How To Get Rid Of Tough Vomit Stains From Your Carpet

Vomit is without a doubt one of the most disgusting stains I have had to clean. Unfortunately, there is very little I can do to prevent it, especially with the cold and flu season in full swing and family members overindulging in holiday treats! When vomit lands on your carpet, it is annoying, icky, gruesome and scary. While vomit stains are annoying, getting rid of them is doable. As a rule of thumb, the sooner you clean it off the better.

The longer vomit sits on your carpet, the harder it will be to remove the stains and smells. Additionally, using the right cleaner and the proper procedure will help get rid of the stain and odor as well. If you have not dealt with vomit stains before, now is the perfect time to learn a few cleaning tricks. Remember that your main aim is to remove the stain and the smell from your beautiful carpet.

The first thing you want to do is to cover your hands to protect them from the vomit. The gloves will not only protect your hands from the unpleasant substance, but also from germs.

Step 2: Scoop Up As Much Vomit As Possible

There are various ways to scoop up the vomit from the carpet

• You will need a big absorbent towel that will be able to scoop everything up from the carpet and then throw it straight into the washer. If there are a lot of solids in the vomit, dump what you can into the toilet. Your washing appliance will take care of the worst of it.

• You can also use a scraper or a spoon to remove as much vomit from the carpet as possible. Scrape the thick pieces into a plastic bag or a dustpan. Your focus is to get as much vomit as possible without pressing it into your carpet.

• You can use paper towels to help you scoop everything up from the carpet and then throw it straight into the trash. If there are a lot of solids in the vomit, dump what you can into the toilet.

Step 3: Dry The Excess Moisture

After scooping up the vomit, the next step is to dry the excess moisture left in your carpet. There are various ways to do this;

• Baking Soda: Put a generous amount of baking soda to cover the spot completely. Baking soda is a great product to use on vomit spots as it dries up the excess moisture resulting in little manageable clumps. Leave the baking soda on the stain for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the clumps start to dry. After that, vacuum your carpet to remove all the clusters. Make sure to use the tube to vacuum up the clumps instead of the regular vacuum head.

• Cornstarch: Another way to dry up the vomit moisture in your carpet is to sprinkle cornstarch over the affected area. Allow it to stand for about 10 to 15 minutes and then vacuum it using the hose tube.

• Water And A Clean Towel: Spray or pour some warm water on the affected area and let it stand for 30 seconds. Using a clean towel, blot the wet spots on your carpet until no more stain is transferred to the cloth. The more pressure you exert while bloating, the more the towel will suck up the moisture from your carpet.

#Pro tip: Do not scrub as it could push the remaining debris further into the carpet.

Step 4: Removing The Vomit Stain

• Carpet Cleaner: As directed on the bottle, saturate the soiled part with a carpet cleaner. I highly recommend Folex carpet spot cleaner as it has enzymes that break down the residual stuff left on your carpet.

• Club Soda: Pour or spray your club soda directly onto the stain. After that, blot up the moisture until the stain is no more. If doesn't go away, add more club soda and use a clean, dry rag as needed.

• Vinegar: In equal parts, mix vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Liberally spray the solution onto the affected spot and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, use a dry clean towel to dab at the stain. Use a stiff brush to rub at the stain until it loosens. Cover the stain with a clean towel to dab it off. To remove the odor, consider using purification essential oils and thieves essential oil that also kills 99% germs

Step 5: Eliminating Odor

If you can still smell the vomit after removing the stain, you can try using the following pro tips to help eliminate it:

• Sprinkle The Affected Area With Baking Soda: After you the stain, sprinkle baking soda generously on the soiled part of your carpet. The baking soda will help to neutralize any odor left on the carpet. Since it is also an alkaline, it will help to stop the acids found in the vomit from damaging the carpet. Preferably, let the baking soda sit overnight as it will also help to absorb any leftover moisture before vacuuming it the next day.