We all know how gross puke is, especially when you’re the one that has to clean it up. Not only do you have to remove the stain, but the smell needs to be removed with it. We always recommend getting professional help for the bigger messes, but you’ll find below a great way to remove puke and that awful smell using common household items.
Items Needed to Remove Vomit
Before you start the cleanup process, gather these supplies. Having everything ready makes the job faster and prevents the mess from soaking deeper into your carpet:
Vacuum
Dustpan
Spatula
Old Rags or Paper Towel
Baking Soda or Cornstarch
3 Tips and Tricks to Know Beforehand
A few smart strategies can make this unpleasant task more bearable and effective. These tips come from years of professional carpet cleaning experience.
1. Protect Yourself from the Smell
If you think you might puke yourself because of the smell (like me), put something with a strong scent on your top lip, right underneath your nose. Vicks vapor rub or a mint essential oil works well. This simple trick makes the whole process much more manageable.
2. Choose the Right Tools for the Job
The size of the mess determines your approach. If it's a smaller mess, you could try using a spoon to get the puke off the carpet. Larger messes need the dustpan and spatula method described in the steps below.
3. Time Matters
Try to clean the puke as soon as possible. The longer it sits, the more it will soak into the carpet and leave a bigger mess.
If you’re nervous to clean this yourself because you don’t want to cause permanent staining or damage to your carpet, it’s best to contact your trusted local carpet cleaning company and have them take care of it!
Steps to Removing Vomit on the Carpet
Now for the actual cleaning process. Follow these steps carefully for the best results:
- Remove the bulk of the mess. Use the dustpan and spatula to lift the puke off the carpet. For smaller messes use a spoon or butter knife. Do not press with the spatula or spoon hard into the carpet. Use a light touch and try not to spread the vomit. If it is more liquid puke, use paper towel and old cloth to blot up the puke.
- Blot up excess moisture. Use paper towels or old rags to blot up all moisture. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center to prevent spreading.
- Apply absorbent powder. Sprinkle the area generously with baking soda or cornstarch. Make sure the entire area is covered. This will soak up the rest of the moisture and help neutralize odors.
- Let it work. Take a break, and let the baking soda or cornstarch sit for 10-15 minutes. This waiting period is crucial for maximum absorption.
- Vacuum the powder. Next, break out your vacuum and vacuum up the baking soda/cornstarch. You'll notice it has absorbed moisture and odor.
- Apply enzyme cleaner. Then, use your enzyme-based cleaner (in a nutshell, the enzymes break down the odor), covering the entire area with the cleaner. These cleaners are specifically designed to eliminate organic odors.
- Blot again. Blot the area with your paper towel or rags, repeating as needed until satisfied. The carpet should feel barely damp, not wet.
- Allow complete drying. Wait for carpet to dry completely. This might take several hours depending on humidity and air circulation.
- Final vacuum. Go over the dry area with the vacuum to bring the carpet's texture back and remove any remaining residue.
Making the Job More Bearable
Yuck, cleaning vomit is not a fun task on any day. Life is messy and gross sometimes. Kids get sick and puke on the carpet and animals do too, and there you are – left with gross vomit on your new carpet. I can’t emphasize enough to put a dab of mint anything on your top lip while cleaning up the mess. Even if you can only find some chapstick or a bit of toothpaste, it’s worth it.
And there you have it! We think that’s the best DIY way to clean puke off your carpet.
The Vomit Spots Appear to Be Gone, but Are They Really?
These steps above will get your carpet visibly clean. If you want to rid your carpet of all soils, urine, and smells, give us a call–we’re professionals at getting out cat and dog urine and vomit spots. 269.344.3600.
You could hardly see these cat/dog vomit & urine stains on this carpet before I used the black light. I pre-scrubbed the spots so I could see them in the regular light. The homeowner was shocked at how many spots I found with the black light. -Mike Woody
