When you’re sick and you don’t have enough time to make it out of bed, you can easily vomit on your mattress. You could be having food poisoning or a condition that makes throwing up quite traumatic. Unfortunately, you can’t just put your mattress in a washing machine.
While washing the beddings after the vomit is fairly easy, it can be quite a challenge to get the odor and stains from the mattress. For best results, you need a few ingredients and staples around your home. You can use baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and vinegar to kill germs and neutralize any odor lingering in the mattress.
When a mattress is stained with vomit, you should act quickly. If you don’t, the stain will blend into the fabric making it difficult to remove. Here is a detailed guide on how to clean mattress from vomit.
01.Remove the vomit
Grab a bowl, dustpan, or paper plate to scoop the vomit out of bed and then place it in a plastic bag. Alternatively, you can flush the vomit down the toilet. It’s a good idea that you protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves. And to ensure no smell linger in your house, you should wash the dustpan.
Another preferred method is the use of kitchen spatula to scoop the vomit. Simply slide it under the vomit and carefully flip it into a plastic bag. How about the cardboard used around cereal boxes cardboards? It should be stiff enough because you don’t want to risk dropping the vomit. If it’s a pet vomit, you can use a dog poo bag to grab it.
Some people can get nauseous when they smell or see a vomit. As you tackle the task, you can use a nose mask. A piece of chewing gum will also do wonders.
02.Clean the sheets
Strip the mattress comforter pad, sheets, and any other item in a washing machine. To ensure that you kill all the germs, you should wash the sheets with the highest temperature setting.
03.Soak up any remaining fluid
Grab some paper towels or a dry cloth and soak up any liquid on the mattress. You may want to avoid rubbing the stained area. After that, take some clean water and mix it with a detergent. Take another towel or rag and dab the area with soapy water.
04.Remove any stain
Next, mix white vinegar with water in the ratio of 1:3. Blot the area of the mattress with the solution. And because vinegar has disinfectant properties, it will help get rid of any stains. You may want to avoid using too much solution as you can easily damage the foam in your mattress. Repeat the process until the stain disappears. A blow dryer will also keep the area dry. If you need more reinforcement, you can mix white vinegar with liquid dish soap that has a lemon flavor.
While one application is enough, you may have to apply the vinegar solution until the stain disappears. Avoid using a cleaning towel over and over again as it could spread the stain.
Another effective solution is boric acid. It has remarkable disinfectant properties and is capable of removing any stains from the mattress. This is a product that you can easily find in any cleaning store. But before you use boric acid, you should wet the stain with water. Make some circular motions until the stain disappears. After that, vacuum the area and it will look as good as new.
05.Getting rid of the odor
Sprinkle some baking soda on the affected area to get rid of any odor. If you don’t have baking soda at home, cornstarch can be a great substitute. Keep in mind that baking soda still has the best deodorizing and antibacterial properties.
You should allow this product to sit on the mattress for a couple of hours until it dries completely. If you have to use the mattress overnight, you should lay a clean towel and place the sheets over. To remove the baking soda residue, you should use a vacuum cleaner. You may want to empty the canister so that the bacteria don’t grow on it. If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, you can still sweep all the remaining baking soda into a garbage bag.
Some experts recommend that you mix baking soda and vinegar. However, you should wait for the vinegar to sit on the mattress for about 5-10 minutes before you apply baking soda on top. And because both products have an effervescence effect, you should give them a few minutes to react. Once the stain is dry, you may want to vacuum any debris. Don’t forget to use the room sprays to get rid of the nasty odor. A good air freshener will also help to cover the smell.
06.Disinfecting the mattress
Unlike most commercial cleaning products, hydrogen peroxide can help remove that stubborn mattress vomit. It has remarkable bleaching and disinfectant properties although it should be applied to a small area to ensure the mattress doesn’t discolor. Use a wet sponge to rub the area.
07.Use a dehumidifier
If you don’t get rid of the dampness in your mattress, it can lead to mold buildup. A dehumidifier will help to remove any dampness on the mattress. Just place it in a central location in your bedroom, remove the mattress cover, and drape the pillows over the drier. Prop up the mattress on its side, close the windows, and turn on the ceiling fan. If you’re using an electric model, you should set the dehumidifier at 30%. Be sure to close the door and let the unit do its magic.
If you’re just using a fan, flip the mattress up and prop it to ensure there is two-feet of air space on either side. Direct the fan on the problem area and open the windows for clean air circulation. Still, you can switch on the space heater to accelerate drying.
Alternatively, take the mattress outside. If possible allow it to rest on concrete blocks for maximum air movement. Allow it to stay in the wind or sun for a couple of hours until it dries completely. You may want to avoid replacing the beddings until the mattress is fully dry.
08.Final thoughts
Picking up the vomit is usually the first job and perhaps the worst. But you still have to remove the odor, stains, and finally dry the mattress. When using home cleaning products, be sure to stay away from those with harsh chemicals. But here is the catch – each product requires a different approach.
It’s always good to plan ahead. You should consider buying a mattress cover to prevent any fluids from penetrating your mattress.