How to Clean Vomit From Wood Floors

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Vomiting is typically caused by a stomach virus such as gastroenteritis. It normally lasts 8 to 10 hours and can be accompanied by a high fever. When a child vomits, sometimes they do not make it to the toilet or garbage can. When this happens, it is important to clean up the mess as soon as possible to reduce smell and staining. If the child vomits on a hardwood floor, special steps must be taken to neutralize the acidity and clean up any remaining residue.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Paper towel
• Kitty liter or baking soda
• Water
• Vinegar
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Towel
• Warm water/hand soap

Instructions

1. Put on rubber gloves to keep from spreading bacteria.

2. Remove any solid pieces of vomit with a paper towel.

3. Sprinkle cat litter or baking soda over liquid remains to form a solid mass.

4. Wipe up the baking soda or kitty litter with a paper towel.

5. Mix one part white vinegar and three parts water in a large bucket.

6. Wipe floor with a sponge saturated in the vinegar solution.

7. Wipe floor with a dry cloth or allow to air dry.

8. Remove gloves and throw them away. Wash hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.

Tips & Warnings

• Baking soda also removes the vomit odor. The neutral pH in the vinegar mixture will remove any residue or film that might be left behind from the acidic vomit.