How to Remove Vomit Smell from Your Car

Co-authored by Chad Zani and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 12, 2021 References

Vomit has an intense odor that can be difficult to remove, especially if it’s inside your vehicle. If there’s fresh vomit in your vehicle, clean it up as soon as possible and treat the area so the smell doesn’t linger inside. If you already cleaned up the vomit but you can still smell it, there are many home remedies you can try to get rid of the odor. When you’re finished, your car will smell fresh again!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning Fresh Vomit to Prevent Smells

1
Scoop out the vomit with a spoon or spatula as soon as possible. Start cleaning up the vomit as soon as you’re able so it doesn’t soak into your upholstery, or else it will be more difficult to remove. Use a metal spoon or spatula to scoop out the largest chunks of the vomit and put them in a resealable plastic bag. Try to get as much of the vomit as you can off of your vehicle’s interior.^{[1]
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- Be careful not to push the vomit deeper into upholstery or carpet since you could trap odors and bacteria.
- If the vomit is on the vehicle’s floor mats, remove them right away so the odor doesn’t stay in your vehicle.
- Wear rubber gloves so you don’t come into contact with any of the vomit.
Tip: Keep all your vehicle’s doors and windows open while you’re cleaning so fresh air can circulate through it.
2
Blot up as much of the liquid as you can with paper towels. After you clean up the solid chunks of vomit, lightly dab the area with a paper towel to lift up liquid that soaked into the fabric. Don’t push any harder than you need to or else the bacteria will get deeper in the upholstery. Continue blotting the area until the paper towels aren’t wet anymore.^{[2]
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- Blot around the seams of leather interiors so you don’t work the vomit further into the fabric.
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3
Spread baking soda over fabric upholstery and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Baking soda neutralizes odors and lifts up moisture from your vehicle’s carpet. Cover the area completely with a generous layer of baking soda and leave it alone for at least 30 minutes. After that, use a vacuum to suck up the baking soda.^{[3]
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- Don’t use baking soda on leather upholstery since it will not absorb moisture or odors as well.
- You can also leave the baking soda on the vomit overnight if you’re able. Having the baking soda on longer can help pull more moisture and odor out.
4
Use a baking soda and water solution on leather upholstery. Mix a solution that’s 3 parts warm water and 1 part baking soda until it forms a thin paste. Scoop the baking soda solution onto the area and work it into the leather with a cleaning rag. Work in small circles over the leather, and pay close attention to the seams since vomit could be stuck there.^{[4]
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- You can also use a stiff-bristled scrub brush to get a deeper clean.
5
Clean carpets with a water and vinegar solution. Mix together a solution that has 8 parts warm water, 1 part distilled white vinegar, and 1-2 drops of liquid dish soap. Work the solution into carpet or fabric upholstery in your vehicle with a cleaning rag or a stiff-bristled scrub brush. Work in circles so you can get deep into the carpet and remove any odors.^{[5]
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- You can also use the vinegar solution to clean vinyl upholstery.
- Your vehicle may smell like vinegar for a little while after you clean with it.
- The vomit smell will be stronger when you start cleaning, but that’s only because you’re working it out of the fabric.
6
Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove the cleaning solution. Once you scrub your upholstery, wet a cleaning cloth with warm water and wipe the spot. Continue working the clean water into the area where the vomit was to rinse away the cleaning solution.^{[6]
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- Don’t pour water directly onto the area since it can spread the odor and make the problem worse.
7
Open your doors or windows so the car can dry completely. Keep all of your vehicle’s doors open so the most fresh air can circulate through it if you’re able to. If you can’t safely leave all the doors open, leave the windows open as wide as you can so any residual smell can escape. Let the upholstery dry completely before closing your vehicle.^{[7]
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- Keep your windows open the first few times you drive after cleaning to continue circulating the air.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Eliminating Residual Vomit Odors

1
Spray antibacterial air fresheners on the area to help mask the odor more. Use air fresheners that have antibacterial properties, or else they will only mask the odors temporarily. Apply the air freshener directly on the spot where the vomit was and let it soak into the upholstery. The air fresheners will trap the odors and kill the bacteria that cause them so your vehicle doesn’t smell anymore.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Expert Interview. 2 October 2019.}
- If spraying the air freshener doesn’t mask the odor enough, unscrew the top if you’re able and pour the liquid directly on the spot.
2
Try a cleaning mixture of club soda and vinegar to lift the odors out. Mix equal parts of club soda and white distilled vinegar until they’re thoroughly combined. Apply the solution to the area with a cleaning rag so the fabric is completely saturated. Leave the solution to sit for 1 hour before soaking it up with a dry cleaning cloth.^{[10]
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- You can use a vinegar and club soda solution on leather, carpet, or cloth upholstery.
Tip: Your vehicle may smell like vinegar for a few days after you clean. Keep your windows open to help air your vehicle out.
3
Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for a stronger cleaner. Combine 1 cup (240 ml) of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon (5 g) of baking soda until they’re thoroughly mixed. Pour the solution directly onto the spot that had vomit on it and let it soak in for at least 1 hour. Use a cleaning rag to blot the area until it’s dry.^{[11]
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- Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda work to clean all vehicle interiors.
- You can buy hydrogen peroxide from your local drugstore.
4
Try an enzymatic cleaner to absorb the smell naturally. An enzymatic cleaner has natural enzymes that kill odor-causing bacteria. Pour the enzymatic cleaner onto the area that smells and let it soak into the fabric for about 1 hour or whatever the package’s instructions specify. Blot the cleaner with a cleaning rag until the spot is dry.^{[12]
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- Enzymatic cleaners work best with carpet or fabric.
- You can buy enzymatic cleaners from drugstores.
- You can also try using a cleaner made for pet urine since it usually contains the same enzymes.
5
Rent a steam cleaner to deep-clean fabric upholstery. Contact a home improvement or hardware store has a steamer you can rent. Fill the steamer with water and turn it on so it can heat up. Spray the steam on the carpet or fabric that smells to work hot water into the area. Go over the area multiple times to work the fabric in different directions to get the best clean. After you’ve finished steaming the fabric, blot up the moisture with a cleaning rag.^{[13]
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- Steam cleaning can also help remove any stains that the vomit may have left on the fabric.