Someone Upchucked
I want to address the issue of vomit odor removal because each of us, in our lifetime, will have to deal at least once with vomit. Most probably if we have children, adults with sensitive stomachs and pets. Children vomit easily from overeating, eating the wrong thing and illness. Adults with sensitive stomachs will vomit if they drink too much, overeat, or eat something their sensitive stomach cannot tolerate or, illness. On the other hand, pets, especially cats, will bring up hairballs.
Vomit odor removal is easy if you follow the steps I outline for you. I’ve done it many times and feel I could open a business for this job alone. To begin with let’s look at human vomit. If the vomit is on a fabric, such as bed linens, take the linens, rinse the vomit off and place the linens in your washing machine adding an odor removing additive such as OdorZout for laundry and launder the linens. Dealing with vomit on hardwood or tile floors and on carpets is a little more difficult.
If the vomit is on the carpet, cover it completely and thickly with a cat litter to absorb the liquid and to clump the solids. When it is all absorbed you can pick it up fairly easily. Wearing a pair of latex gloves, to avoid getting any of it on your skin, take two pieces of heavy cardboard preferably from a box and make two scoops. Using these two scoops, one to hold the materials you are scooping and the other to use as a shovel push the materials onto the first scoop. Don’t use an actual shovel it will take you too far from the area you need to clean and will cause you to dig into the rug. By using the two scoop method what you are doing is scooping and lifting. Have a bag with a plastic lining (plastic grocery bag will do) to use as a receptacle into which you will throw what you have scooped up. After you’ve cleaned all of the absorbed vomit off the carpet use paper towels to absorb any liquid that may remain. Make a mild solution of detergent and warm water and wash the area until it is visibly clean. Blot the washed wet spot with paper towels. This will clean the area but the odor of vomit will remain.
When the area you have cleaned and washed is thoroughly dry you may use a vomit odor removal product such as OdorZout for carpets, wood and tile floors. This granule may be applied once the carpet is thoroughly dry. Instructions on the container warn against using this on a wet area of carpet as it may cause discoloration. However, it works its magic on a thoroughly dry area.
Kitty’s upchucked hairballs are a lot easier to clean but they too can retain an odor and cause a soiled spot on the rug. To clean such a mess use a paper towel to pick up the hairball carefully. Do not press down to avoid making a stain on the rug. Using a paper towel absorb any liquid that may remain. Witha soft sponge mop and a good stain remover clean the area. I use Oxy Solution which can be purchased in any fully stocked pet store.
Hopefully, these hints for vomit odor removal will brace you for these messy moments.
