How To Get Dog Vomit Out Of a Mattress in 5 Steps (with Pictures)
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Codee Chessher
- Last updated:
Dogs can vomit when they’re sick or even if they just eat something they’re not supposed to. Most of the time, cleanup is pretty quick because it’s on the ground. But when our fur babies are lounging on the bed with you and happen to vomit, it’s a code red!
Aside from diagnosing the source of your dog’s vomiting, you’ll need to clean and sanitize where they vomited. Leaving vomit on the bed isn’t only unsanitary but can lead to unsightly stains. Given that you can’t just chuck your mattress into the washer, you’ll need to use other methods. Let’s check out the best way to get dog vomit out of a mattress.
Before You Start
Cleaning up vomit isn’t exactly rocket science, but you’ll need to gather the right materials for the job. Timely cleaning and sanitation are essential to minimizing the chance that the dog vomit will stain the mattress.
- Baking soda
- Dry cloths
- White vinegar
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Rubber gloves
- Fan (optional)
It’s a fairly short list, and chances are that you have all these things lying around the house, anyway. Gather them up, and we’ll move on to exactly how to clean your mattress.
How To Get Dog Vomit Out Of a Mattress (5 Steps)
1. Remove Visible Vomit
First things first, don your rubber gloves to protect yourself. Depending on how solid the vomit is, this may be easier said than done. You can use a cloth or the edge of an empty box to scrape any solids off your bed into a trash bin. Use a cloth to soak up any remaining liquid vomit, then dispose of it accordingly.
2. Remove & Launder Bedclothes
Assuming your sheets and other blankets were on the bed, you’ll need to take them off. Even if there’s only a bit of vomit, it’s best to throw your bedclothes in the washer just to be safe. Use a light amount of washing detergent and wash at the highest available temperature. Using the highest setting will help guarantee no icky germs make it out alive.
Now that you’re down to the bare mattress, take this chance to soak up any liquid vomit before it soaks into the mattress. Do not rub the affected area, as that will just smear vomit. Instead, dab at the area.
3. Treat With Baking Soda
Sprinkle some baking soda over where the vomit was. Baking soda is extremely useful as a deodorizer and will remove any lingering foul odors from the mattress. As a handy side effect, it’ll soak up any remaining liquid vomit.
Next, allow the baking soda to fully dry, which can take between a few hours to overnight. If you don’t have anywhere else to sleep, lay a clean towel over the area in the meantime and put a clean sheet over it.
When the baking soda dries, scrape it off or vacuum it up and move onto the next step.
4. Clean The Mattress
Mix one part water and one part white vinegar together in your spray bottle and shake it well. If you want extra cleaning power, you can add a tiny bit of liquid dish soap, but it’s not necessary.
Spray the vomit area well, but don’t soak it—you just want it a little damp. Use the cloths to blot the area and soak up the mixture. If the vomit wasn’t too stubborn, you’ve destroyed the worst of the stain at this point.
However, one application might not be enough. If you see no difference after applying the water-vinegar solution, wait until it dries and do another application. Use a fresh cloth every time you do an application, because using the same one can spread the stain around on your mattress.
5. Let Dry & Disinfect
Once you’ve got the stain out, all that’s left to do is letting the mattress dry. If you have a fan, that will help to accelerate the drying process, or you can open a window nearby to increase air circulation.
Once the mattress is fully dry, spray it with a fine mist of rubbing alcohol to sanitize the area. This will get rid of any germs that survived the vinegar cleanse and leave your mattress fully clean and sanitary.
Spraying a little enzyme cleaner on at the end is also a great idea.
See also: How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress? What You Need To Know!
Featured Image Credit: PicsbyFran, Pixabay
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