How to Get Rid of the Throw-up Smell in a Car

Clean the smell of vomit from your car.

The stinky smell of vomit is one odor you don't want to have in your car. It's one of the most difficult stenches to remove because of the strong acids that go with it. When it clings to the car's fiber and upholstery, it seems impossible to eliminate the bad smell altogether. The odor appears to linger forever, especially if there's no air flow. Add to that exposure to hot temperatures and the foul smell intensifies. There are ways to eliminate the vomit's bad odor, however, so you can feel fresh and clean again when you drive your car.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Gloves
• Ammonia
• Water
• Container
• Cloth
• Bucket
• Baking soda
• Vacuum cleaner

Instructions

1. Pick up the solid vomit pieces using paper towels and disposable gloves. You can keep the smell from clinging further by keeping the car doors open so there's some air flow.

2. Mix equal parts of ammonia and warm water in a container. Dip a cloth into the ammonia solution, enough to absorb the mixture, and then just wring out the excess liquid.

3. Dab the vomit area with the cloth. Lightly scrub the spot until the stench is gone. Repeat the process by rinsing the cloth and dipping it into the ammonia mix.

4. Go over the vomit area once more by using hot water. Rinsing the spot with water removes smaller granules that have gone deep into the upholstery. Get a new cloth and dip it in a bucket of hot water and cleanse it as best as you can.

5. Let the carpeting air-dry. Make sure the liquid in the dabbed areas evaporates well by keeping the car doors open. You can also use a fresh cloth or a towel to absorb any excess moisture.

6. Repeat the process as necessary. Sometimes the vomit smell and stain cannot be removed in the first try. Dampen the smelly areas with the ammonia mix and leave it in the carpet for 15 minutes. Then scrub, rinse and dry it once more.

7. Sprinkle a thin film of baking soda over the vomited areas. Allow the baking soda to sit overnight. The baking soda will help absorb the smell of the vomit. Vacuum up the baking soda the next day.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not mix ammonia with other detergents. This can create highly toxic fumes.

References

• Made Man: How to Get Vomit Stains Out Of Carpet

Resources

• New York State Department of Health: The Facts About Ammonia