Removing vomit stains from carpet is among the most unpleasant household chores.
Often, most people are turned off by the foul odor of vomit. With a toddler around the house, there is a high chance of having an unnoticed vomit mark on a carpet for a long time.
Procrastination plays its part, and you end up with an old vomit stain tarnishing your home.
Cleaning up a vomit stain may be disgusting, but it is essential in carpet care. A vomit stain that sits on a carpet for a long gets entangled in the rug’s fibers and may leave traces even after scraping it off.
Different ways how to remove old vomit stains from carpet
Below is a list of methods (four in total) that will help remove old vomit stains from the carpet. If followed well, your carpet will be clean and fresh in no time. Before starting any of these steps, it is advisable first to scrape off excessive vomit using a spatula.
Method 1: Using baking soda and white vinegar
Using baking soda and white vinegar is ideal, as the mixture is gentle on fabric and tough on the vomit stains. You’ll need to wear gloves to keep your hands clean and protect it from any contaminants.
What you need:
- A vacuum cleaner
- Baking Soda
- Rubber gloves
- Clean towel
- Spray bottle
- White vinegar
Steps to take:
- Pour the baking soda on the stain.
- Ensure that pets or kids do not play around the area by covering it with a cloth and leaving it to sit for 30 minutes.
- Vacuum the baking soda from the area.
- Dilute the white vinegar in a spray bottle with water (1:1 ratio) and spray the solution on the stain. Let the solution dissolve for ten minutes.
- Use a towel to blot the stained area until dry and clean.
Method 2: Using an Enzyme Cleaner
Enzyme cleaners are a good option for cleaning stubborn vomit stains due to their ability to penetrate through the stain and break it down. These enzymes are free from toxic ingredients, making it a safe option.
What you need:
- An enzyme cleaner agent
- Clean damp towels
- Vacuum cleaner
Steps to take:
- After scraping off the excess vomit, apply the right amount of the enzyme cleaner over the stain and leave it for thirty minutes.
- Blot the area with a clean, damp towel.
- Depending on the toughness of the stain, repeat the enzyme cleaner application, then blot with the towel until the stain is no longer visible.
- Open the windows and let the carpet air dry. If you’re dealing with area rugs, bring it out under the sun to speed up the process.
- Vacuum clean the carpet after it has dried to restore its original fluffiness.
Method 3: Flushing with Club Coda
Club soda is made up of water and carbon dioxide, making it slightly acidic and ideal for removing stains.
This ingredient is an excellent option to clean bile out of carpets if you don’t want to the hassle of rinsing the area with soap and water.
What you need:
- Club soda
- Ammonia solution
- Some dry and clean pieces of cloth
- Rubber gloves and eye goggles
- White towel (or paper towel)
- Vacuum cleaner or wet/dry vacuum (optional)
Steps to take:
- Pour the club soda on the stain and allow it to occupy a larger surface around the stain. Let the liquid sit for 30 minutes.
- Blot the area using a clean cloth (or paper towel) and replace it once wet. This way, the fabric absorbs the liquid residue better.
- Mix ΒΌ of a cup of ammonia in one gallon of water and soak a cloth. Lightly scrub the stained area with the ammonia solution. Don’t forget to use eye goggles and rubber gloves for extra protection when handling ammonia.
- Another option to speed up the drying process is using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner after steps 2 and 3.
- After the stain is removed, vacuum the carpet to restore its fluffiness.
Method 4: Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a potent cleaning agent and is usable on any type of stain, including that stubbornly old vomit patch. Due to its bleaching characteristic, using it with a neutralizing base is advisable to maintain the carpet’s color.
What you need:
- Hydrogen Peroxide solution
- A non-gel toothpaste
- Clean white towel
Steps to take:
- Mix one tablespoon of a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide with non-gel toothpaste.
- Apply the mixture on the patch of the old vomit stain and let it sit for thirty minutes using a clean white towel.
- Rinse the paste off with a wet piece of cloth repeatedly until the stain is gone.
How do you get rid of the vomit smell off a carpet?
Another issue with vomit is the stench it leaves behind. It has an odor that can linger and may spread through the confines of the home, which is unpleasant.
In this section, we’ll look at several ways of removing the vomit smell. The good news is these ingredients are readily available in your pantry: baking soda, carpet shampoo, vinegar, and Borax.
Method 1: Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is a well-known absorbent for various odors, including vomit smell. This method is the most straightforward and will work well on light to moderate odors.
What you need:
- Baking Soda
- Vacuum cleaner
Steps to take:
- Ensure you have proper access to the old vomit spot.
- Sprinkle the baking soda over the affected area and let it sit for a night. This gives it enough time to absorb the odor.
- Vacuum clean the baking soda off the carpet.
- Open the windows to circulate the air and speed up the process of dissipating vomit odor.
Method 2: Using Vinegar and Carpet Shampoo
All carpet shampoos have a pleasant aroma, ideal for removing stubborn vomit smell. It is, however, advisable to check with the manufacturer of your shampoo of choice to be sure if it can be used with vinegar for cleaning.
What you need:
- White vinegar
- Carpet shampoo
- Carpet steamer
Steps to take:
- Mix three tablespoons of vinegar with a scented carpet shampoo.
- Pour the mixture into the carpet steamer.
- Ensure you read instructions on using the steamer to avoid accidents.
- Steam the affected area of the carpet, and leave the carpet out to dry and aerate under the sun.
Method 3: Using Borax and Baking Soda
Another alternative for stubborn odor is using Borax to complement baking soda.
What you need:
- Borax
- Baking Soda
- Vacuum cleaner
Steps to take:
- Sprinkle generous amounts of Borax and baking soda on the areas with vomit odor.
- Leave it in the area for at least an hour before using a vacuum cleaner.
Method 4: Cheap Vodka
This may come as a surprise, but experts recommend keeping a bottle of cheap vodka for cleaning and deodorizing different areas it the home. It has the same cleaning properties as vinegar (without the scent). One use of vodka is cleaning vomit stains and odors.
What you need:
- The cheapest vodka available
- Paper towels or white microfiber cloth
- Baking soda
- Spray bottle
- Vacuum cleaner
Steps to take:
- Mist vodka on areas that have vomit odor and let it sit for around 15 minutes to deodorize.
- Blot with a clean paper towel or cloth until the area is dry.
- Sprinkle baking soda and leave it for one hour. Vacuum the area afterward.
Additional Tips
- Make it a habit to check the carpet for any visible stains at least once a day, especially if you have young children or pets.
- Since prevention is the best practice, it is advisable to Scotchgard a carpet. It protects the carpet by making it vomit-resistant; cleaning off a vomit stain is easier.
- When cleaning fresh vomit from a carpet, it is advisable to scoop it off the carpet first with a spatula or hands (wearing rubber gloves, of course!). You should not rub the vomit into the strands since cleaning is harder.
- A good carpet care practice is to open the windows and let the air circulate inside the home to remove any foul odor. If you have area rugs, bring them outside as they help take away any nasty smells, leaving them fresh.
Change log:
- Feb 29, 2024: edit parts of the article for better conciseness and readability.