I Have a Fear of Vomiting, So I Trust This Method to Clean It Up When I Need to
I have a fear of vomiting. It’s called emetophobia, and it makes me extra careful with what I eat (lest I consume something that will upset my stomach) and super sensitive to the sight, sound, and smell of vomit, especially when I have to deal with it firsthand, like on a carpet after someone gets sick.
If you suffer the same phobia as I do and find yourself dealing with vomit that’s made its way onto your clothes, then you’ll need to know how to get the vomit smell out, stat. Here’s what I’ve learned from Sofia Martinez, CEO of Sparkly Maid, and cleaning expert.
How to Get Vomit Smell Out of Clothes
- Scrap off any vomit with a spoon.
- Turn the clothes inside out to rinse under cold water.
- Pre-treat the clothes by soaking them in cold water and a half cup of baking soda for at least 30 minutes.
- Wash the clothes on a long cycle using an enzymatic laundry detergent and cold water. Add a half cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle if the fabric is sturdy enough to handle it. Repeat the cleaning process if the smell persists.
- Air-dry the clothes when the smell is gone.
What to Do Before Dealing with Vomit on Clothes
If you’re the one washing vomit out of clothing from someone else, first of all, I’m sorry. That’s no fun. Martinez recommends wearing a mask and gloves, especially if you’re sensitive to smells. Remember to open a window or put a fan in the room to boost ventilation. And if you need to, take a moment for yourself first. “Although it is tough work, if you have a calm mind, you’re well-prepared, and you’re not rushing, that can ease the situation,” Martinez says. You may also want to have a designated “yuck” bin or soaking tub exclusively for cleaning up nasty stains and smells.
What You’ll Need to Get Vomit Smell Out of Clothes
- Spoon
- Baking soda
- Enzymatic laundry detergent, like this one
- White vinegar (optional)
How to Get Vomit Smell Out of Clothes
The one thing you absolutely do not want to do is just toss the soiled clothing into the washing machine right away. If you do, “you might end up with a machine that smells worse than the clothes you have washed,” says Martinez. Instead, follow her steps for cleaning the scent out of the garments.
Step 1: Scrap off any vomit.
Using the edge of a spoon, remove all of the vomit you can from the clothing.
Step 2: Rinse under cold water.
Turn the clothes inside out so you can rinse the back of the clothing under cold water. “The idea is to push the mess out of the fibers, not further in,” Martinez says. Make sure you don’t use hot water — that will bake in the smell.
Step 3: Pre-treat the clothes with baking soda.
Soak the clothes in cold water with a half-cup of baking soda for at least 30 minutes. “It helps to break down the odor and loosen the remaining stain before it gets into your machine,” Martinez says.
Step 4: Wash the clothes.
Run the clothes through the wash on a long cycle. Use an enzymatic laundry detergent and cold water. “Enzymes are compelling catalysts that will break down pretty much all the organic gunk that’s causing the stink,” Martinez says.
She adds white vinegar (about a half cup) to the rinse cycle if the fabric is sturdy enough to handle it. Don’t use fabric softener in this step, as that can lock in the smell. If you can still smell vomit after the wash cycle, repeat the cleaning process.
Step 5: Air-dry.
Air-dry the clothes when the smell is gone.