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Best Way To Clean Vomit Out Of Carpet

There are many messes that can make us queasy, from dog poop on the tile floor to a particularly smelly kitchen sink. Of all these messes, however, one stands out: A pile of vomit on the floor, especially if you have carpet.

Unfortunately, this does happen to most people at some point or another, whether it’s a result of a sick child, a stomach flu or a pet eating something it shouldn’t have. So, without further ado, cover your mouth and take a look at the best ways to clean vomit out of carpet.

Note: Before proceeding with any of the following, you should check the manufacturer’s instructions for your carpeting. In addition, you should always perform a spot test when cleaning carpets or area rugs.

Method 1: The Best Way to Clean Vomit Out of Carpet Immediately

When dealing with how to clean throw-up out of carpet, you want to move quickly. If you let the mess sit too long, the vomit will set deeper into the carpet fibers and possibly even the padding underneath. Once that happens, it can be nearly impossible to get rid of that sickly smell.

You’ll need:

  1. If you have dishwashing gloves, put them on.
  2. Use the spoon to scrape the vomit out of the carpet and into the trash bag. Once you have removed as much vomit as possible, tie that bag tightly. The last thing you want to do is accidentally knock it over and have to start again.
  3. Dilute either distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide with a little tap water, and add this to your spray bottle. Note: Use either vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Do not use both.
  4. After you’ve performed a spot test, spray the solution over the area where the vomit was until the carpet is damp.
  5. Blot the area dry using your towels. Each time a towel gets saturated, replace it.
  6. Check your manufacturer’s instructions for stain care, because you will need to give your carpet a good clean.

Method 2: The Best Way to Clean Surprise Vomit

Perhaps you missed a spot or the dog got sick and you didn’t realize it until several weeks later. Now you’re lucky enough to have to figure out the best way to clean vomit out of the carpet after it’s dried.

Good news! (Kind of…you are still cleaning vomit, after all.) You can use the same steps outlined in Method 1 with two additions:

  • Dampen the area before you use the spoon to remove the dried vomit so you don’t rip your carpeting.
  • Repeat the entire cleaning process in Method 1 as needed until the spot is clean.

Method 3: Cleaning Vomit if You Can’t Get to It Right Away

Life happens, and you may be running out the door to the doctor or tending to a child who has an achy tummy. If that’s the case, that nasty mess will have to wait a while before you can get to it.

You’ll need:

  1. Pour baking soda over the affected spot on your carpeting.
  2. Place a towel over the baking soda for at least 15 minutes. Make sure the room is closed off to any pets if you won’t be able to keep an eye on them.
  3. When you’re able to tend to the stain, toss the towel in the washer and vacuum up all the baking soda. (You can sub a broom if you don’t want vomit in your vacuum canister.)
  4. Once all of the baking soda has been removed, follow the steps from Method 1.
  5. Figuring out how to clean throw-up out of carpet isn’t a pleasant ordeal, but it’s a task that needs to be undertaken to keep your home clean. The ideal situation, of course, would be for your family to not get sick in the first place. Check out these helpful tips to try and reduce the amount of germs that get spread around your home during cold and flu season.

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