How to Remove the Vomit Smell from Carpet, Furniture, Car and Anything Else (2024)

The smell of vomit seems impossible to remove, but I have the perfect recipes for how to clean the vomit smell from carpet, furniture, car and anything else…including stuffed animals. Until you found this recipe, you may have felt like nothing works. From the reviews, you will notice this recipe to clean-up vomit actually has real and lasting results!

How to Clean the Vomit Smell from Carpet, Furniture, Car and Anything Else – Here are the Answers!

For the stuffed animals, clothing, car and even carpet try this unbeatable recipe for cleaning vomit

• 2 cups hydrogen peroxide (the kind you put on cuts)
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 drops liquid dish soap

Mix all three ingredients together so the baking soda dissolves. You can then soak the items in this mixture.

For cleaning the vomit in the car or the carpet, simply saturate the area with the vomit removal recipe. Press with towels or rags. Repeat if necessary. After treatment, you can also sprinkle with baking soda and vacuum up later.

This solution for cleaning up vomit from carpet, stuffed animals, clothing and car has not discolored anything I’ve used it on. It may make the smell seem stronger at first, but it’s only because it’s getting the vomit wet again and agitating it. The smell will go away and not return after treatment.

This recipe for cleaning vomit also works on urine (kid or pet) and spit-up.

How to Clean the Vomit out of Sheets, Clothes and Larger, Washable Items

• Borax
• Laundry Detergent

Soak larger items in a good amount of Boraxand 1 cup or more with your regular detergent. Just let them soak for a couple of hours in a bucket or sink and them wash them as normal. This was my first introduction to Borax, and it worked like a charm.

20 Mule Team Borax Natural Laundry Booster 65 Ounce pack of 2Hydrogen Peroxide Antiseptic Solution 16 OzDawn Soap, Blue, 21.6 Fl Oz , 2 pkArm & Hammer Baking Soda, 16 Oz ,Pack of 2

More Thoughts and Personal Thoughts About Cleaning Up the Vomit Smell from Carpet, Furniture, Clothes, Cars and Stuffed Animals

Isn’t in the worst feeling as a mom? It is the middle of the night. Suddenly, your child comes down crying because she or he has thrown up all over the bed.

I remember the first major throw-up time with my oldest like it was yesterday. As a mom, you feel awful for your child who is experiencing throwing up for the first time in their lives. It’s the middle of the night, so you are also battling your own tiredness and have no desire for the stench or the clean-up that you now face.

You walk into the room and the smell of vomit greets you immediately. Ugh!

That one night, I remember looking into her bed and seeing puke everywhere. Everywhere! The poor girl had let her stomach go. It covered her favorite stuffed animal, sheets, comforter pillowcase and pillow.

My daughter’s things were all covered in vomit, and did I mention it was the middle of the night?

My husband doesn’t do well with the smell of vomit. If I’m not careful, I’ll have two pukers on my hand, so I handle it. We have many amazing dads out there, but I know this is often a mom job! I’m sure you fellow moms have all been here.

I get my daughter in the tub to wash her off. Next, it’s time to fetch new pajamas and get her into our bed with a bowl and my husband. Always lay a towel down underneath to save your sheets and protect from germs.

Next it was up to the room to take care of the situation. I take the sheets to the bathroom to spray them down in the shower, removing the chunks. Is this too much information yet? Maybe. I just wanted to give you some ideas for dealing with the vomit that enters your own world. Sorry if I’m making you nauseous in the dialogue.

The final step (or so I think) is to throw everything in the wash.

The next morning, I open the washer just to be visited by the same smell that haunted me the night before. So, I run the load again. Nothing. I tried a different detergent. No luck.

So, I do what any good mom does. I complained about it on Facebook. In came my solution. A friend from high school responded with a couple recipes she said would work like magic. I have been extremely grateful for this recipe ever since.

One other reason I was extremely appreciative of this recipe is because she had thrown up on her favorite stuffed animal that she had since she was a baby. I really wasn’t convinced I was going to be able to remove the smell after trying so hard with other methods prior to this magical vomit recipe. This solution for cleaning up vomit worked on the first try!

The recipe for removing the vomit smell out of anything and everything has been clutch, and from the comments I seen, it has been helping many. Helping others on this parenting journey is the goal of this blog, so I get all those warm and fuzzy feelings just by knowing how to remove the vomit smell from carpet, furniture, car and anything else and passing that information on to you.

Another personal mom note: I do also have to say that I never imagined how much I would get puked on in the face as a mom. OK – So, it’s only happened a few times, but that is enough. My problem is that when I can tell my children are really sick, I become very compassionate.

I wouldn’t say I’m hugely compassionate as a mom in normal circ*mstances. I’m not a coddler and tell my kids they are strong and brave and try and get it under control when minor boo boos hit.

However, there is no other time I feel more compassionate than with a genuinely hurting child over legitimate reasons. So, when my kids are sick, I’ll often lay them in my bed and cuddle up close so I can stroke their hair, look at their hurting face and pray for them.

That’s when it happens.

The vomit comes straight for my face. I’m learning. Last time I did this exact thing with my middle daughter. Then, I heard her stomach churn, and I jumped up and ran to the kitchen for a bowl. We saved both my face and the house from the dreaded puke.

Tips for Being Ready to to Clean the Vomit Smell from Carpet, Furniture, Car and Anything Else – Works for Urine and Spit-up too!

• Keep a ton of peroxide and Borax on hand. The peroxide gets out blood and chocolate without bleaching anything also. My friend told me about the Borax. It is also the key ingredient for getting out the musty, mildew smell from towels.
• Keep a bucket in the laundry room or garage that is easy to find and grab. When you have a vomit, urine or spit-up incident, fill it with water and the Borax and toss all the things they spit up on and let it soak for two hours or more. My friend who gave me this recipe says, “I never had a permanent stain after that.”
• Hold your stomach. Wait for it. Clean-up the vomit chunks from the carpet using a spatula. Then, treat the carpet with the recipe provided.
• For most things, we try and be chemical free in our home. However, there are some big jobs like vomit, urine and spit-up that require something more intense. With the infrequent use, I am comfortable seeking a more chemical solution.
• The minute a kid says they have a tummy ache, get them a bowl. You can prevent a lot of clean-up just by being diligent about this.
• When you have a puker, lay a towel over surfaces where they touch. They often curl up on the couch, so to protect the area as well as prevent germs, I simply lay a towel down and have them rest on top.
• PLEASE: Keep all of these cleaning items out of the reach of children.

So, there you have it. Sorry for such a detailed account. You can just be grateful you have these recipes in your arsenal now.

Want More Clean-up Tips and Other Crazy Good Recipes for Cleaning?

Best Recipe for Getting the Musty Mildew Smells out of Towels

Keeping the Shower Clean

Clean Bathroom While Kids are in the Tub

Note: This post was originally written and published in 2013. It was updated with photos and formatting to bring the best possible user experience in 2018. The recipes did not change since this is a tried and true solution to vomit clean-up.