Headboard damaged - can I claim

mogwai

I bought a headboard from a well known retailer a couple of years ago. Recently I spilled some tea on the headboard and wiped it down with some soapy water. It seemed fine while I was cleaning it but when it dried the fabric had turned from golden beige to pink.

I contacted the company and they told me since the fabric is dry clean only and I had wiped it with soapy water they couldn't do anything.

The headboard is ruined now and it wasn't cheap! I should have checked the instructions but didnt think soapy water could cause such a drastic colour change. Not sure how they are suggesting stains could be treated as it is a fixed headboard.

Is there any recourse as I am not sure how its possible to dry clean a fixed headboard, and therefore how it would have been possible to keep the headboard clean in the event of accidents.

mogwai

Sorry title was just supposed to be Headboard damage!

martinthebandit

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dry-Clean-Stain-Remover-Spray/dp/B004S7ELYM

Of course it's possible.

Sorry, but after having something for two years and then damaging it through your own fault I fail to understand why anyone else should take any responsibility

Poppie68

Claim what from whom?

2 yr old headboard that you have damaged by being negligent isn't their problem.... maybe you could get a dye to cover the damaged area?.

naedanger

mogwai wrote: »

I bought a headboard from a well known retailer a couple of years ago. Recently I spilled some tea on the headboard and wiped it down with some soapy water. It seemed fine while I was cleaning it but when it dried the fabric had turned from golden beige to pink.

I contacted the company and they told me since the fabric is dry clean only and I had wiped it with soapy water they couldn't do anything.

The headboard is ruined now and it wasn't cheap! I should have checked the instructions but didnt think soapy water could cause such a drastic colour change. Not sure how they are suggesting stains could be treated as it is a fixed headboard.

Is there any recourse as I am not sure how its possible to dry clean a fixed headboard, and therefore how it would have been possible to keep the headboard clean in the event of accidents.

I agree with the other posters.

If it was expensive perhaps it can be repaired - maybe by an upholsterer. (Obviously I have no idea what the headboard looks like so this may be a stupid suggestion.)

marliepanda

Claim from yourself for spilling tea on your headboard? (interesting way and position to be drinking tea I must say)

You can of course sue yourself for spilling tea on your headboard. how much would you like to claim from yourself?

naedanger

Another possibility, but probably only worth considering if the cost of repair/replacement is a lot, is your home contents insurance if you have accidental damage cover.

mogwai

Thanks for the link Martin will have a look at that.

It's not unreasonable to expect to be able to clean an upholstered item if stains do appear on it though surely? I was standing by the bedside with a cup of tea and it tipped over onto the headboard.

It's not about having had the headboard for 2 years it's that it's permanently ruined by having had something minor spilled on it, something that is usually quite easy to get out without damaging upholstery.

Fair enough though I think I'll have a look at other options - though it's a quilted headboard with one piece of fabric so most likely we'll have to replace the whole thing as the pink discolouration just looks silly and not sure dry cleaning it now will get rid of it. Thanks

mogwai

The headboard was about £350 so not sure it's worth claiming on home insurance will check that actually thanks. Also will get a can of that dry cleaning spray for future incidents

marliepanda

Depends entirely on the item. A headboard would not be an item that is normally likely to be stained though, unlike say a sofa or cushions.

It may have been the soap you used.

At the end of the day you didn't check the instructions (are there any?) and soap washed a dry clean fabric.

naedanger

mogwai wrote: »

The headboard was about £350 so not sure it's worth claiming on home insurance will check that actually thanks.

Quite possibly not worth claiming. You probably have an excess, and claiming may well increase your premium in future years.