How to get vomit smell out of a car (and the stain)

How to remove vomit from a car

1. 1

   Glove up and absorb the vomit

   Put on disposable gloves and open all the doors. Cover wet vomit with a thick layer of baking soda, or kitty litter, to soak up the liquid, then lift it all out with paper towels into a plastic bag. Check seat crevices, seat tracks, door pockets and under the seats.

   Why: An absorbent stops liquid from soaking into seat foam and carpet padding, where it keeps smelling. Health-department cleanup procedures start the same way.

2. 2

   Take out the floor mats and anything removable

   Remove the floor mats, seat covers and any child seat covers that came off, and clean them outside the car. Rubber mats can be scrubbed with warm soapy water and a soft brush and air-dried.

   Why: Removable items can be cleaned more thoroughly outside, and the car dries faster without them.

3. 3

   Clean with cool water and detergent

   Spray the spot lightly with cool water mixed with a little dish detergent, blot, then mist with plain cool water and blot again. Repeat until nothing more lifts. Use as little liquid as possible on seats.

   Why: Vomit is a protein stain. Cool water and detergent lift it without setting it. Car makers warn that soaking seats can damage the seat and the air bag occupant sensor.

4. 4

   Apply an enzyme cleaner

   Test an enzyme cleaner on a hidden spot of the fabric or carpet, then apply it to the area following the label's contact time. Keep it sparing on seats.

   Why: Enzymes digest the protein and fat residue that bacteria break down into the sour smell. Removing that residue is what ends the odor.

5. 5

   Extract the moisture

   Pull out as much moisture as you can with a wet-dry vac, or by pressing dry towels firmly on the area until they come up dry.

   Why: Damp foam and carpet padding in a closed car stay wet for days and turn musty on top of the vomit smell.

6. 6

   Dry the car and deodorize what's left

   Leave the doors or windows open on a dry day, or run fans, until the seat and carpet are dry all the way through. Then sprinkle baking soda on the dry spot, leave it several hours or overnight, and vacuum it up.

   Why: Baking soda neutralizes acidic odor compounds and absorbs residual smell, but only works once the residue is gone and the area is dry.

Why vomit smell lingers in a car

Vomit is partly digested food with stomach acid, proteins and fats. Its sour, rancid smell comes largely from short-chain fatty acids such as butyric acid, the same compound in rancid butter. In a car, liquid runs into seat seams, foam, carpet padding and the gaps around seat rails, where wiping can't reach. Then the cabin heats up in the sun, and warm materials give off more odor.

That's why air fresheners fail: the residue is still there, breaking down. It's also why the method focuses on absorbing, lifting and extracting before anything else. Vomit is a protein stain, so hot water and alcohol set it before you've removed it. For more on car odors, see how to clean a car interior.

If someone was sick: disinfecting without damaging the car

Vomit from a stomach bug can carry norovirus, which is very contagious and can survive temperatures as high as 145°F. The CDC advises disinfecting hard surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution of 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water, left on for at least 5 minutes, or an EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for norovirus, then cleaning again with soap and water.

In a car, that needs care. Bleach removes color from fabric and carpet, and Nissan's owner's manual warns that bleach and chemical solvents can severely weaken seat belts. Use the disinfectant only on hard, bleach-safe surfaces as its label directs, test it on a hidden spot first, and keep it off seat belts and fabric. Health departments disinfect carpet with steam, but vehicle makers warn against steam on seats with occupant sensors, so leave seat disinfection to a professional detailer.

By situation

Vomit on cloth car seats

Lift the solids, then clean with cool detergent solution and enzyme cleaner sparingly, blotting rather than soaking. If vomit ran into the seams or soaked into the foam, a professional detailer can extract it without saturating the seat or its sensor.

Vomit on leather seats

Wipe it up immediately with a cloth dampened in mild soap solution, wipe again with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. Follow with a leather cleaner as its maker directs. Don't leave leather to dry in strong sun.

Vomit on the car carpet

Carpet tolerates more cleaning than seats. Absorb, lift, clean with cool detergent and enzyme cleaner, then extract with a wet-dry vac and dry thoroughly, lifting the mat or carpet edge if you can to dry the padding.

Old vomit smell that won't go away

Some residue is still hidden: in seat seams, under the seats, in the seat tracks, in the padding or on the seat belt. Search again, re-clean with enzyme cleaner, and dry fully. If the smell persists, a detailer can extract the seats and carpet.

Vomit on a seat belt

Clean the belt with mild soap solution only, never bleach or solvents, which can weaken the webbing. Pull it all the way out and let it dry completely in the shade before it retracts.

Vomit in a child's car seat

Follow the car seat maker's instructions for removing and cleaning the cover and harness. Then clean the car's own seat underneath with the steps above.

What not to do

• Don't use hot water or alcohol on the stain first. Both set protein stains, locking the residue and its smell into the fabric.
• Don't soak or steam-clean the seats. Vehicle makers warn this can damage the seat or the occupant classification sensor and affect air bag operation.
• Don't use bleach on car fabric, carpet or seat belts. It removes color from fabric and carpet and can severely weaken seat belt webbing.
• Don't run an ozone generator in an occupied car. The EPA warns that ozone at levels that remove odors can harm health. Never sit in a car while one is running.
• Don't rely on air fresheners. They only mask the smell, and their solvents can permanently discolor interior trim if they touch it.

Other methods that work

Baking soda overnight

Sprinkled over carpet and cloth seats and left several hours before vacuuming, it absorbs leftover odor. It's a finishing step, not a substitute for cleaning.

Caution: Vacuum it out thoroughly, including from seat seams.

Professional detailing

Best for vomit that soaked into seat foam, any wet seat with an air bag sensor, leather damage, or a smell that survives a thorough cleaning. Detailers can extract and dry without soaking sensitive parts.

Stain still there?

The car smells worse on hot days

Heat releases more odor from residue that's still there. Search the hidden spots again, re-treat with enzyme cleaner, and dry fully with the doors open.

Now it smells musty instead

Moisture is trapped in the padding or foam. Extract with a wet-dry vac and dry with fans and open doors for longer. The EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.

A stain is still visible on the seat

Repeat the cool detergent and enzyme steps sparingly. Food dyes in vomit sometimes leave color that needs a professional upholstery cleaner.

Safety

• Wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterward; hand sanitizer doesn't work well against norovirus.
• Ventilate the car while cleaning, and never mix bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners.
• Never sit in a car while an ozone generator is running.

Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.

Questions

Vomit on other surfaces

• Vomit stains: the complete guide
• Vomit on carpet
• Vomit on a couch

Other stains on a car

• How to clean a car
• Mildew and mold on a car
• Urine on a car