30/12/2023 11:29

It isn’t the wax you’re needing off though now, it’s the dye so most of these won’t work! I think your best bet is to hire a professional, sorry OP!

LindyLou2020 · 30/12/2023 11:34

WonderingAboutThus · 30/12/2023 11:08

If you want to play it this way... then the good thing is it just got delivered so if she calls the company immediately they might presume it's their problem.

My neighbour has a similar thing once. JUST delivered dishwasher and the toddler stands on it while open and cracks it. Manufacturing or installation fault was presumed...

Please don't do this. How is this fair to the retail/delivery company?
To try and blame them, when it's been damaged in the home after delivery?
Or are companies seen as fair game, to be deceived?........because attempted deception is what you're proposing.
My DH used to work in furniture retail, and was often called out to "complaints" about furniture that had been delivered - sometimes when the goods had been in use in the home for quite a while.
Some were genuine, many weren't.
And he developed an astute ability to suss out the chancers from the bona fide, by examining the "faults".
I'm appalled that you're advocating this.

Sunshinemoon2020 · 30/12/2023 11:35

My take on it is, accidents happen. I would feel a mix of 1)cross with myself for not insisting anyhow that ‘kind as it is nanny said you can sit on the sofa, you’re not going to kids cause I’m not taking the risk, & as Mum what I say goes ‘ 2) Cross at my kids for not following simple instructions (while recognising kids are kids, but I would still let them know I wasn’t impressed lol!) 3) Slightly frustrated at MiL for insisting they could sit on sofa (though really I would come back to being more annoyed at self for not overriding this as Mum)… but you know what, we’re all human, all mums can relate to this & once MiL gets over initially upset as I’m sure there naturally will be, in time you will all look back at this and laugh. And in the grand scheme of life there’s much bigger issues (but give it time, MiL is gonna be upset I’m sure !) . Good luck and avoid making it worse - I would avoid putting an iron anywhere near it!
all will be okay in the end ! X

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