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How to Clean Vomit from Carpet: Quick & Effective Methods

Every parent’s worst nightmare, your kid started throwing up out of nowhere and didn’t make it in time to the toilet. This is a stressful situation, not only for parents but for anyone.

Cleaning vomit from your carpet has the possibility of stains, missing a chunk, and an awful odor. If you were to miss a spot, then you have that rancid smell to deal with while you are sick.

In this article, you will learn a step-by-step guide on how to clean vomit out of your carpet, along with other useful information that will not only save you time but also help you protect your carpet.

The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning up Throw Up on Carpet

Cleaning up vomit and removing stains is crucial for preventing carpet damage. Follow these steps to properly remove vomit from a carpet.

  1. Remove as much vomit as possible using gloves for the chunks.
  2. Mix distilled white vinegar and water in equal parts into a spray bottle.
  3. Spray the area where the vomit stain is using the mixture, until the carpet is damp.
  4. Blot-dry the carpet with paper towels or rags, once it gets wet replace it immediately with a fresh towel.
  5. Repeat until dry.

By following these steps, you can not only save your carpet from staining but also get rid of the nasty lingering vomit smell that permeates the room. However, sometimes it is not possible to immediately clean up the stain. Keep reading to find out how to clean dry vomit out of carpets.

 DIY Carpet Rescue: How to Clean Dried Vomit Stains

While cleaning vomit as soon as it hits the floor is preferred and less likely to leave a stain, not everyone can tend to it immediately. Especially if you have previously cleaned a stain, only then to find you missed a spot.

Instead of treating the area as you did above with fresh vomit, follow the instructions below to clean dried vomit from your carpet.

Here is a step-by-step on how to clean dry vomit and the stain that comes with it.

Things you will need
Things you will need
  1. Mix warm water and a mild detergent such as dish soap.
  2. Pour on the area with vomit residue.
  3. Wait 5 minutes or until the solution gets the vomit wet.
  4. Pick up any chunky pieces and throw them away in a plastic bag.
  5. Mix both white vinegar and baking soda.
  6. Cover the area with baking soda and vinegar solution on the stain.
  7. Use paper towels to blot/dab dry the area.
  8. Repeat until the stain has lifted

Cleaning the vomit after it has dried isn’t very hard to do, however, it is easier to clean vomit up after it has just happened. If you find yourself cleaning up older vomit, you also can use a steam cleaner to clean vomit from a carpet.

Removing Vomit from Carpet: Quick and Easy Tips

Whenever you are dealing with throw-up, it is always good to remember these quick tips:

  1. Use gloves. You are dealing with a biohazard, so safety is a must when coming into direct contact with any biowaste. This will keep the germs and viruses from getting you sick and stop the spread.
Always use gloves
Always use gloves
  1. Acting quickly is key when removing vomit from the carpet. Cleaning it up immediately makes it easier to remove rather than letting it sit. 
  2. Always when dealing with vomit, use a clean rag or paper towels. If you continue to use the same rag as you were using, you could be pushing the vomit deeper into the carpet and damaging carpet fibers for as long as it is there.
  3. Always blot or dab the area. If you spread your rag or rub it on the carpet you are risking embedding that stain into the carpet base. Over time, this could cost you a lot of money to fully remove it from your carpet. To be safe, always blot.

Say Goodbye to Vomit Stains: Effective Cleaning Methods

Vomit stain removal is not difficult if you are using the right method and material. Your cleaning solution should not only clean up and pick up the stain, but it should deodorize it as well.

One method that is the best to clean vomit on the carpet is to dab your cleaning rag/towel on the affected area. You may be wondering “Why only dab when I can wipe?” Wiping the area will spread and embed the puke deeper into the carpet.

Another method you could use is a carpet cleaner. Already having a deodorizer/cleaner along with hot water will completely clean the carpet. This method will break down the vomit and will clean the entire carpet.

As a last resort or for large stubborn vomit stains, you can call a professional carpet cleaning company and they will come and assess the area. Cleaning up the excess vomit and making it easier to just focus on the stain will help the cleaners.

Banishing Vomit Odors: Simple Tricks for Fresh Carpets 

Bye bye vomit odor
Bye bye vomit odor

Cleaning up vomit is already an unpleasant task, but the smell that lingers afterward is even worse. Not only do vomit stains leave an obvious discolored area on the carpet, but they also emit a putrid odor that can be difficult to eliminate if not cleaned properly.

One way you can keep your carpet fresh and remove stains is to mix baking soda with vinegar and set it on the spot for at least 15 minutes, but you could also leave it on there for 30 minutes as well depending on how severe the stain is.

Did you know that you could use hydrogen peroxide to clean up vomit? Hydrogen peroxide will break down the proteins inside vomit and in turn, will cause the stain to be lifted and the odor removed as well.

Using hot water instead of cold will help lift the stain and sanitize the area when mixing with white vinegar. Never use scented cleaners on the stain when first cleaning it. This will just mask the odor and not thoroughly get rid of it.

Tackling Vomit Accidents: Best Practices for Carpet Care

Clearing up as much of the vomit as possible is a great start to remove the odor and stain. While you are cleaning what will come up from the carpet pile, always make sure you are using a clean cloth in doing so.

Using a clean cloth or paper towel when the one you’re using is soiled will prevent the stain from embedding into the carpet base, ensuring that it won’t create a lasting odor after cleaning.

To make the stain possible to remove, you will need to sprinkle baking soda over the area. Vinegar can also help speed up the process of breaking down the enzymes and proteins that cause the stain. Leave the mixture on the spot for at least 15-30 minutes to see noticeable results.

When dealing with dried vomit, using a putty knife or even a flat edge can help with the dry chunks. Use caution with this, however, because if you are not carefully scraping just the vomit you can damage the carpet fibers and padding below.

Using a generous amount of baking soda will help break the vomit up and make it easier to remove both the odor and the carpet stain it left behind. Leave to sit for 30 minutes, then take a vacuum cleaner and vacuum any baking soda on the floor.

Make sure you are rehydrating the stain. Even though you may pull up what you think is all of it, there may still be some deeper into the carpet that will linger and cause your house to smell.

From Puke to Pristine: Cleaning Vomit Off Your Carpet

As mentioned above in this article, cleaning vomit off of your carpet is easy to do so long as you follow the directions and have the safety precautions in place. Remember, vomit is a biohazard and can spread viruses, so make sure you completely clean up any stains and material from your carpet.

Vomit stays on the carpet for weeks and months at a time, even if you miss a spot. This is why it is important to remove the stain and use DIY vomit cleaners as mentioned above.

Some things to remember:

  • Vinegar can help baking soda dissolve stains and odor when it comes to cleaning carpets.
  • Dish soap, vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and hot water are all on-hand products you can use to lift the stain yourself without spending a lot of money.
  • Always use gloves. Even if it is your own on the carpet. Also, throw any used paper towels in a grocery bag and tie it up for disposal. 
  • Throw any used rags into the washing machine and clean thoroughly. White vinegar can be used for laundry if you want to take an extra step to sanitize your towels.

Remembering these tips and following these instructions will make you a pro at cleaning vomit! While this isn’t the nicest title, you can confidently take on any last-minute unexpected sickness from kids or yourself. 

Picture of Michael F

Michael F

Owner, Elevated Cleaning Services

Michael started Elevated Cleaning Services to help fill a gap in the Florida cleaning market. With a focus on quality, and a passion for giving back to the community, Elevated Cleaning Services continues to serve hundreds of happy homeowners each month.

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Picture of Michael F.

Michael F.

Owner, Elevated Cleaning Services

Michael started Elevated Cleaning Services to help fill a gap in the Florida cleaning market. With a focus on quality, and a passion for giving back to the community, Elevated Cleaning Services continues to serve hundreds of happy homeowners each month.

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