How to Remove Vomit From Mattress

Wearing a mask and wearing gloves will protect you from catching germs. You can sanitize your hands once the cleaning is done.

Now that you have your cleaning supplies and the information above, it is time to start cleaning up the puke from your mattress.

Step 1: Remove Vomit

First, remove all vomit from your bed. Act quickly before the vomit starts to dry out. Use a dustpan or paper plate to collect or scrape as much vomit as you can and then dump it into the toilet. After removing any vomit residue, rinse your dustpan with water. Use kitchen towels or blotting papers to remove vomit from the bed. Wear gloves to do this.

Use a soft brush to gently remove any crusted or dried solids from the bed if the vomit is dried.

Remove all bedding, including the blanket, sheet, and mattress protector, and place them in the washing machine. To kill germs, use the highest setting on your washer.

Use a kitchen towel or dry cloth to absorb or blot up any vomit liquid on the mattress after removing the sheets. Avoid rubbing liquids as they will spread throughout the mattress.

Step 2: Get rid of the smell

The best option if there isn’t a stain but a puke smell on the mattress is to apply baking soda. You can buy baking soda at any local store if you don’t have it. You can also add essential oil or cornstarch to your mattress to remove the vomit odour.

Baking soda has a pH higher than normal, which helps to neutralise the acidic smell of vomit. It also leaves your bed smelling good.

Sprinkle baking soda over the vomit area after soaking up any remaining liquid. You can substitute cornstarch for baking soda if you don’t have any. However, it won’t be as effective.

To absorb the smell, you can leave the baking soda on your mattress for 6-8 hours (for best results, let it sit overnight). The powder will help absorb any liquids from your mattress.

Before spreading the bed, you can place a clean towel on top of the powder. This will allow you to sleep in the bed the same night. Although, I would recommend sleeping on a couch or floor until the following night.

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining residue after the baking soda has dried. For best results, use the hose attachment of your vacuum.

You can remove the light stains on fresh vomit by mixing water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. Add a few drops of scented essential oil to the mixture to neutralise the vomit smell.

Pour the liquid into a spray bottle, and generously apply it to the affected area. Do not over-saturate the area, only dampen it.

Sprinkle baking soda over the area. Leave it there for 8-24 hours. Use a fan to speed up the drying process or open a window near the bed.

Vacuum to remove any baking soda residue. Repeat the process if there is still some light staining. Use a new towel every time to prevent spreading the stain. 

Step 3.1: Cleaning the Stains (For fresh vomit or light stains)

To remove light stains from fresh vomit, mix water and white vinegar in a ratio of 1:1. You can also add a few drops of scented essential oils to this mixture to effectively neutralise the vomit smell.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply the liquid generously around the affected area. Do not oversaturate, just dampen the area.

Next, sprinkle baking soda on the spot and leave it for 8 to 24 hours to let the mixture work its magic. You can quicken the drying process by using a fan or opening a window close to the bed.

Vacuum the area to remove the baking soda residue. If there is still a light stain remaining, you may repeat this process. Ensure you use a clean towel each time to avoid spreading the stain from the towel on your cloth on other parts of the mattress.

Step 3.2 Cleaning the Stains (For dried vomit or set-in stains)

To remove dried vomit or set-in stains, you will need to use a bit of elbow grease and a more targeted cleaning mixture.

Make a 1:1 mix of water and hydrogen peroxide. You can add a little dish soap for extra cleaning power but ensure that it is not a diluting formula. You can also add your favourite essential oil for scent.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and dampen the area. Use a clean towel to blot the spot and allow it to dry. Next, sprinkle baking soda on the spot and leave it for 8 to 24 hours.

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any residue.

Step 3.3: Use meat tenderiser if the stain persists (yes, that’s right!

If none of these methods work, mix two tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of meat tenderiser. The meat tenderiser will break down the proteins in the vomit stain and make it easier to remove. The mixture should turn into a paste.

Use the paste on the vomit stain and let it dry for 24 hours.

Then, using a paper dish or dustpan, collect the paste that has been scraped off your mattress. During this process, you should be able to see the stain lifting off of your mattress.

Step 4: Sanitise Your Mattress

After cleaning, it is important to sanitise your mattress to eliminate any remaining germs. This can be done with rubbing alcohol or unscented sanitiser.

Here are the steps you need to take to clean your mattress:

• Spray some rubbing alcohol on your bed or use hand sanitiser after it has dried.
• Let your mattress dry for a minimum of 6 hours to ensure that the alcohol has dried completely.
• Do not let pets or children play on the bed or near it until it is dry.

How To Protect Your Mattress From Stains?

Your mattress can also be stained by urine, sweat and period blood. Urine, period blood, and sweat are also common liquids that can stain your mattress. The best way to protect against all of these and more is to simply invest in a waterproof protector. A mattress protector can save you money and time in the long term.

If your mattress protector becomes stained, you can take it out and wash it according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Some mattress protectors are machine washable, while others need to be washed by hand.

There are many different types of mattress protectors, but the best ones to buy are those that are 100% waterproof and breathable. The mattress protector should be breathable and not too thick. This will prevent heat from accumulating and cause you to sweat more during the night.

Check out our guide to mattress protectors for more information about the types of protectors available and how to select the best one for you.

Wrapping up

Dealing with vomit stains is been never enjoyable, we hope that this article has given you the information and resources you need to handle them. To maintain your mattress clean and stain-free, follow the above instructions and remember to use a mattress protector.