How to clean up vomit

It’s easy enough to clean up vomit from a tiled, concrete, or wooden floor: just grab a mop, bucket of piping hot water, and a sanitising floor cleaner, and your problem is all but solved. But what about cleaning vomit from carpet fibres? You want to be sure you do a good job, or a nasty smell could haunt you for days to come! To learn how to clean up sick quickly and effectively just follow our step-by-step guide below, which also includes handy tips on how to get that horrible vomit smell out of carpet.

You will need:

• Protective gloves and clothing
• Cloth or paper towel
• Vacuum
• Clean, damp cloth
• Commercial carpet deodoriser, salt, or baking powder

Cleaning vomit from carpet in 6 steps

1. Put on protective clothing

   Put on protective gloves and clothing, and make sure the room is well-ventilated.

2. Scrape off any solid matter with a cloth

   Depending on the consistency of the vomit, scrape off any solid matter with a cloth or paper towel and flush it down the toilet, or throw it away in a sealed bag.

3. Sprinkle the area with an absorbent substance and leave for 10 to 15 minutes

   Sprinkle the area with an absorbent substance, like a commercial carpet deodoriser, salt, or baking powder, and leave for 10 to 15 minutes to lift vomit from the fibres.

4. Vacuum then treat the area with a commercial stain remover

   Vacuum up the absorbent powder and treat the area with a commercial stain remover for carpets, or a carpet cleaner, according to the instructions on the bottle. Always test a small patch of the affected area with your chosen product first before using fully.

5. Blot the stain with a clean damp cloth

   Use a clean damp cloth to blot the stain away, rather than scrubbing at it, as this could push the vomit further into the carpet fibres.

6. Air-dry over night

   Allow the area to air-dry overnight.

How to remove vomit smell from carpet

Even if the room is well ventilated and you have followed the instructions above for how to clean vomit from carpet, a nasty odour may persist. If this is the case you may need to take some of the following extra steps:

• Instead of letting the area dry, repeat steps three to five, above.

• Use a steam-cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions to do a deep clean of the stained area. Steam kills germs and bacteria that often result in bad odours, but high temperatures can melt some fabric fibres, so be sure to check your carpet care guide before you start.

• Following the instructions on the label, use a disinfectant to retreat the area and make sure all germs and bacteria have been removed.

• Spray the stained area with a commercial carpet deodorant or a combination of water and a few drops of essential oils like citrus, tea tree, or lavender.

Vinegar is a natural deodoriser that can neutralise the nasty odour of vomit smells.

Mix together a cleaning solution comprising of one part distilled white vinegar, two parts warm water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid and gently wash off the vomit stain with a sponge, or cloth. Always test your homemade cleaning solution on a small patch of the affected area first.

There you have it – cleaning vomit on carpet may not be the most pleasant job, but it can be done. Afterwards, you’ll be left with a clean, sanitised, and fresh-smelling carpet to be proud of!