At times we are compensated for the links you click at no cost to you. Learn more about why you should trust our reviews and view our disclosure page.
Cleaning vomit from a mattress is worse than cleaning urine or any other spillage – it smells horrible and could contain viruses or bacteria you don’t want to have around. You might also stress about lingering odor, but don’t worry. Although an unpleasant thing to do, it can be done quite successfully and with only a few household cleaning supplies.
Steps for How to Clean Vomit From a Mattress
Gather your household essentials:
- a paper plate or a dust pan
- paper towels or old rags
- mild detergent
- white vinegar and/or rubbing alcohol
- enzyme cleaner
- baking soda
- rubber gloves
- a fan or hair dryer
And follow these seven steps to clean vomit from a mattress:
- Step 1: Remove the vomit
- Step 2: Wash your bedding
- Step 3: Use a paper towel to dab the area
- Step 4: Clean the area with soapy water
- Step 5: Disinfect the mattress
- Step 6: Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress
- Step 7: Vacuum the baking soda
Step 1: Remove the vomit
Act as soon as there’s an accident. Wear rubber gloves (this is optional, but a good idea nevertheless) to protect yourself from microorganisms. Use a paper plate to scoop up the solid parts and put them in a plastic bag. When you’re done removing it, throw the plate in the bag and tie it up. Get rid of it as soon as possible. You don’t want any smell to linger.
If you don’t have a paper plate, you can use a dustpan to scrape the vomit off, but make sure you wash it afterward.
Step 2: Wash your bedding
Strip your bed off and wash the bedding – all sheets and everything that came into close proximity to the vomit. For example, if it happened in the leg area, wash the sheets and the comforter, but skip the pillows. If it happened near the pillows, wash/clean them as well.
The goal is to sanitize the bedding and prevent the vomit particles and germs from spreading.
Step 3: Use a paper towel to dab the area
Use a paper towel (or a rag) and dab any excess liquid. Try to lift as much liquid as possible without rubbing or scrubbing. Dabbing will prevent the remaining liquid and germs from spreading around.
This way, you’re removing the remaining liquid while ensuring that it doesn’t spread.
Step 4: Clean the area with soapy water
Use mild detergent and warm water to clean the area. Mix them up in a small container. Take another rag or a paper towel, absorb a bit of soapy water, and dab the area.
When it looks clean, blot it with a damp cloth, and once you remove the soap residue, you can optionally blot again with a dry cloth.
Step 5: Disinfect the mattress
This step is to better clean the mattress, deodorize it, and most importantly, disinfect it. Make a water and white vinegar solution – one cup of each – put it in a spray bottle or another container, and apply it to the soaked area. When the solution dries up a bit, try to see if a stain is going to remain. Apply it once again if necessary. For extra disinfection, lightly spray some rubbing alcohol onto the mattress surface.
Use a blow dryer or a fan to dry the mattress. When the surface is dry, check for any signs of stains one last time. Don’t forget that this doesn’t mean the mattress is completely dry. There’s probably some moisture still trapped inside, so don’t let anyone use the mattress for a few hours. The alcohol/white vinegar smell should disappear as it evaporates.
Alternatively, you can use an enzymatic/enzyme cleaner. These cleaners contain good bacteria that quickly break down stains by eating particles of organic waste. Just follow the instructions on the bottle. Enzyme cleaners have a specific smell that vanishes when the surface gets completely dry.
Step 6: Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress
As the final touch, sprinkle baking soda on the mattress. It will remove any remaining odors and freshen up the mattress. You can let the baking soda sit for a few hours or overnight.
Step 7: Vacuum the baking soda
Vacuum up the baking soda residue and put fresh sheets on your mattress.
Special considerations for pet vomit
If the accident was caused by your pet, you should watch for a few things.
Don’t let your pet get back to bed/sleep without closely monitoring him or her. When you fed your pet something new or just start a raw diet, it’s likely that the stomach gets unsettled and this could only be a one-time thing.
However, he or she could also have other symptoms that point to an illness – when vomiting is paired with unusual behavior, it is probably a reason to consult your vet. Those signs include anything that’s very much out of character – lethargy or aggression, withdrawal, excessive panting, skipping meals, or excessive/infrequent bathroom time (including urinating on the mattress). It could be food poisoning or something else.
Finally, take a look at the quality, size, and timing of your pet’s meals. Maybe there’s something your pet doesn’t tolerate or you might be feeding him or her too much. Feed your pet always at the same time and make the last meal a few hours before bedtime.
Use a mattress protector to prevent future vomit stains
To keep any spills and accidents away from the mattress, get a mattress protector. It offers great protection to anyone who has kids, pets, or tends to have meals or drinks in bed.
Types of protectors
- Zippered – this type of protector encases the entire mattress – top and bottom. It’s kind of like an extra mattress cover.
- Fitted – fitted protectors are designed just like fitted sheets, and are as easy to place and remove.
- With straps – this protector lies flat and is typically thicker than the other two. It has four elastic straps – one on each corner to hold the protector firmly against the mattress. A thick mattress protector with straps is also known as a mattress pad. They are different from mattress toppers.
Mattress protector materials
Mattress protectors are made of many types of materials – some of them are made of one material and others have a more complex structure and are made of blends or multiple materials.
Those with the best waterproof properties are thicker and usually made of artificial materials.
Common topper materials include:
- Cotton – soft and breathable, but not very durable.
- Polyester – less comfortable than cotton, but easy to clean and it’s stain resistant.
- Vinyl – could cause overheating, but very resistant and waterproof.
- Polyurethane – it’s generally resistant to wear and tear but has a short life span.
FAQs
Yes, when you act quickly and remove all solid and liquid vomit from a mattress, use mild soap and an old rag to clean it, then disinfect it, and let the mattress dry completely. White vinegar and baking soda are your friends.
Yes. Scrape off everything you can from the sheets. Then wash them and other bedding on the highest temperature setting. If you want to be sure that you’ll get vomit and vomit smell from the sheets, wash them for the second time and add a quarter of a cup of baking soda.
Conclusion
Puke smells really bad, but you shouldn’t panic about how to clean vomit from a mattress because chances are you already have everything you need to make it good as new. You need to scrape off the solids, wash the sheets, dab the mattress with some soapy water, blot with a clean cloth, spray white vinegar or alcohol, and let dry. You can also sprinkle some baking soda and vacuum up the clean mattress. Vomit stains can be removed along with the smell.
You might need some patience, just keep working on it and you’ll make it.
Next step: If you can’t remove the smell from your mattress, it’s time to consider buying a new one. Read our Nolah mattress review for an example of a great brand to go with. We go over the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself if it’s the right mattress for you.
With over 5 years experience writing about sleep and mattresses, she's considered one of the go-to experts on the topic.
She likes cycling, nature, art, and languages. She pays special attention to providing you with accurate and useful information when it comes to your sleep quality.
After solving her personal sleep and tiredness problems, she is on to help others by sharing this invaluable information.
- Where to buy Saatva mattress (online and offline) - April 26, 2025
- Latex vs memory foam mattress (which is better?) - March 12, 2025
- Bed in a box vs traditional mattress (which is better?) - February 17, 2025
Psst… the sleep review industry is full of liars, sharks, and thieves. It’s a modern-day version of getting ripped off at your local mattress store. So, why should you trust us?