Cleaning up vomit is probably one of the worst cleaning tasks, be it anywhere.
You can do little to prevent it if you have a pet in your abode or if you happen to get sick. And when it lands on your beautiful carpet, it’s scary, gruesome, pathetic and annoying.
The carpet is definitely not the ideal place for vomit to land. All you are left with is double the tasks to do – remove the stain and get rid of the odor.
While vomit stains are definitely annoying, it is not very difficult to get rid of them if you follow the rule of thumb – the sooner the better! Plus, using the right cleaner and the right procedure will help you get rid of that nasty sight as well as the odor.
So, before you start convincing yourself that your carpet is ruined, take a look at top 3 methods to remove vomit stains from your carpet.
Here are 3 top methods to remove vomit stains.
Method 1: Use Baking Soda
Things you’ll need:
- Baking soda (good absorbent)
- Scraping knife
- Water
- Paper towels
- Kitchen towel
Step 1. Scrape away the excess
- Using a dull knife, scrape off as much vomit as possible.
This will not only lighten the stain but also minimize the size of stain.
Step 2. Blot up any moisture
- Place a paper towel on the vomit stain and blot. Keep blotting until your paper towels run dry.
This will soak up all the moisture from the stain.
Step 3. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stain and allow it to sit for 1 hour.
Baking soda is a good absorbent and easily soaks up the vomit stain.
Step 4. Vacuum and wipe clean and dry
- Vacuum up the baking soda and residual vomit.
- Finish with wiping the stain using a kitchen towel.
Method 2: Use Corn Starch
Things you’ll need:
- Corn starch (effective absorbent)
- Scraping knife
- Water
- Paper towels
- Kitchen towel
Step 1. Scrape and blot
- With a dull knife, scrape away as much vomit as possible.
- Grab a paper towel and blot the stain. Keep blotting until there is no more moisture on the paper towels.
Scraping and blotting not only helps lighten and minimize the stain but also soaks up moisture from the stain.
Step 2. Spread corn starch over the stain
- Sprinkle corn starch all over the stain, leaving no area uncovered.
- Allow the corn starch to sit for 15 minutes.
Corn starch is an effective absorbent and helps soak up vomit from the carpet.
Step 3. Vacuum and wipe clean and dry
- Vacuum the area to clean up the corn starch and any residual vomit.
- Finish with drying the carpet using a kitchen towel.
Method 3: Use Dish Soap
Things you’ll need:
- Diluted dish soap
- Scraping knife
- Water
- Paper towels
- Kitchen towel
Step 1. Scrape away the excess
- Grab a butter knife or any other dull knife to scrape away the excess vomit from the stain.
This will minimize the size of the stain and lighten the spot.
Step 2. Pour diluted dish soap over the stain
- Dilute liquid dish soap with an equal amount of water and pour it over the stain.
Step 3. Wipe, rinse and wipe
- Wipe away the soap using a kitchen towel.
- Pour a little water on the carpet and wipe again to remove any residual soap and vomit.
- Repeat if needed until the stain is gone.
Tips
- Like every other carpet stain – the rule of thumb for cleaning vomit stains is the sooner, the better. The longer the vomit sits, the further it will soak deeper into the carpet.
- Dry cleaning fluid is also helpful for removing vomit stains from carpet.
- If you’re in a hurry, you can use commercial cleaners like Kids ‘n Pets that are specifically designed to stay on the carpet and air-dry. They also remove the odors from the fabric.
- After vacuuming the area, always dispose of the contents and replace the vacuum bag to prevent odor and bacterial growth inside the vacuum.
- For faster cleaning, use a wet vac or a carpet shampooer.