How to Clean Up Vomit & Diarrhea (Plus, Disinfect Contaminated Surfaces)

A step-by-step guide to clean up vomit and diarrhea (without getting sick)

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: December 19, 2024 Fact Checked

Cleaning Up Vomit & Diarrhea

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Decontaminating Surfaces

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After Cleanup

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Deodorizing the Area

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

The best way to remove vomit (and prevent the spread of viruses) is to clean and disinfect the contaminated area as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll outline all the steps to clean up vomit, whether you’re removing it from hard surfaces, carpets, or clothes. We also interviewed house cleaning professional James Sears and green cleaning expert Susan Stocker for tips on how to safely remove vomit and get rid of any lingering smells.

Best Way to Clean Up Vomit & Diarrhea

Wear gloves and use a paper plate to scrape up the vomit into a plastic bag. Sprinkle an absorbent material, like kitty litter or baking soda, over the surface and let it sit for 15 minutes. Dispose of the material in the plastic bag, wash the area with soapy water, and disinfect the area with a chlorine bleach solution.

Part 1

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Cleaning Up Vomit & Diarrhea

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Wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Before you get anywhere near the mess, put on disposable plastic or rubber gloves, a disposable mask, and an apron. Try not to let any part of your body come into contact with the vomit.^{[1]
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- Keep small children and pets away from the mess until you've had time to treat it.
- If you have a weak stomach, smear some menthol rub, peppermint oil, or another strong fragrance under your nose.
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Scrape up the vomit with a paper plate or sheet of cardboard. According to Sears, you should “scrape the vomit into a plastic bag and immediately dispose of [it].”^{[2]
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Expert Source

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.} Try to scoop up as much solid and semisolid material as you can. This will make the later stages of cleaning much easier.
- Never vacuum vomit. Doing so can damage your vacuum and spread germs.
- Do not use a spatula, plastic scraper or other utensil, unless you're prepared to throw it away afterwards.
- Discard the contaminated material in a plastic bag and double it. Throw it away in the trash as soon as possible to minimize the spread of germs.^{[3]
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Sprinkle the affected area with an absorbent substance. Shake some baking soda, kitty litter, or cornstarch onto the wet spot. Cover the entire area, being careful not to leave any of the mess exposed. Leave the powder in place for 15-20 minutes to soak up as much vomit as possible. Then, remove the hardened powder with a paper plate or sheet of cardboard and place it in a plastic bag.^{[4]
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- According to Stocker, spreading baking soda over the vomit will “soak up any odors and possible residual matter.”^{[5]
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  Susan Stocker
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
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Wash all contaminated surfaces with soapy water. Mix warm water and dish soap in a bowl, then dip paper towels in the soapy water to wash the contaminated area. Rinse the soapy water from all surfaces with clean water, then dispose the used paper towels in a plastic bag.^{[6]
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- This includes all nearby surfaces possibly splashed by vomit, such as chair legs, table legs, walls, shelves, door knobs, and toilet handles.

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Decontaminating Surfaces

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Prepare a chlorine bleach solution for disinfecting. If you’re using concentrated bleach (8.25%), combine ¾ cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. If you’re using regular bleach (5.25%), combine 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water.^{[7]
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- Alternatively, you can use commercially prepared disinfectants against norovirus. The EPA has a list of approved commercial disinfectants here.
- Popular disinfectants include: Clorox healthcare products and Comet Disinfecting Cleaner with Bleach.^{[8]
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Spray the chlorine bleach solution over the contaminated area. Use a spray bottle to fully saturate the soiled area and surrounding area (25-foot circle of the contaminated area), and blot the area with a paper towel to help remove stains. Let the bleach solution sit for 5 minutes to kill any germs. If you’re using a commercial product, follow the directions on the label. Then, allow the surface to air dry.^{[9]
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- Repeat this process to ensure the vomit is completely gone.^{[10]
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- If you don’t have a spray bottle, use paper towels or a mop with a disposable mop head to saturate the soiled area with disinfectant.
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For carpet or upholstered furniture, steam clean the area. Using bleach can discolor the fabric or material, so it’s best to steam clean the soiled area for 5 minutes at a temperature of 170°F (76.7°C). If you don’t care about discoloration, you can go ahead and use bleach to disinfect the area.^{[11]
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- If you don’t own a steam cleaner, you can rent one at a local hardware store, such as Lowe’s or The Home Depot.
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For clothing and linens, machine wash and dry on the hottest setting. Remove any chunks or visible vomit, then wash the items in a pre-wash cycle using hot water, detergent, and ½ a cup of bleach. Follow up with a regular wash cycle and dry on the high-heat setting.^{[12]
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- If you can’t use bleach, use an oxygenated detergent and follow the directions on the product.^{[13]
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After Cleanup

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Place all the disposable items in a plastic bag and throw it away. This includes contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE), scrapers, baking soda, kitty litter, paper towels, and/or mop heads. Do not touch any of the surfaces that were just cleaned, since they can be re-contaminated. Tie or seal the bag closed, and put on a new set of gloves before transporting the bag to a secure trash can.^{[14]
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- Throw away all uncovered food in the contaminated area, as well as any food handled by the person who is sick.^{[15]
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Wash and disinfect mop handles, scoops and scrapers, and other reusable cleaning supplies you used while cleaning up vomit. Follow the same steps from the previous section (spraying bleach solution on the exposed surface and allowing it to air dry), or use a disinfecting wipe.^{[16]
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Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm running water. Pay extra attention to the area between your fingers and under your fingernails.^{[17]
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Deodorizing the Area

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Dust the area with baking soda and let it sit overnight. Cover the area with a generous amount of baking soda, then let it sit overnight to absorb the remainder of the odor-causing residue.^{[18]
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- Stocker recommends using Nature’s Miracle to get rid of carpet smells. Just “make sure to let it sit for a good 6 hours and repeat as necessary until the smell is gone.”^{[19]
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  Susan Stocker
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- Alternatively, make a homemade solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of water, and 2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap. Mix to create a paste, apply the paste on the affected area and let it sit for 2-3 hours. Then, spray water over the area and wipe clean.^{[20]
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Air out the room and spray air freshener. Spray the room with a powerful air freshener or a homemade version mixed from water, fresh citrus juice and essential oils. If possible, leave a door or window open to the room to promote ventilation. Most of the smell should dissipate within a couple of hours.
- Alternatively, burn a scented candle to help improve the smell in the room.
- Turning on the overhead fan or air conditioning can help cut down on overpowering odors. Avoid running the heater, which can thicken odors and make them more pronounced.
Place fresh or leftover coffee grounds in a microwave-safe bowl and warm them in the microwave for 5 minutes. Put the bowl in the area where the vomit odor is lingering. Over time, the coffee grounds will absorb the odor.^{[21]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What is the best way to clean up vomit on a hardwood floor?

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Professional Cleaner

Expert Answer

First, wipe up all of the vomit and dispose of it. Then, wipe the floor clean with some deionized water. To finish, sprinkle some baking soda over the area and let it sit for at least one hour to give the baking soda time to absorb any odors. Then, vacuum up the dried baking soda.

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Tips

While cleaning, take slow, shallow breaths through your mouth to keep from becoming nauseous yourself.

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Warnings

Vomit may contain bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms responsible for transmitting illnesses. For your own safety, always equip the proper protection before cleaning vomit, and make it a point to disinfect the area in addition to simply wiping up the initial mess.^{[22]
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