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Original poster

Kids damage Airbnb and I’m made to feel like a hopeless parent

62 replies

Retromumma · 11/04/2018 21:02

On our way home from our Airbnb today the host texted to say that they had been resanding and painting floorboards after our visit because they said one of our kids dropped oil on it from the oil diffuser “they must have been waving one of the sticks around and it has removed paint from the floorboards” I am absolutely staggered by this because a) I cleaned and left everything spotless before leaving and b) certainly didn’t notice any damage to the floor and I would have noticed because I went around checking it for Lego before leaving.

I’m also astonished that oil reed diffusers can strip paint, not sure it should have just been left on display if it is so corrosive, what if it had burned one of my kids skin?

Or am I being unreasonable? Should I offer to pay for any damage? I am an honest person and never damaged anything, this has really soured the trip for us, I feel terrible!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FourFriedChickensAndDryWhiteTo · 11/04/2018 21:04

honestly i wouldnt give it another thought. They can fuck off, for all you know that damage was done months ago, if at all.

Hobnobsarenotfordunking · 11/04/2018 21:06

Did you have to pay a deposit?

Sarsparella · 11/04/2018 21:06

They sound bonkers, of course oil from a diffuser should strip paint - like you say if it was that toxic it shouldn’t be left laying around!

Ignore them, I’ve had bonkers ‘complaints’ from Airbnb owners before, they’re talking nonsense

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Rollerbilly5 · 11/04/2018 21:07

Unfortunately yes the oils do damage to wood and I can well believe they would need to sand and repaint. Many people have those reed diffusers around children, we do but I have it up high so they can't reach it....but you are right, I wouldn't want the oils on their hands. If it was me I would offer to pay.

Namechange128 · 11/04/2018 21:07

How do they even know a kid was waving it around? Theyre supposed to be insured for this stuff anyway.
I wouldn't start a fight but probably reasonable to say you are a little concerned as the children were not playing with the diffuser, and you did a last floor check for toys before leaving and would surely have seen oil left. If you don't gently dispute it, they can leave this on your profile, right?

NannyOggsKnickers · 11/04/2018 21:07

This does seem somewhat suspicious. Especially since you checked before you left.

I’d apologise for the inconvenience and ask for pictures ‘to use to discipline’ the dc. Add your total surprise because you’d checked so throughly before you left ( don’t know how I could have missed it etc). Then see what they say.

If they cannot provide photographic evidence then leave it at an apology. If they do then offer to pay. If they are trying to shaft you then leave them a sucky rating.

Aprilmightbemynewname · 11/04/2018 21:07

Surely they will have insurance? A friend of mine has a spiral staircase that I stained with drops of water and had to be redone!

IamPickleRick · 11/04/2018 21:08

The oil does seep in to paint, I had to go over our wall with 4 coats. It didn’t leave any mark on the wood though.

ny20005 · 11/04/2018 21:08

Ask them for photos !

TartanDr3ams · 11/04/2018 21:10

I cant see how "waving a reed stick" about could cause enough damage to need to sand and repaint a floor? At most it would be a small drip... anything more and youd have noticed. Id ignore them personally.. they want a new floor and trying to guilt you into paying for their revamp.

Original poster

Retromumma · 11/04/2018 21:12

No deposit, but I want to do the right thing. I honestly didn’t notice it and checked and cleaned everywhere! It was spotless when I left

OP posts:

Lovesagin · 11/04/2018 21:13

Yea that would be a big fat No/Go whistle from me!

Ragusa · 11/04/2018 21:13

Get out of here! Why would this be anythig more than a 5 minute job? Drop of oil identified. Sand. Seal. Touch up. Job done.

The only exception would be of this was some highly specialist and expensive finish like dinesen soap and lye which is a ballache and marks easily.

How are their other reviews?

LynetteScavo · 11/04/2018 21:14

What Nanny said.

Infusers can strip varnish, but also you would know if your child had waved one around like a wand...you'd smell it.

And if that did happen and the reef stick was replaced, it would taken some decent detective work to figure out what happened to the floor, unless you'd experienced the same thing before. in which case you'd ditch the reed diffusers

I'd also casually ask the DC...mine would blab on their sibling own up.

Original poster

Retromumma · 11/04/2018 21:15

It’s hard to imagine how something so small could cause so much damage and for me to not notice

OP posts:

Ragusa · 11/04/2018 21:16

Honestly do not cough up. This is why they should have insurance they wont and in any case minor wear and tear is a dilapidation and deductible from their taxes. Your salary paying their fees is not tax-deductible OTOH.

FourFriedChickensAndDryWhiteTo · 11/04/2018 21:17

yes as Tartan said, how could they possibly know that this is what happened,,,,,unless it had already happened...
lying cheeky fuckers tbh.

FourFriedChickensAndDryWhiteTo · 11/04/2018 21:18

honestly i would send them a message saying you dont want to hear from them again., or it will constitute harrassment and i am sure they dont want that on their reviews.

Original poster

Retromumma · 11/04/2018 21:18

Other reviews are good. My son wet the bed too, didn’t help I suppose but I did strip it and wash the sheets, mattress was fine because they had waterproof sheets on.

I find it stressful staying anywhere other then home or camping these days, people can be so down on kids

OP posts:

bobstersmum · 11/04/2018 21:23

Sand and repaint a holiday let floor after a bit of an oil mark? Crikey they must be totally anal, they'd have been better chucking a nice rug over it. Don't give it another thought op, even if your kids did it, accidents happen.

PETRONELLAS · 11/04/2018 21:25

Did you see your kids near the oil?

turnipfarmers · 11/04/2018 21:27

We have had a succession of reed diffusers which have been knocked over countless times (thank you DS) and it's never damaged our wooden floor.

Original poster

Retromumma · 11/04/2018 21:28

Interesting, thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

Retromumma · 11/04/2018 21:29

I didn’t see them near it, obviously not watching them all the time and they might have investigated it but I certainly didn’t see them running around with reed diffusers

OP posts:

MazDazzle · 11/04/2018 21:29

I can believe it happened. One of my kids knocked over/spilled a reed diffuser and then picked it up. I didn’t notice it at the time, but the liquid inside is like fragranced paint stripper. It is highly toxic and burns through things slowly. It took the paint off my window sill and corroded the plastic coating on my bath.

They’re really dangerous! It’s like leaving an open bottle of paint stripper lying.

But it’s not your problem. The owner shouldn’t have had it in a rental property in the first place and even so, accidents such as these are part of wear and tear. Also, it could have been the person who rented the property before you.

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