Q&A for How to Remove Vomit Smell from Carpet

Yes, baking soda will work fairly well to get the smell out of your carpet. However, for a more thorough clean you may want to hire a professional carpet cleaner.

It's important to act quickly to reduce the chances of staining and odor. You can use either a homemade solution or a commercial cleaner; both options are explained fully in the wikiHow: How to Clean Pet Vomit from Carpet .

Cleaning a smelly carpet depends on what has caused the bad odor, such as vomit, pet urine, spilled food, etc., so try to determine what the cause of the odor is first so you can choose the most effective cleaning method. For step-by-step help with cleaning the odors from a smelly carpet, check out the wikiHow: How to Get Bad Smells out of a Carpet .

Odors like smoke, mildew and urine can be cleaned then covered up with various deodorizing methods such as enzyme neutralizer, club soda, vinegar and baking soda. For step-by-step instructions on using these methods, and more, check out the wikiHow: How to Deodorize Carpet .

It is not enough to clean the carpet surface, you also need to dry the carpet completely and that includes the backing material the carpet is attached to. If this backing material has not been sufficiently dried, then it can become the ideal environment for mildew growth and it will continue to smell sour, moldy and unpleasant. To avoid this, always dry thoroughly after cleaning, using a heater and a dehumidifier to remove moisture. To fix it, try cleaning with a carpet-safe mildew treatment, then drying fully by heating the area gently and using a dehumidifier to get rid of any moisture. If it persists, have a carpet cleaning specialist visit and fix it for you.