Hi moms,
My three year old seems to have picked up a stomach bug, and she threw up all over herself in the car yesterday -- coat, boots, bear, car seat, car, everywhere! Ugh. She managed to get it -- a lot of it, actually -- down into her boots, which have a fuzzy lining. I had no choice but to throw them in the washing machine even though they're not machine washable. The boots seem to have made it through the wash ok, but they still have that awful sick smell to them. Does anyone have any tips on getting the smell out? Usually I'd soak it in oxyclean in the sink for a few hours and throw it in the washer again, but I'm afraid to soak boots. I'm really not inclined to buy her another pair of snow boots this late in the season, and the store doesn't even have these adorable boots that she LOVES anymore. Any advice on how to salvage these would be really appreciated. Thanks!
They used to sell X-O cleaner on QVC. It was supposed to get out even skunk smell. I bought it to take out the smell of something a long while ago - I remember it working. You might want to try XO.
Try baking soda. Moisten the material and then shake baking soda on and it should absorb the odor. May have to repeat it a few times if the stink is strong, but worth the try.
Try a solution of vinegar and water. It works on just about everything, although it takes some time to get used to the vinegar smell . . . which evaporates eventually. I have a friend who used Febreeze which worked well too. Good luck!
A great way to cut the odor & any possible germs that are left is with Solumel. It's a great natural product that uses the penetrating power of tea tree oil to eliminate odor, as well as be antibacterial. I've used it to salvage many "lost" causes! Let me know if I can help you learn more about it!
Vinegar! Spritz the insides with white vinegar and let air dry. Repeat. I found that vinegar and baking soda are two kitchen staples that can clean almost anything (oh, but do not together as you create an at-home volcano experiment!)
I would put some baking soda or coffee grinds in a plastic bag (leave it open, but at least it won't get all over the lining). Both would get rid of that awful smell...and it's great because you usually have one or the other in the house already.
Good luck - please let us know what works!
You can try baking soda. It's a natural odor absorber. I used it when my Son threw up and it went down inside our couch. It took several applications but it finally did work. How about a natural household cleaner also? Maybe something like Simple Green that you can spray inside to lightly coat the boots then damp rag back out?
Hi M.,
At this point you have nothing to lose. I'd try soaking them in warm water with vinegar or baking soda. I have had good luck with those in the past in regards to odor. I like oxyclean, but it is best for stains not odors.
J. L.
Carpet cleaner, we use Resolve, it excellent at getting the vomit smell out. Pray it in, let it set, then damp sponge it out.
Good luck!
I had that problem with my daughter's sheets after she had the stomach bug. It's such a gross smell! I washed them 3x in hot water... but the smell didn't come out until I used vinegar. Put about 1/2 - 1 cup vinegar into the wash. I hope that helps! Good luck.
Have you tried fabreze? Or maybe putting some odor eaters inside of them. Let them sit outside for a few days and air out.
Hi M.,
Have you tried a piece of charcoal? Slide a piece into the boot amd leave overnight.See if it helps. You can add more and let it sit latter as needed!
Good luck!
A LOT of Febreeze and then toss em in the dryer with 3-4 dryer sheets... should work ;-)
M.,
Baking soda generally helps get smells out. You can try sprinkling some in the boots to see if that helps. If not is there a way to take the lining of the boots out and soak just those?
L. M
try renuzit air and oder neutralizer - NOT FABREEZE... i used this to get basement/cat litter smell out of a stroller. i was able to do this in the summer - and i soaked it with the spray and then let it sit in the sun - being winter you don't really have the chance to let it sit in the sun.... but it's worth a try.
Did you try Baking Soda? I would sprinkle it in and let it sit overnight, then wash the boots again. Gets out most odors for me.
--LJA
I have had great luck with this formula: If you have a front loader. put detergent and about 1/2 cup vinegar in compartment. then in drum put oxyclean and 20 mule borax about 1/2 cup each. Vinegar really cuts through some bad smells. Top loader just put it all in drum.
Baking Soda! Just sprinkle baking soda over them. Let it sit for a while. Then vacuum the soda up.
