Is it in the carpet? If so, there are ways to clean something like that in a carpet.

Where is the odor coming from?

I believe sprinkling kitty litter will help. As will charcoal in a container.

I had a couple end tables that were musty smelling, and I put a margarine container of kitty litter, as well as crumpled newspaper inside the table, and the smell completely disappeared.

Start with baking soda and water and wet it thoroughly. Let dry, you may need to vac up any powder from the baking soda. Then try charcoal....the grilling kind.

I was going to say baking soda, too. I'm not sure that kitty litter will do it; in fact I'm pretty sure it wouldn't. You need to neutralize the smell. I'd do as nodakgal, exactly, even to her point of following with charcoal.

I don't think kitty litter will do anything unless you want something to clump :) Otherwise it's just another Love My Carpet odor cover up.

Try saturating the carpet with Nature's Miracle which is an enzyme commonly used to remove the smell of cat pee. It will smell really bad while it's wet, but as it drys it will eliminate the odor.

You should be able to purchase it at any pet store.

Oh! You're right, Tally - absolutely. That is excellent advice. I still think the baking soda route would work well, but forgot about Nature's Miracle.

I once spilled milk in my carpeted car trunk. The smell was awful, even weeks later. I finally pulled up the rug and cleaned underneath-the milk had solidified into white "cheese". Cleaned that up, shampooed the carpet yet again, and I found the odor finally went away. Maybe you can lift the car carepeting where it happened?

I read somewhere that rubbing alcohol poured over the stain and left overnight and soaked up in the morning will eliminate odor. Maybe you could try that.

thanks everyone.

i have scrubbed the carpet and i've already done the baking soda in addition to the fabreeze and love my carpet. none of these things worked so far.

it is in the carpet on the passenger side floor. i can't rip up the carpet as it's all one piece.

i'm going to try the alcohol tonight, since i have some in the house and if that doesn't work, i'll try the nature miracle.

thanks for the all the advice.

maryanne

dump WET used coffee grounds onto the stain...leave till dry..vacuum up..may have to do it a couple of times,but it WILL work.

I have heard of the coffee grounds before. I'd try that, plus some charcoal. Put some non-clumping kitty litter AND crumpled newspapers down for good measure :-D

coffee grinds will clear the smell? that's interesting. if the alcohol doesn't do the trick, i'll go for the grinds and then the nature miracle, since that one i'll have to go hunting for and the other two are readily available.

thanks again
maryanne

Rubbing alcohol? Are you kidding me....don't be lighting any matches or starting any engines.

Uh, wouldn't the wet coffee grounds stain it? Unless it's a dark brown carpet.

For laundry, I've always had good luck removing smells using borax. Vinegar often works well too.

How wet did it get? Might need to really saturate it to dilute the problem area. And if the smell is strong, it'll get absorbed into the upholstery too so ventilation is probably important. If you can wash it thoroughly and set it so the sun shines on it to help dry it out, then some charcoal, or even a container of vinegar will absorb odor in the air. But the important thing is to get the carpet cleaned before the smell is absorbed into everything else.

BTW, rubbing alcohol isn't explosive, and it evaporates quickly. I wouldn't suggest smoking with it though.

I'm not concerned about rubbing alcohol being explosive.

Just highly flammable..

ISOPROPYL RUBBING ALCOHOL 70%
Emergency Overview
--------------------------
WARNING! FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND VAPOR. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES IRRITATION TO EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health Rating: 2 - Moderate
Flammability Rating: 3 - Severe (Flammable)
Reactivity Rating: 2 - Moderate
Contact Rating: 3 - Severe
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES; CLASS B EXTINGUISHER
Storage Color Code: Red (Flammable)
5. === Fire Fighting Measures ===

Fire:
Flash point: 12C (54F) CC
Autoignition temperature: 399C (750F)
Flammable limits in air % by volume:
lel: 2.0; uel: 12.7
Listed fire data is for Pure Isopropyl Alcohol.
Explosion:
Above flash point, vapor-air mixtures are explosive within flammable limits noted above. Contact with strong oxidizers may cause fire or explosion. Vapors can flow along surfaces to distant ignition source and flash back. Sensitive to static discharge.
Fire Extinguishing Media:
Water spray, dry chemical, alcohol foam, or carbon dioxide. Water spray may be used to keep fire exposed containers cool, dilute spills to nonflammable mixtures, protect personnel attempting to stop leak and disperse vapors.
Special Information:
In the event of a fire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approved self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.

Here is a link that might be useful: Material Data Safety Sheet

A mixture of peroxide and baking soda will take the odor of cat pee out of carpet.Maybe that would work.Be sure to test a spot in case it might possibly take the color out of the carpet.I have used it on green carpet and different colored upholstery fabric with no problem.
Mix in a plastic bowl;
1-16 oz. bottle 3% hydrogen peroxide
1 Tbsp. baking soda
Pour the mixture on the spot,saturating well.Let it sit several hours or overnight.Blot excess and let dry.
Don't store leftover solution in a closed container as it will explode.

BTW I should add that when I write a response to a post, I'm responding to all those who might be reading, not just the original poster.

I can just see someone saying "yep, someone on a bulletin board suggested I use rubbing alcohol. So as soon as I light up my cigarette, I'll be pouring a whole bottle on this stain right in front of the fireplace." OMG.

For anyone reading this thread, PLEASE rethink using a highly flammable substance for cleaning.

Are you sure you got all of the vomit up from every crevice? DD got carsick in our leather upholstered car when she was a tot. I kept finding little crevices in the upholstery that still needed scrubbing for a few days. It is amazing where that stuff can work into a car.

"or even a container of vinegar will absorb odor in the air." I've had remarkable results with 50/50 vinegar/water in a spray bottle.

Maybe the vomit is in other places other than the carpet. Look (smell) under the seat, in the crevice between the seat cushion and seat back, and between the seat and console. Also, look between the seat and the outer side rail of the car body.

I always just use dry coffe grounds, but they DO work wonders!

thanks for all the advice.

in practicality, i'm trying everything.

as for getting it all up, most certainly. it's just the lingering smell that's probably "scrubbed" into the carpet.

again, thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions.

maryanne

As most of you know, I have animals. 13 of them to be exact. Now I know this is not about removing a urine smell, but I use a mix of baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. I have light carpets and have never noticed a change in colors, but it does remove cat pee. This might help for the vomit.

My step mom spilled egg nog in the back of her little Vega one Christmas. This was back in the 70's and they did not have all the cool stuff for odor removal we have now. That car stunk to the day she sold it. I would get sick just riding in it-

Trish

HEAP the spot as soon as possible with table salt.
Leave until the salt has absorbed all the moisture.(over night)
then lift the whole works with an old pancake turner.
Make sure it is all scooped up, then vacuum.
If it is still damp after removing the vomit, pile it again with salt.
I always used this method with the kids when they were
small.

oh i have got to try the vinegar, soda, and peroxide...have one spot that drives us nuts...thanks!

Can you trade it in?? ;~)

Maryanne I am curious. Did the rubbing alcohol work? Did you get the smell out of your car? Let us know what worked in case this happens to us.
Thanks, Lexi

A couple of other odor absorbers....

Dirt - I'd try covering that part of the floor with good old garden dirt at least 2-3 inches deep (the more the better) and would leave it for several days, maybe even a week or two, then remove and vacuum well.

Newspaper - but I think that's due to the charcoal in the newsprint or something of that sort, so maybe if charcoal didn't do the trick it may not be worth trying the newspaper.

Coffee grounds work very well for me. Many years ago, my freezer conked out, unknown to me. When I finally figured it out, it was a nasty smelly mess. I cleaned it thoroughly, bleached it to kill germs, dried it, then sprinkled fresh unused coffee grounds all over the bottom. Let it sit several days, then vacuumed it up. There was no hint of a smell. Don't know if it would work on carpet or fabric.

i used the vinegar method. overpowering for a day or so, but today i really didn't notice the puke stench.

again, i want to thank everyone for their participation in my little dilemma, and will remember these remedies for all sorts of reasons down the line.

maryanne