How to remove the smell of vomit from a carpet: folk and professional remedies

None of us are immune from unpleasant surprises. Many housewives are faced with a serious problem: how to remove the smell of vomit from the carpet and sofa at home. Such a nuisance can happen to anyone: a child, an adult, a pet. During vomiting, hydrochloric acid is also released along with the gastric contents, making the unpleasant odor more pronounced and persistent. The sooner you tackle this problem, the easier it will be to eliminate its consequences.

Either special household chemicals or home remedies available in every apartment will help you cope with the smell of vomit on your own. They are often no less effective than store-bought products, and you can use them immediately without wasting time purchasing specialized products.

How to remove vomit smell from carpet

Any contamination after vomiting must be cleaned immediately, without allowing the masses to soak into the carpet.

Traditional methods

To get rid of odor, you can use the following methods:

The easiest way is to cover the dirt with soda and rub it into the pile with a stiff brush, then leave for 3 hours.
Soda and citric acid (2:1). The product must be applied to the carpet and cleaned with a brush.
Add a little water to the soda until a paste forms. She needs to evenly treat the contaminated area and leave until dry, then clean with a brush.
Using shabby laundry soap and starch - for 500 g of starch you need 3 tbsp. l. soap Apply the dry mixture evenly to the problem area, rub in with a brush, wait about 45 minutes and vacuum.
Ammonia (2 tsp per 500 ml of water). You can add a small amount of ground soap. The composition applied to the contaminated area is allowed to dry - it is advisable to do this outdoors.

Professional products

It is also recommended to use special enzyme formulations.

Enzyme cleaners “Miracle of Nature” and “Children and Animals” are specially designed to get rid of various odors. You can purchase them in specialized household chemical stores. The product should be applied in large quantities for 3 hours.

Attention! There is no need to be afraid of the smell of the enzyme composition itself: when the vomiting smell disappears, the “aroma” of the chemical substance will also disappear.

What else can you do to remove odor?

Experts advise mixing 1 part detergent in 2 parts water. The composition is applied to the contaminated area and rubbed in with a brush.

These are the most environmentally friendly, inexpensive and effective methods of getting rid of the smell of vomit. Certain of them can rid the problem area of dirt and vomit odor, but also slightly update the carpet, restoring its attractive appearance.

But before you start getting rid of the smell, especially if you have never used a certain product before, you need to check it in some inconspicuous place so as not to spoil the carpet.

A person who vomits while driving a car can seriously stain the interior - vomit gets on the seat belts, upholstery, and floor mats. All these things are made from different materials, so they can be cleaned with improvised means to varying degrees.

The most reliable way to get rid of stains and unpleasant odors is professional dry cleaning and car washing. However, the cost of this procedure is often prohibitively high. In this case, you can do the cleaning yourself.

Regardless of which method is chosen subsequently, cleaning should begin immediately after the trouble occurs. If leftover vomit is not removed immediately, it will penetrate deep into the tissue, making cleaning more difficult.

To wipe up vomit, you can use paper napkins, toilet paper, or other material that absorbs liquid well. In this case, the movements should be wet, not rubbing. Then the stains should be covered with something absorbent - for example, soda powder, potato or corn starch.
As soon as the opportunity arises, you should begin cleaning. The faster it is done, the greater the chance that there will be no stains or stench left in the car.

Ways to clean a sofa

Application of essence

Acetic acid can help get rid of vomit smells on your couch, but it should be used with caution. First, remove the vomit from the upholstery, then wipe it with a damp cloth or rag.

Then proceed like this:

Add 4 tbsp to 2 liters of cold water. l. essences.
Soak a microfiber cloth in the solution.
Wipe areas that emit odor.
Leave to dry.

Instead of essence, you can use hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice. They will help eliminate odors and at the same time make the upholstery colors more vibrant.

Food vinegar

If you don’t have any essence at home, vinegar will do. It is dilute acetic acid and acts on the same principle. But the procedure itself will be slightly different. To get rid of the smell of vomit on the couch, you need to do the following:

Mix water and vinegar in a plastic or enamel bowl at the rate of 10 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water.
Soak a piece of sheet or cloth in this liquid.
Squeeze lightly and spread on the problem area.
Press down over the entire area with something heavy.
After 1 hour, rinse the rag in clean water, soak it in the solution again and repeat the procedure.

Salt

If for some reason the smell is not removed immediately, it can become embedded deep into the fibers. In this case, regular coarse salt will help, and if desired, you can also use aromatic salt. Basic actions:

Sprinkle salt over the foul-smelling area of the sofa.
Do not rub in, but distribute evenly.
Leave for 10-11 hours.
Brush or vacuum with a vacuum cleaner (you can use a car vacuum cleaner).

Aromatic salt works no worse than regular salt; on the contrary, the upholstery acquires a pleasant smell. But here there is a risk of getting an “explosive mixture” of two aromas, one of which is foul. So when using healing salt, you need to clean the upholstery especially carefully. If after cleaning there are still signs of a problem, you should use vinegar as described earlier.

Other methods

Upholstered furniture that smells like vomit can be restored to its original state using sodium bicarbonate and starch. Both substances have absorbent properties and are able to absorb not only dirt and moisture, but also odor, because it is nothing more than molecules of a fetid substance. Cleaning is carried out as follows:

Starch and soda are mixed in a bowl, maintaining a 1:1 ratio.
Scatter over the upholstery.
After 40-50 minutes, vacuum or brush off.

A sofa with a leather cover is easier to clean than a sofa with a textile cover. The skin is not inclined to absorb dirt and foreign odors, so it is enough to use an aqueous solution with soap and ammonia. First, you should wash the vomit from the sofa and wipe the upholstery dry. The further procedure should be as follows:

Pour 2 liters of water into a basin, add 3 tsp. liquid soap and pour 1 tbsp. l. ammonia.
Moisten a light rag or foam rubber in the solution.
Wipe the skin where it smells.
Use a cloth soaked in clean water to remove any remaining solution.

It is important that there are no traces of soap and ammonia left on leather upholstery, because when dry they form whitish streaks. It is better to clean synthetics with weak alkaline compounds, and for natural fibers (cotton and linen) it is not recommended to use concentrated acids

It is recommended to clean the stain in the direction from its edges to the middle

It is better to clean synthetics with weak alkaline compounds, and for natural fibers (cotton and flax) it is not recommended to use concentrated acids. It is recommended to clean the stain in the direction from its edges to the middle.

Store-bought cleaning products

It should be noted that any cleaning products remove particles of vomit from the surface, but do not always solve the problem of odor in the cabin. Fabrics can give off an unpleasant odor even after very thorough cleaning.

The products from the following list most often turn out to be effective and eliminate the unpleasant “smell” from the car along with stains:

Runway foam upholstery cleaner - easy to apply, suitable for all types of fabrics. It can also be used to wipe parts made of plastic and velor - moldings, dashboard.
ABRO foam interior cleaner can easily clean fabrics, carpets, as well as surfaces coated with nickel and chrome.
Liqui Moly Polster-Schaum-Reiniger upholstery cleaning foam - like the previous product, copes well with stains on fabric and velor upholstery and rugs.
Hi-Gear Leather Cleaner - designed for leather interiors.

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Homemade remedies

Since vomiting consists of food debris mixed with gastric juice, which has an acidic reaction, you need to try to neutralize it:

Dissolve ¼ cup of soda in a glass of warm water and wash the affected areas on the upholstery using a sponge.
When the solution becomes dirty, it is poured out and a new portion is prepared.

For complete cleansing, it may take 5 changes of solution or even more.

After cleaning the car, you need to open the windows and put it outside so that it is well ventilated. Naturally, you should not forget about safety and leave the vehicle unattended.

If the soda did not have the desired effect and ventilation also did not help much, it is worth covering the places where there was previously vomit with dry ground coffee or activated carbon (these options are only suitable for dark upholstery). You can also place a wide container of vinegar in your car overnight.

Enzymes (enzymes)

Stores sell products that are made on the basis of enzymes that can break down biological substances. They were developed to eliminate the smell of urine, but they also cope with the consequences of vomiting. They should be applied generously, and if not only the upholstery, but also the filling is damaged, then to enhance the effect, you should generously pour all the affected areas and let them dry. The smell will disappear completely after 2-3 treatments.

Using detergents

This is a great way to help you remove stench from carpet. The work progress consists of the following actions:

Wet the damaged area with water. This must be done extremely carefully so that the liquid does not absorb deeply into the coating and further spread the stench.
Apply washing powder to a damp surface and scrub thoroughly with a stiff brush.

Important! If your carpet is white, you can add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide at this stage.

Vacuum the damp carpet surface with a regular household vacuum cleaner. If this is not the case, a dry, clean rag is a good alternative.
Wet the carpet again with clean water to remove any soap residue. Help yourself with this with a brush, as the solution could be absorbed into the fibers. Be prepared for the fact that you may have to repeat this action several times.
Vacuum the carpet again or wipe it again with a clean rag until the moisture is completely removed.
Spray the carpet with air freshener or similar scent.

Soda and water

This is also an equally popular and effective method for removing the smell of vomit. All you need to do is mix these two ingredients to form a paste.

Important! If desired, you can add a drop of detergent or hydrogen peroxide to the prepared soda paste.

Apply the paste to the surface of the carpet and use an old toothbrush to spread it out. Leave the carpet alone for a day, then scrape off the hardened soda paste with a knife. Remaining paste can be removed using a household vacuum cleaner.

Vinegar and glass cleaner

To eliminate the smell of vomit using this method, you need to follow this course of action:

Prepare a solution of window cleaning liquid, water and vinegar. To do this, take one part window cleaning liquid and vinegar to two parts water.

Important! You can strengthen the solution with one drop of laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent.

Using a brush or sponge, treat the surface of the carpet in the area where the contamination was. Leave it alone for a few hours.
Remove soapy residue from the solution using a clean rag. At the end, it is advisable to vacuum the carpet.

General recommendations

The sooner the discharge is removed, the less likely it is that the smell will be firmly absorbed into the upholstery. If someone has vomited on the sofa, the first step is to clean it up using rags or wipes soaked in soapy water. Then you need to assess the extent of the damage and prepare improvised and professional means to remove unpleasant odors.

soapy water;
ammonia;
lemon juice;
potassium permanganate;
vinegar essence;
coffee beans;
Black tea;
salt;
hydrogen peroxide.

Before removing the smell, it is necessary to clean the upholstery from stains, if any, otherwise, as a result of a chemical reaction between citric acid, vinegar and dirt, a difficult-to-remove substance is formed that will penetrate even deeper into the fibers. As a result, upholstered furniture may begin to smell even stronger.

How to remove the stench from the sofa if vomit gets on the upholstery?

As in the case of a car, it is important not to get confused and immediately blot everything that gets on the sofa with paper towels or napkins. If you don’t have anything like this at hand, cat litter will also work - the granules will almost instantly absorb all the liquid, after which they will need to be swept away with a broom.

If the sofa is covered with covers, they are then removed and sent to the wash.
Regular upholstery will have to be washed with soapy water (if this is permissible for a particular type of material). As a detergent, you can use washing gel or clear shampoo - the product is dissolved in a small amount of lukewarm water, whipped into a lush foam and applied to the fabric with a sponge. The water should be warm, up to +30 ºC, since at higher temperatures the protein contained in the vomit coagulates, which means it will be much more difficult to get rid of stains and odors.

When there are no visible traces of vomit on the sofa, the wet areas after washing are covered with soda or starch and left until completely dry, and then vacuumed.

If the stench does not disappear, you should buy enzyme products. You can also try to remove the smell from the sofa using essential oils - mix baking soda with a few drops of oil and pour it onto the damaged part of the sofa, and after a few hours vacuum it up.

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Article information

This article was produced by our experienced team of editors and researchers, who reviewed it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Categories: House

In other languages:

Español: eliminar el olor a vómito en la alfombra, Italiano: Eliminare l'Odore di Vomito da un Tappeto, Deutsch: Geruch von Erbrochenem aus einem Teppich entfernen, Français: enlever une odeur de vomi d'un tapis, Nederlands: De geur van braaksel uit je tapijt verwijderen, Bahasa Indonesia: Menghilangkan Bau Muntahan di Karpet, Čeština: Jak odstranit zápach zvratků z koberce, العربية: التخلص من رائحة القي ء في السجادة

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There is no stain, but there is a smell. What to do in this case?

Sometimes there are situations when you removed the vomit on time, however, it managed to be absorbed into the carpet, as a result of which a very unpleasant odor emanates from it. If you also encounter this problem, we offer you a number of ways to remove the smell of vomit from the carpet.

Using detergents

This is a great way to help you remove the stench from your carpet. The work progress consists of the following actions:

Wet the damaged area with water. This must be done extremely carefully so that the liquid does not absorb deeply into the coating and further spread the stench.
Apply washing powder to a damp surface and scrub thoroughly with a stiff brush.

Important! If your carpet is white, you can add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide at this stage.

Vacuum the damp carpet surface with a regular household vacuum cleaner. If this is not the case, a dry, clean rag is a good alternative.
Wet the carpet again with clean water to remove any soap residue. Help yourself with this with a brush, as the solution could be absorbed into the fibers. Be prepared for the fact that you may have to repeat this action several times.
Vacuum the carpet again or wipe it again with a clean rag until the moisture is completely removed.
Spray the carpet with air freshener or similar scent.

Soda and water

This is also an equally popular and effective method for removing the smell of vomit. All you need to do is mix these two ingredients to form a paste.

Important! If desired, you can add a drop of detergent or hydrogen peroxide to the prepared soda paste.

Vinegar and glass cleaner

To eliminate the smell of vomit using this method, you need to follow this course of action:

Prepare a solution of window cleaning liquid, water and vinegar. To do this, take one part window cleaning liquid and vinegar to two parts water.

Important! You can strengthen the solution with one drop of laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent.

Using a brush or sponge, treat the surface of the carpet in the area where the contamination was. Leave it alone for a few hours.
Remove soapy residue from the solution using a clean rag. At the end, it is advisable to vacuum the carpet.

Folk methods of struggle

eliminate the musty smell from carpet using three popular folk remedies :

In the first case, you can use a soap solution.
The second method involves the use of acetic acid and baking soda.
The third recipe uses hydrogen peroxide as the basis.

Soap solution

This product for removing unpleasant odors from carpets is the most affordable and safest. The soap solution also successfully fights dirt.

It is recommended to use laundry soap . It does not contain fragrances or foreign chemicals.

To prepare a soap solution, you need to take 100 g of laundry soap (half a bar) and grate it on a coarse grater. Place the grated mass in a bowl with 2 liters of warm water. Wait until the soap is completely dissolved in water and the solution becomes opaque.

You need to take a stiff brush for rugs and dip it in the resulting soap solution . It is recommended to clean carpet using soft, rubbing movements. After cleaning, the carpet should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water and dried in the open air.

It is recommended to use a soap solution to clean carpets only when the smell has recently appeared on them. This method is ineffective in combating strong stench.

Using baking soda and acetic acid

The combination of two components - soda and vinegar - promotes the release of carbon dioxide. Thanks to it, not only stubborn dirt is removed, but also the stench from the carpet is eliminated. To prepare the product, you need a bowl of warm water, an acetic acid solution, baking soda and any empty spray bottle.

The solution is made according to the following scheme:

2 liters of warm water are poured into a deep basin.
Add 1 large spoon of soda.
Add 2 large spoons of acetic acid.
The resulting mixture is stirred and infused a little.
The solution is poured into a plastic bottle. A sprayer is screwed onto it on top.

The solution is sprayed along the entire perimeter of the carpet. You need to wait a few minutes. Take a bowl of clean water and a soft sponge. Treat the carpet with it. After treatment, dry the carpet in the open air.

Do not use acetic acid on silk or wool based carpets . An aggressive solution may damage the product. It is also not recommended to treat rugs with hot water.

How to clean with hydrogen peroxide?

It is recommended to combine this product with baking soda. Hydrogen peroxide not only neutralizes the stench emitted by the carpet, but also acts as a good stain remover. To prepare the product you will need hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution), baking soda and warm water.

It is necessary to pour 1.5 liters of warm water into a deep basin. Add half a glass of peroxide and two large spoons of soda. Mix the mixture and pour into a plastic container with a spray bottle.

Spray the entire carpet with the solution and leave for 15 minutes . Wipe the carpet with a damp sponge and dry it in the open air.

Only white and light-colored carpets can be treated with a solution based on hydrogen peroxide. This product is not suitable for dark-colored products.

What can I do to remove the smell of vomit from my carpet?

The most difficult carpets to clean from vomit are long-pile carpets made from natural materials. It is better to dry clean them, otherwise there is a risk of irreversibly ruining an expensive item.

The easiest way to get rid of the smell on the carpet is by washing - either by machine (if the size of the carpet allows) or by hand. This method has only one drawback - it will be difficult to dry a wet carpet in winter. Therefore, this option is only suitable for the warm season. In other cases, you should resort to dry or foam cleaning.

Of all the products on the market, the best results in eliminating odor are shown by:

Vanish Gold manual carpet cleaner - by the way, it is suitable not only for carpets, but also for upholstered furniture with fabric upholstery.
Odor neutralizer for textiles, carpets and clothing Astonish - you need to make sure that it does not get on surfaces made of leather, suede and natural silk.
Carpet cleaner Dr. Beckmann - suitable for wool products.

If the contamination is not severe, the already mentioned soda will help in the fight against the smell of vomit. It should be poured onto a fresh stain and after a few hours, vacuum the carpet.

Removing Dried Stains

In order to clean the carpet from vomit stains that have already dried, you will have to repeat all the same work as with a fresh stain. The only difference is that you will have to carry out the same actions not just once, but several times to ensure that the contamination is completely removed.

If this method does not suit you, you can also use ammonia. For this:

Mix one tablespoon with a glass of warm water.
Moisten a clean white rag with the prepared solution and blot the contaminated area with it.
Once the stain has soaked into the rag, use a dry towel to dry the carpet.

Important! Always test the effect of alcohol on a small and inconspicuous area of the carpet so as not to accidentally ruin it. It is not recommended to use this method if the carpet is wool.

Use of industrial products

You can cope with unpleasant odors and dirt using special products.

Neutralizers Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover, ORANGE-OXY, Bio-GM, Dezosan, and Kiehl-Omni-fresh active cleaner effectively remove unpleasant odors.
The universal preparation Break Down, which contains enzymes, is suitable for wet cleaning. With its help you can get rid of the smell of tobacco.
You can deal with serious stains using shampoos Drop Vox, 5+ carpets, Vanish. They are whipped into foam, applied to contaminated surfaces, and after complete drying, removed with a vacuum cleaner. They get rid of foreign odors and various contaminants, efficiently disinfect surfaces and are suitable for use in washing vacuum cleaners.
Udalix Ultra and Vanish powders are also effective. They contain oxygen-containing bleach and enzymes that allow you to remove any type of contaminant.
Help is used as a stain remover. The composition is sprayed onto the contaminated areas of the carpet, after which these areas are rubbed with a sponge. When working with this substance, it is recommended to use gloves and to ventilate the room well.
To get rid of persistent and old stains on the carpet, use special Antipyatin soap. Rub the stain thoroughly with a damp piece and then wash off with water. Vanish active foam has a similar effect. With its help, you can refresh carpets, depriving them of unpleasant odors.
Vanish spray is suitable for removing fresh stains. It is sprayed onto dust-free surfaces, and after the time specified in the instructions, the dirt is rubbed off with a soft brush.

Rules of care

In order to avoid the appearance of stench from your favorite rug, you must follow the recommendations for caring for it:

Vacuum your new carpet immediately after purchase. After production, loose fibers remain in it, as well as dust from a store or factory;
A new, smelling carpet should be well ventilated in the fresh air, following the manufacturer's recommendations. It is strictly forbidden to place the product in direct sunlight. If it is not possible to take the carpet outside, then it is worth ventilating the room in which it is located more often;
Immediately blot up any liquid that gets on the carpet. To do this, you can use paper towels or a vacuum cleaner with water suction function. Large wet spots can be dried with a hairdryer with cold air function;
do not put the carpet away for long-term storage without first removing stains and odors, or in a damp state;
Do not place the product, especially those made of synthetic fibers, in direct sunlight. When heated, the fibers can melt and cause an unpleasant odor that cannot be removed;
When putting the carpet away for storage, you need to roll it up and lay out the layers with paper. The product should be unpacked and ventilated at least once every six months;
Avoid getting food or other organic matter on the carpet. In areas where animals are fed or where small children are constantly present, the carpet must be protected with a waterproof covering;
do not spread the carpet on a wet floor without waiting for it to dry completely after cleaning;
do not use products with pile in rooms with high humidity;
carry out preventive cleaning of the carpet using industrial means or a traditional method at least once every few months;
in winter, take the carpet out into the snow or take it to the dry cleaner once a year;
Clean the carpet not only from the front side, but also from the back side. This rule applies not only to thorough cleaning with detergents, but also to the use of a vacuum cleaner;
strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for the product. Do not use strong-smelling chemical compounds in concentrated form to remove stains.

Advice! Timely cleaning of carpeting allows you to preserve its appearance and completely get rid of unpleasant odors.

When choosing care products, you need to pay attention not only to the origin of the contamination, but also to the material of the product. In this way, it will be possible to achieve high-quality and safe results.

How to clean a vomit stain from a mattress?

If vomit gets on the mattress, it will be difficult to remove the smell. The fact is that the liquid penetrates inside very quickly, staining the filler. You need to act immediately - blot the bad-smelling slurry with toilet paper or paper towels, and then, without sparing, soak the stains with a product with enzymes that break down organic matter (for example, Ultizym Carpet Cleaner or Binatec).

In the absence of special means, you can resort to soda - pour it in a thick layer over the entire contaminated surface and leave it to absorb moisture, then vacuum the mattress. However, in most cases, such treatment is not enough - you will still have to purchase a special product.

So, in order to remove a vomit stain from a mattress, sofa, carpet or any element of the car interior, and at the same time remove the stench, you need to start cleaning immediately after the trouble has occurred. The best results are demonstrated by cleaning products with enzymes - they simply “eat up” all the organic matter, the decay of which is the cause of the bad smell.

What unpleasant odors are most common on carpets?

Before you begin cleaning your carpet, determine what is causing the odor.

Often only purchased products smell of chemicals. This is due to the quality of the materials from which they are made.

The cause of the unpleasant odor is various contaminants that appear on the carpet during use - remnants of food and drinks that accidentally fall on the floor, the urine of pets or the smallest family members. Tobacco smoke ingrained into the floor covering also causes trouble. Poorly dried products acquire an unpleasant smell of dampness and mold.

If any liquid is spilled on the carpet, remove it immediately without waiting for it to absorb and dry.