Whether it’s a sick child, a pet or a long night, vomit smell is one of the hardest to get out. Stomach acid and food proteins soak into carpet, cushions and mattresses fast, and in Florida humidity the smell can come back for weeks if it isn’t cleaned the right way.
Clean It Up the Right Way
- Wear gloves and remove as much solid material as you can with paper towels or a plastic scraper. Scoop, don’t rub, so you don’t push it deeper.
- Cover the spot with baking soda and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes to soak up moisture, then vacuum it up.
- Use an enzyme cleaner. Enzyme cleaners break down the proteins that cause the smell. Soak the spot, let it sit as long as the label says, then blot. Test it on a hidden spot first.
- Rinse and dry. Blot with clean water, then dry the area completely with a fan and the AC running. A damp spot is where the smell comes back.
- If someone was sick, follow your doctor’s or the CDC’s guidance for disinfecting surfaces after the cleaning.
Don’t use a steam cleaner first on vomit. Heat can set the proteins into the fibers and make the smell harder to remove.
By Surface
- Carpet: if the smell keeps coming back, it has reached the pad underneath. See how to get a smell out of carpet.
- Couch and cushions: check the care tag before using water. See how to get a smell out of a couch.
- Mattress: see how to get a smell out of a mattress.
- Car seats: same steps, with the windows open and the AC on high while it dries.
When the Smell Spreads Through the House
After a stomach bug goes through a family, or when a pet has been sick around the house, the smell can end up in several rooms and the AC system. Once the spots are cleaned, our whole-home odor removal treatment treats the air throughout the entire home, including one AC system and an attached garage. You’ll be out for about 8 hours, pets included. It’s an odor treatment only, so the cleanup comes first. For pet messes, see our whole-house pet odor guide, or browse our smell-by-smell guide.
Whole-Home Odor Removal in South Florida: $997
Our Whole-Home Odor Removal Treatment is $997 and includes one AC system ($550 for each additional AC unit). You can buy and schedule it online, or call 877-224-2532 to request a free visual inspection. We answer 24/7; when you call, we’ll tell you honestly when a technician can be there based on that day’s schedule. Hablamos español.
About the author: James Rice-Peña is the owner of FL Cleanup and a Florida-licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA4035) and Mold Remediator (MRSR4158). He has worked in property restoration in South Florida since 2012, and FL Cleanup has earned 200+ five-star Google reviews. About FL Cleanup.
