I need advice! While babysitting, my friend's kid threw up all over the place. I am having the hardest time getting rid of the vomit smell in my carpet and my hair. I have tried everything on the carpet: soap and water, vinegar, CarpetFresh, Febreeze - nothing worked. Now it just smells like CarpetFresh AND vomit. I've washed my hair a number of times but can't get the smell out of there either. It's really awful. If I have to throw out the carpet, I will, but I don't want to cut off all my hair! Please help!
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let is sit there for a couple hours and then vacuum. Baking soda is the best at getting odors out of things. Just give it time to work. You may need to do this for a few times, but is should help.
Note: If the vomit liquid got into the carpet backing, then it is more difficult and my not be possible to completely remove the smell.
I wish you well in this.
(12/24/2005)
By
The smell may not be in the carpet but in the padding underneath. My best suggestion is to take a utility knife and cut out the piece of carpeting, replace the padding underneath and after washing the carpet piece with plain old soap, like Ivory Flakes or grated Ivory soap, replace the piece into the hole like a puzzle piece.
Merry Christmas! (12/24/2005)
By Allison Dey
I would recommend cleaning the carpet with a biological washing powder or liquid. This definitely works when treating any animal 'accident' smells even cat spray! (12/25/2005)
By emma clarke
If you have wood under your carpet padding, it may have soaked into the wood.
Or it may just be the carpet itself, not sure check each place so you know what you should clean!
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! (12/25/2005)
By EMILY
Wow, thank you all for your kind and helpful advice. I tried baking soda, which worked well for a while, but a few hours later, the smell was back. After reading your comments, I checked and it looked like it had seeped through the carpet backing and into the floor! That's why nothing was working.
Incidentally I would advise people not to buy CarpetFresh foam - the smell was offensive and just joined forces with the puke smell to make one invincible super-smell.
I tried tomato juice and facial astringent on my hair today (I read they are last ditch resorts) and the smell is weakened but still there. I just hope that since it is weakening, the smell will eventually fade away.
I ended up giving up and throwing out the carpet today. I recently redecorated and it didn't match my new color scheme anyway. But thanks again for all your replies. I'll sure think twice before babysitting again! Happy holidays everyone. (12/26/2005)
By Anon from Brooklyn, NY
Visit www.weardated.com to learn more about carpets made with Wear-Dated® carpet fiber including DuraSoft®, Traffic Control and ThermaSealed®
Vomit
Important - Always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet manufacturer. Rugs and carpets with natural fibers and/or certain dyes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact a cleaning professional for advice/service. Also follow these General Rules for stain treatment.
Remove as much of the stain as possible by using a spoon or dull knife. Blot up as much of the stain as possible with white paper towels.
Neutralize by spraying the affected area with the ammonia solution (1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia and 1/2 cup of water). Care should be taken to remove all protein matter. Blot to remove excess moisture.
Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area.
Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.
Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry. If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick. (12/28/2005)
By
I have found that Head and Shoulders Shampoo gets rid of the smell of vomit as well as the smell of skunk on a long haired dog. (12/28/2005)
By Debi K
I'm not sure what to tell you about your hair, but I would suggest renting some sort of industrial type cleaning machine for carpets to do the best job. You can either hire a professional company or you can rent the machines are do it yourself for much less. (12/29/2005)
By Robin
I have had excellent success with the pet stain/odor products "Nature's Miracle" and "Kids and Pets" in dealing with extensive vomit stains in carpet. You should make sure that you don't have a real, finished wood floor (like parquet) under the carpet -- if you do, you won't be able to use the large quantity of the above cleaners to completely soak the stain, without risking damage to the floor; if it is a standard plywood sub floor, you should be ok.
First, make sure that any solid bits are removed. I would then very liberally soak the stain; let it sit for a half hour then either blot it up with towels, or if large, rinse it out with a "wet" carpet cleaner/vacuum (I have a Bissell). If this doesn't completely work, repeat the process. (12/29/2005)
By MP in Michigan
I have extra long hair--to my knees--and I went through a similar experience. You'll need to get the smell out of your nose too because the smell may be gone but for some reason extra sensitive noses can still smell it. Here's what I did, I washed with Purell Shampoo to which I added baking soda. Then I made a paste of baking soda and water and loaded it onto my hair and scalp---put a plastic shower cap or hair color cap on and wear it all night or for several hours. Wash your hair again with a shampoo to which you've added baking soda and rinse out. You might have to do this twice. It worked for me and I even used this method on the carpet. I buy the Purell shampoo at Dollar General or Family Dollar. Best of luck! (12/31/2005)
By anonymous friend
I would use vinegar on the carpet. I would pour enough on the carpet to saturate the stained area, let it sit for a minute and then put towels over the area and step on them. If any stain is left, wipe the stain with baby wipes. I have always had luck getting stains out with wipes. (01/08/2006)
By Ann4
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