Getting the Smell of Throw-up Out

Updated on March 30, 2009
C.M. asks from Michigan City, IN
27 answers

Hi Moms, My son threw up yesterday and got part of the rug and his teddy bear(which is surface washable only). I have washed both with soap and water. I also febrezed both. I just cleaned the rug with a carpet cleaner spray. Both still smell badly. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the smell out of my rug and out of my sons teddy bear? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, C.

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A.F.

answers from Chicago on

I have thrown all my daughter's stuffed animals in the wash - even those that say surface washable only -- in a lingerie bag if small...otherwise, I just throw them in with whites/towels. I have done them on hot in delicate cycle and even tumbled dry ;) They are still perfect! Not something I would do all the time, but she had pink eye and it can live on surfaces for a few days and antibacterial wipes would not do the trick on plushies! Might want to use vinegar in the rinse cycle to get rid of the odor -- and then put them through an additional rinse cycle. I used carpet cleaner spray on vomit with good results but you could also try white vinegar on that too...we used that for pet accidents when I was a kiddo. Good luck!

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N.W.

answers from Chicago on

Odo-ban always works! It gets rid of cat pee smell and that is the worst!

You can get it at Sam's Club inexpensively. You can throw a cup in the wash or use the spray. Works great!

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R.N.

answers from Chicago on

There's stuff called Natures Miracle which is good for those kind of odors. But frankly if something really stinks I throw it in the wash and hope for the best if the alternative is throwing it out anyway.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Cristal, If the area is dry you can put some baking soda on it and let it dry then use a vac and the smell shoudl go away. for really bad smell use cat litter. cover the area and leave it for a day or so so it can soak up the smell. this works for almost anything. I used it most recently to clean up gas smell. good luck.

S.R.

answers from Chicago on

Kids and Pets gets any smell or stain out of anything. I buy it at Jewel. As soon as you cover the stain the smell is gone.

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L.F.

answers from Chicago on

FRESH WAVE! Buy Fresh Wave laundry additive. Put it on a cloth or sponge and wipe the area again. Purchase the jar of crystals. Just open the jar or place some in small containers. I have used it for months now and love it. ACE Hardware sells it.

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A.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Chrisal,
My husband bought some organic cleaner which has always worked pretty good for us. The smell isn't harsh. You dilute it with water and it lasts a pretty long time. Maybe this will help!
A.
Our mommy works from home.
www.freedomathometeam.com/acorpuz

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1.M.

answers from Chicago on

I agree with Mary F - try and wash that bear. My daughter threw up on her 3 ft. bear not too long ago and I threw him in the washer on the most gentle cycle. If he was small enough I would have put him in a bag or pillow case. I was afraid he was going to take too long to dry so I did stick him in the dryer. I dried him till he was slightly damp, laid him near a fan and I'm happy to say he's just fine!

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

ODO-BAN works wonders, I have used this brand on everything from bed accidents, throw-up & to clean our basement after an unfortunate flooding. I also wash all my son's stuffed toys on the delicate cycle and add some lysol to disenfect. I let it air dry. Hope it helps

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K.T.

answers from Chicago on

i would take the rug to a dry cleaner if it cannot be put through the washing machine

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T.T.

answers from Chicago on

i wonder if using the pet stain remover Natures Miracle would help? It has enzymes to help break down and remove stains and odors

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M.E.

answers from Chicago on

I put all of my children's stuffed animals into the washing machine on regular cycle. The tags say to surface wash, but that will never get them as clean as the washer. I've never had one fall apart and they all come out looking brand new. I second putting in the dryer sheet. They are so soft and cuddly afterwards!

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

Odo-ban is awesome. We use it at the animal hospital. It is also a disinfectant. Can use in the washing machine with water (I'd wash stuffed bear-don't dry, fur could melt depending on material). Also put Odo-Ban in carpet cleaning machine or spray bottle. Always mix with water.

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M.A.

answers from Chicago on

We have always used the Arm and Hammer laundry detergent; it's the only thing I've found that gets out the smell. Sometimes I need to wash things twice, if it's really bad, but it does work...I've used it on car seat covers so many times, I can't even count.

Good luck!

M.

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

for the teddy bear, even if it says surface washable, it is really totally machine washable. I have NEVER had a stuffed animal ruined in the wash and I just wash them normally. I do daycare so have to wash them frequently. Even the ones with batteries are ok, you just take out hte batteries and then air dry them instead of machine dry and they will work fine.

As far as the rug, LOTS of washing over and over and over seems to do the trick.

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E.M.

answers from Chicago on

I use a product called "Simple Solution" that contains both a detergent and an enzyme that breaks down the vomit/urine/feces, etc. I get it at pet stores like Pet Smart or Petco. You spray it on, soaking the area all the way through, let it sit for 10 minutes or so and then use a clean towel to soak up the extra. I've used it on furniture, stuffed animals, carpet, and more with no residual vomit smell.

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R.K.

answers from Chicago on

I wash all of my daughter's stuffed animals and have never had a problem with them yet. I also throw them in the dryer with a dryer sheet and she loves it because they are soft and smell good and I love it because I know they are clean.
Most of these animals say "surface wash only". I do have a front loader and if the animals are small I put them in a pillowcase or lingerie bag.

What are the washing instructions for your rug? Could you have it dry cleaned?

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B.W.

answers from Chicago on

vinegar and water takes out EVERYTHING...including the smell.......without all the toxins of all the products from the store. try it....you will be surprised!

B.

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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi C.! I know where you are coming from. I have tried everything, I know use all Shaklee Products. It has no smell so it won't feel like you are "covering" the smell up. Its clean, fresh and good for the enviroment! I loved the cleaning products so much, I now work for the company..lol

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

Make sure rug is competely dry and sprinkle with baking soda for a day or so. Vaccuum up well to remove odor.

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M.F.

answers from Springfield on

For the poor bear... he needs to go to the washer and hope for the best. I usually have great luck with washing them, just no dryer!

As for the rug I would go over it several times with your carpet shampooer and clear water. After the water is being pulled up almost clear I would then douse the spot with white vinegar. Let that sit as long as you can stand to, possibly even over night. Then run your shampooer over the carpets with clean water again until it is coming out clear. I only use vinegar to clean my carpets with. It always works like a charm!

Good Luck!

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J.W.

answers from Chicago on

Vinegar is a natural neutralizer. Let it dry into the carpet and that should do the trick. There is also this great product that earned the Good Housekeeping Seal called Kids n Pets. I always have a bottle in the house for stains and odor control.

~J.

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K.

answers from Chicago on

What about white vinegar & water mix.

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B.C.

answers from Chicago on

not sure what to do about the rug, but i machine wash any of my daughter's toys that she loves on particularly... put them in a lingere bag and toss 'em in the washing machine and let them air dry. she's 2 and a few months and i've been doing this since she was an infant with some of her toys and they're all just fine. it's the dryer you want to be careful with as it can melt some fabrics. good luck!

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J.

answers from Chicago on

I would try Nature's Miracle or similar enzyme cleaner. I find it at the pet store. It works well for any biological smell - pet odors, urine, vomit, etc. Saturate the item well and let it dry, or you can add it to the wash.

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K.G.

answers from Chicago on

take the bear to the dry cleaners

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T.P.

answers from Chicago on

Hi C., I had the same problem, but my son threw up in his car seat. I used vinigar and water and it really worked. I just rubbed the material a couple of times, but don't use to much vinigar. I hope this helps.

I'm a mother of 2 boys, 5 and 2

T.

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