No sane person on this planet enjoys seeing the ugly image of vomit or smelling the nasty odor that accompanies the gross stains. But then, this involuntary upchuck can happen to all of us at least at some point in our lifetime. Worse still, it may end up on your luxurious carpet or rug, and the faint smell will be lingering a few days later even after cleaning it.
This nasty, pervasive smell often hits us when we are least prepared to neutralize the odor and add freshness back within our carpeting. If the acidic spill is left untreated as soon as it lands on the carpet, the odor settles into the padding beneath and becomes more difficult to deodorize the disgusting carpet aromas. Have no fear though, as we will divulge some handy tips and tricks on how to get the smell of vomit out of carpet faster than you can ever imagine.
What You’ll Need:
- Dishwashing gloves
- White paper towels
- Clean cloths
- Spoon or spatula
- Butter knife
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
- Wet/dry shop vac
Table of Contents
How to Get Rid of Vomit Smell in a Carpet Using Baking Soda – Method 1
Scoop up the solid materials
If the vomit contains any solid particles, wear you dishwashing gloves and scoop them up with a spoon or spatula. The last thing you want is to touch the vomit with unprotected or exposed hands. Scrape off the solid substances starting from the outside and working your way toward the center to avoid spreading the stain. After retrieving as much solid bits as possible throw them in a sealed bag and dispose.
Loosen any leftover residue with cool water
Soak the stained area in cool water to loosen the leftover residue for easy removal. Use as little water as possible, because the excess liquid can ooze into the padding beneath the carpeting thus spreading the stain and making it hard to vacuum. Then, vacuum the area with a shop or wet/dry vac to remove all the moisture from the carpet.
Cover the stain with baking soda paste
Baking soda is a powerful carpet deodorizer that can remove any lingering stench from the carpet fibers. Mix the baking soda with water to form a toothpaste-like consistency. Spread a thin layer of the baking soda paste over the entire stain and leave it for 24 hours to absorb the vomit smell.
Brush it up
As the baking soda paste dries, brush it with a bristly brush or an old toothbrush. This is meant to work the paste deeper into the fibers and remove the foul stench. Focus on the edges and the inside, because the ring of the stain can be hard to treat.
Scrape it off
After 24 hours, the paste will have dried and hardened. Of course, by this time it will have soaked up the odor and is ready to scrape off. Using a butter knife, scrape off the solid bits of the paste and the foul stench will go with it.
Vacuum up the excess soda paste on the carpet
You must vacuum up the area to get rid of the excess baking soda paste on the carpet. Use a vacuum that is specially designed for use on carpet. After vacuuming, reexamine the area to determine if all the smell is gone. But if the stench persists, wet the area with a damp cloth and vacuum up once more. Then, allow the carpet to dry completely before walking on it again.
How to Get Vomit Smell Out of Carpet Using Vinegar – Method 2
Scrape any solids off the carpet
The first step involves scraping any solid materials off the carpet. If the vomit has dried, spray a small amount of water onto the stained area to dampen the affected area and loosen the stain. Now, remove the solids and place them in a sealed bag for disposing.
Make a solution of vinegar and water
In a large bowl, make a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Add 1-2 drops of laundry detergent or dish soap into the mix for extra odor-fighting potency. This solution helps to loosen any remaining vomit, disinfect the carpet, and reduce the smell.
Wet the stained area and scrub
Set aside a pair of gloves for scrubbing the carpet. Now grab a sponge or a brush and scrub the stained spot with your water/vinegar/detergent solution. Be sure to cover the entire area so that vinegar can work on all spots affected by the vomit stain.
Allow the solution to set in
Once you’ve scrubbed the entire area, leave the vinegar solution on the stain to absorb the vomit smell. Allow it to set for 1-2 hours in order to take action on those smells and the vomit residue. Note that when vinegar is working on the smell, the vomit stench will be pretty potent at first, but it will disappear in time. So don’t worry.
Vacuum it up
After 1-2 hours, or when the vinegar solution has started drying up on the carpet, it’s time to vacuum it up. Use a wet/dry vac for this purpose, not any other ordinary vacuum that can damage the carpet fibers. If vacuuming is not an option, you can soak up any liquid with a dry towel.
Be sure to apply some pressure so that the liquid can be forced into the towel. And if the carpet retains any soapy residue, gently dab or blot up the area with a damp cloth. Then, use a clean microfiber cloth or a dry towel to soak up the liquid. You may still be able to notice a faint smell while the carpet is still wet, but rest assured the smell will vanish as soon as the carpet dries up completely.
How to Remove Vomit Smell from Carpet Using a Carpet Deodorizer – Method 3
Get a commercial carpet deodorizer
A lot of local hardware stores sell commercial carpet deodorizers which work well on vomit. The best carpet deodorizer contains natural ingredients and doesn’t leave any stains or marks on the carpet. Choose a brand that is specially formulated for getting vomit smell out of carpet.
Apply the deodorizer to the affected area
Most carpet deodorizers are available in a powder form. Sprinkle a generous amount of the carpet deodorizer on the affected area and spread it to cover the entire stain. Make sure to check the label for recommendations on how much deodorizer to use on the stain.
Allow it to work on the smell
Leave the deodorizer to sit on the stain overnight to absorb as much of vomit smell as possible. Depending on how strong the smell is, you can let it sit for up to 48 hours.
Vacuum up
Finally, grab your wet/dry shop vac and vacuum up the deodorizer. Before vacuuming up, make sure the deodorizer has had enough time to act on the stain and absorb the smell. Check if the vomit smell is fully gone. Then complete the cleanup by vacuuming up the deodorizer.
Final Note
Getting the vomit smell out of carpet can be an uphill task, but the good news is that it’s entirely doable. With the three methods we’ve discussed above, you’ll be able to neutralize the odor on your own without the need to pay huge dollar bills for a professional cleaning. We’ve tested and proven that these solutions can eliminate the vomit smell and add freshness into your carpeting.
