Hi @Colin
I’d always be honest and admit your mistake but you fixed it. Sure the HO will be delighted with their ‘as new’ furniture.
Btw baby oil! Should we be grilling your man about this @colin?? 
@Colin Oh dear! I know how mortified you both would have been.
Definitely option 2, it just highlights how trustworthy you are, after all accidents do happen and you sorted it 100%
Personally I would offer to reimburse you for the cleaning cost. x
1 Like
Well @Smiley, @Colin did not need to mention very specifically what was spilled and then lead us all down the garden path by saying “don’t ask”. 
Could have simply said they spilled “something” and be done with it. 
I would be anxious the HOs would be angry I didn’t inform them prior to getting the solution. Like they could be angry you didn’t consult them first, as it could have been a really delicate/expensive piece of furniture that needed specific care. I think my gut is always to ask the HOs advice first before doing any repairs (for future reference). I think if I were in your shoes, I’d mention it on their return but downplay the situation so as not to cause anxiety.
I would tell them. I think you did a very good job.
I’d just bring it up, like “by the way, we’re so sorry, but this happened with the chaise longue. Luckily we managed to fix it the best way we could.”
1 Like
I’d go with 2! I’d just say that I spilled something on it and called a professional to clean it, and now it looks brand new, apologies for that. I may even include a pic of the new and improved chaise. If I was them, I’d be delighted, to be honest!
How did you get on with the owner and the chaise longue @Colin now you are on your next sit?
2 Likes
@temba - We left before the host arrived back so I sent a message explaining what had happened and apologising. We have had no response so am hoping no news is good news…
I’d confess although what for? Cleaning their upholstery? Perfect sitters. I’m not a sitter but a HO. I’d be grateful if someone’d had my furniture cleaned professionally. Wonderful!
4 Likes
Excellent @Colin - thanks for the update.
I notice she said ‘I would recommend them to anyone’ but she missed the last line off (but no way am I having them back)!
LOL 
@Twitcher - Did she miss it off or did I? 
She also missed 5⭐ for the pets!!!
@Lokstar , This one is a house only so no pet care to score x
1 Like
Glad to hear things worked out. Too many recent posts in the forum about sits gone badly.
2 Likes
I don’t actually want to know!
Whoopsie! Not a house sit, but a home exchange in Italy many years ago…………
My husband reversed the owners car into a tree and caused minor damage to a light. Owners brother in law lived next door, so would no doubt spot it. We didn’t want the owner to spend his holiday anguished about his precious car and the plonker driving it, so we told a slight porkie. We went next door and asked the brother in law where we could get the light fixed and told him that we’d parked the car and when we returned we’d noticed the damage; it must have been bumped while we were away. We got the light changed at the garage and told the owner the same story. Twenty years later, we are still in touch and meet up occasionally. We’ve never completely owned up and never will!
1 Like
Yes, be honest and tell them that the chair got a stain, you tried to clean it, made it worse, called in professionals (and what you were prepared to do)
Most HO would be appreciative that you called in professionals let alone what you were prepared to do.
We have had countless clean ups from half eaten Mice, Birds, Fish all over cream carpets (always cream carpets, never on the flagstone flooring, always on the Carpets) to just general vomit and fur balls, to a Dog coming on Heat, Dog’s getting into a scrap with each other and again (yes it was cream carpet) we check when we arrive at HO if there are spot carpet stain remover and have a good look for any other signs of little “oopsies” that have previously happened on carpets, also if they have a carpet cleaner or steamer.
We have had a leaking bathtub that leaked through the old oak wood beam into the kitchen that the lights were mounted on, that was our first ever sit, it was not our fault the HO knew full well that the Bath leaked sometimes, they were getting ready to sell and had painted, so there were no water marks that we could see so didn’t know. If we had been forewarned we would not have used the Bath, they didn’t disclose because they had booked us for another sit a few weeks later and were worried we might cancel if they had sold by then… anyways things happen.
Happy sitting
As a HO I definitely would prefer option 2. Accidents happen and it’s always better to be honest about them. And the fact that you took care of the issue is awesome!
1 Like
I’d get it cleaned and hope for the best. Even if the stain does come out I’d still let the HO. If it doesn’t I’d let them know and offer to make amends. Honesty is the best policy.
On one of my first few sits the HO’s cat who had a tail as strong as a golden retriever was tipped my coffee over onto a cream colored rug. I did my best but in the end I showed it to her when she returned. She completely understood. Apparently the cat had done the same thing to her beverage in the past. She didn’t expect me to pay for it even though I offered.
4 Likes