Remove vomit mattress — Vomit on a mattress needs more than spot cleaning — the smell soaks through if you don’t treat the foam itself. Our team’s actual playbook.
James on our team has been the parent on cleanup duty more times than he’d like to admit. Here’s the version that actually works.
Step 1: Move fast (Remove vomit mattress)
Strip the bedding immediately and into the washing machine. Scrape the solid material off with a flat plastic spatula or a stiff piece of cardboard — don’t rub.
Step 2: Cold water blot
Press a cold-water-dampened white towel onto the area firmly. Replace with a fresh one as soon as it picks up colour. Repeat until the towel comes away clean.
Step 3: Vinegar / water solution
Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup cold water and 2 teaspoons dish soap. Lightly mist (don’t saturate). Blot. Repeat 2–3 times.
Step 4: Baking soda
Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the entire affected area. Leave 8–12 hours (overnight). Vacuum thoroughly.
Step 5: Enzyme cleaner (smell removal)
The smell is the hardest part. Use an enzyme-based pet stain/odour remover (Bissell, Urine-Off, Out — Bunnings or Petbarn). Mist lightly, blot, allow to air dry. Enzymes break down the protein and acid in vomit that ordinary detergents can’t reach.
Step 6: Drying
Stand the mattress on its side near an open window with a fan blowing across it for 12–24 hours. Remake the bed only when fully dry — sealing in moisture grows mildew.
Final airing
If you can, set the mattress in indirect sunlight outdoors for 2–3 hours after drying. UV is a free anti-microbial.
If the smell persists
- Repeat the enzyme cleaner step (some stains need 2–3 cycles).
- Sprinkle activated charcoal pellets in a thin sock and place over the area for a week.
- If after a fortnight you can still smell it, consider a professional mattress cleaner — most metro areas have services that use steam extraction for around $200.
Prevention
Always have a waterproof mattress protector. Always.
For independent guidance on sleep and wellbeing, the Sleep Health Foundation is a good starting point.
