How to Get the Smell of Baby Vomit Out of Your Carpet



When you have a baby, each time they try a new food, it’s almost like an experiment. Some foods will agree with them, others will not. Unfortunately, when the latter occurs, you might have a vomit situation on your hands. There are few worse smells than vomit and if it gets in your carpet, you may get the feeling that there’s no recovery possible. Well, luckily, we have some great at-home, DIY fixes for you. And the truth of the matter is that if you can get the smell of baby vomit out of your carpet, you can pretty much get any smell out of your carpet. So, here are some very effective methods to try:

Use Baking Soda:

Baking soda should be a homeowners’ best friend when it comes to cleaning. It’s safe, cheap, easy, and non-toxic. It also works fast. When it comes to cleaning your carpet, especially when there are liquids involved, baking soda is probably your best bet. Not only does it get rid of bad smells, it also helps to absorb moisture. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on your carpet (don’t be afraid of using too much!) and let it sit overnight. Sweep the excess baking soda off the top layer of your carpet and then use a vacuum cleaner to get the rest. Once this is done, you should be back on the road to smelling fresh and clean. If the odor is not completely eliminated the first time around, you can repeat the same thing a second time or third or fourth. Baking soda won’t damage your carpet, so you can repeat as many times as necessary.

Another variation of this is to mix your baking soda with cinnamon (we know, surprising, right?). Mix the two ingredients together (a cup of baking soda and a tablespoon of ground cinnamon) and sprinkle over the “danger zone” area on your carpet. Let it sit there for 30-60 minutes, vacuum, and voila! Not only will the vomit smell be gone from your carpet, your house will also smell like a delicious cinnamon roll (NOTE: We cannot be held responsible for any cravings or desert binges caused as a result of this tip!). Be careful, however, about using this mixture on light colored carpets, as you don’t want the cinnamon to stain.

Use Vinegar:

Vinegar is a great odor-fighter as well. If the baking soda doesn’t do the trick, spray some vinegar on the surface of the carpet (use a spray bottle containing white vinegar). Make sure to use enough to reach the source of the smell, however, avoid soaking the carpet. After you let the vinegar set on the carpet for about 15 minutes, blot with a clean cloth or towel and rinse with clean water (you can use the spray bottle again). Let the carpet completely dry and then you can repeat this process until the odor is removed. You don’t have to worry about the vinegar smell sticking in your carpet. Once the vinegar is dry, it won’t smell any longer.

If your carpet is actually a rug and can be put into the washing machine, you can add a cup of vinegar to your load of laundry to help remove smells as well.

Use Vodka:

Now you may think we’re sounding crazy, but another option to remove the smell of baby vomit is to use vodka. After you spot clean the area, spray some cheap vodka on top and let it sit for 15 minutes. Absorb any extra moisture with a paper towel and sprinkle some baking soda on top. This will remove any excess moisture. Then, vacuum the carpet clean.

Use Laundry Detergent:

Now here’s one that sounds pretty logical! Soak the area that has vomit on it in water. Sprinkle a small amount of laundry detergent onto your carpet. Then, you can either vacuum out the water or soak it up with a towel. After the water has been absorbed, you’ll want to rinse any leftover detergent out of the carpet with more water. Repeat this until all the detergent has been removed and keep in mind that allowing any to remain in your carpet might cause the carpet to become slightly discolored.
 
Keep in mind that the sooner you take care of any spills or mishaps which cause your carpet to smell, the more likely you are to be able to get the smell out. Also, be careful with any of the above steps, as you don’t want to stain or discolor your carpet. If you have an odor that’s too tough for you to get rid of yourself, or if you’re worried about damaging your carpet when trying to remove the smell yourself, you may want to call in a professional carpet cleaner to handle the mess!

*Thanks to Sears Clean for sponsoring this message!

Like this? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get more of the goodness, plus exclusive giveaway offers!

Comments