Smell of Throw up on the Couch Cushions - GERRR-OSSSS!

Try baking soda. Sprinkle it on and leave it for a while, then vacum. Then I think I'd put some in some soapy water - use plenty - and rewash. Baking soda takes out odors.

My couch covers are machine washable so whenever we get the bug I put the covers in the wash (air dry) and spray the cushion with febreeze and let it dry outside if possible.

If they zip off, throw them in cold water to wash and air dry. If they don't come off, go to a laundromat and put cushions and all in a cold load triple-loader, and air dry. When dry, spray with Febreze heavy duty. Good luck.

Try spraying in a place that won't show when in use as I am not sure if it's okay on fabrics but a product you can buy online or at Big Bob's used carpets may work on the ofa too. It's called Odor X It no E. Thay say it works for kitty urine and smoke so why not throw up. The only other suggestion and it may not be strong enough would be Fabrezze. They do make an extra strength version.

Hi J.,
been there alot. after i washed & let it dry i used fabreeze to get the smell out. good luck.

Most cushion covers are removable. If so, you can wash the cover and AIR dry it. (I had a "D'Oh" moment once and threw one in the dryer!) Check the Mfg tags regarding proper temp & cycle. You can then rinse out the cushion and let it air dry.

Hope this helps!

Try Borax. You just get the area damp, rub borax into the entire area (I leave it real thick), let it dry, and vacuum it up. You shouldn't have to repeat it. It works well for all odors, but especially good with urine on mattresses, sofas, etc. I had a dog that would regularly go on our furniture, and my daughter had bladder issues as well. Should have bought stock in Borax!

Try this stuff called ODORBAN. It is great! I used it on fabric, carpet and all over the house. It works wonders on smells. Of course, test a small area before cleaning the whole couch. You can buy the gallon at Home Depot for about $10/$11.

I've got a couch that sounds similar to yours and I take the cushions off and throw them in the washing machine on cold in the delicate cycle and hang them to dry. It doesn't get the padding underneath but most of it is usually trapped in the cover. Good luck.

J.,

I have found that Shaklee's Basic H2 gets out most odors and it is safe for children, pets, and moms. The next thing that will certainly help is an AirSource 3000 Air Purifier. You can set it on the couch or next to it and it will get rid of the smell.
I have one that you could borrow if you are in the area. I can also hook you up with some Basic H2
Contact me if you like ____@____.com

Try mixing vinegar with water. That works for me with anything that smells.

perhaps try an enzyme cleaner for pet stains

Try "Urine Gone" - it is an AS Seen on TV product, but is available in many stores, including Walgreens. It is one of the products that J. mentioned in the previous post, that "breaks down" the proteins in organic stains and dissolves them away. If you get the starter box (19.99) it comes with a black light - turn off your lights, and turn the black light on, and whereever their is organic matter such as urine, vomit, or poop, it glows blue - will TOTALLY GROSS YOU OUT, but at least it help you get rid of it. If you don't want the black light, just the bottle of the stuff is 9.99.

My advice is the same as others. When Nolan had the bug and I was doing many, many loads of sheets - the pet stain/and odor cleaner I had was what did the trick. If you can take the covers off and throw in laundry - do that but don't dry in dryer. I would hang to dry naturally. If they can't be removed - I would be liberal with the stain remover and pour it on. Especially if you can let outside to dry.

Good luck!!
K.

try zorbex, i get it at lowe's. you spray it on and it absorbs the smell...worked in my car for the same smell!

I had somewhat of the same problem, only urine. My covers are removable & actually say not to get wet. I couldn't take the smell. I put them in the washer & let them sit in the sun all day. I don't know that you can use the washer but, sitting in the sun should help.

Febreeze and Urine Gone, those work, but even after a couple weeks, if it gets hot, the smell could come back.
The only suggestion that I can make that would really work once and for all, is a carpet cleaner, professional usually can do better than you can do on your own.

I have always had good luck with Totally Toddler.....it is great for any baby stains and smells.

I think if you use a steam cleaner like you use on carpets only using upolstry attachements you will draw the vomit out much more effectively , than just washing them off. I wish you the best , that smell can be awful!

J.,

You have to use a good pet stain/odor remover. These products "eat" (break down) organic stains. You have to saturate thoroughly and let it dry.

Dear J.,

First of all, I looovvvee your humor on how you spelled gross-exactly the way you would say it about a smell like that! Thank you for the laugh.

Second, I'm sorry your family is sick and with this heat, if you live in the area of Toledo, Ohio, you MUST be miserable.

Third, onto the cleaning. I'm glad it's indestructible fabric, how important when you have itty bitties. Can the cover unzip? If so, hallelujah! Unzip and throw them in the wash. If not there is a product called Spray 9. I do not know if you can just buy it any where but I buy mine at my local hardware store that is small and family owned. It used to be A.C.E Hardware so they carry many of the same items as A.C.E. used to so this Spray 9 may be one of their products. This is a wonder cleaner. I unfortunately have cats that urple on the floor so I use this on all my carpets. Only thing, you have to be careful when mixing cleaners, such as another soap with Spray 9 because it sometimes discolors. My other idea is to take the cushions outside, after all its summer, and hose them down with another dose of soap. Oxy Clean is good too. I know your probably worried about the cushion itself not so much the fabric but good timing, as long as the cushion has adequate air ventilation, such as being outside, it won't mold. Good Luck! -H.-

I also used white vinegar. I used it with the Little Green Machine to suck it out. It did smell like vinegar for a couple of days, but it went away and a year later it still smells fine! Good luck!

At Target they have a product called "Kids n Pets Stain & Odor Remover". We have found it to be a life saver!

White Vinegar mixed with a little water or straight will help remove the smell and any remaining discoloration. The other item is Pet and Urine Stain and Odor Remover.
If the cushion covers are removable I would take them off and dose the padding as well.

HI J.. Mix Arm & Hammer baking soda and a little water together to form a paste and put it on and let dry. This usually takes all smells out.

The sun has natural bleaching properties, so after washing with some baking soda and vinegar put it in the sun for a couple hours. It won't actually bleach your cushions as in color fade, but that smell should be gone!

The great nuetralizer is VINEGAR. Do some spot testing. The great bubbly action of Hyrodgen Peroxide is one of my favorites. These don't cost a lot to use.

Try to find a cleaner with orange in it. Call Lowe's or Home Depot for this. For a while Dollar Tree carried their generic fabric equivalent of Frabreeze in a blue bottle that had orange. I bought it earlier this year and liked it better than Frabreeze. There are spray Oxy cleaners out there. Carpet and furniture cleaners might work here.

When I was at Sam's Club about 2 years ago somebody told me that they bought a cleaning solution there with eucalyptus oil/scent in it. They swore up and down that it was the ONLY cleaner that cleaned their elderly relative's underwear and PJ's and got the smell out. They were his caretakers. I can't promise that they carry that still, but call them if you have a membership.

Get some cheap slipcovers for the couch for everyday use.
Take them off when you have company. They serve as a great preventative maintenance barrier. It's easier to wash those than the pillows with the pillow covers.

Good Luck.

Hi J.,
We had a similar couch in the family and its indestructible quality seemed to survive the wet-dog a million times, but I thought my kids must be SUPER-kids to make that couch uninhabitable. If you are lucky, you can use the same solution that worked for us. Unzip the cover, and spot-wash with some cold water laundry soap - or your resolve treatment might have already taken care of this step. To eliminate the smell from the inner cushion, air it out somewhere that it can stay dry but have air circulate around it. When you feel that you have gained as much value from the airing out that can be gained, then get a large trash bag that the entire cushion can fit inside of. (Once the cushion was inside, I sprinkled some baking soda inside, but that might have been unnecessary.) Tape the bag closed and insert back into the zipped cover. Hope this works for you as well as it did for us. From Grandma Nancy

Nature's Miracle!!! Hurry to the closest pet store! Good Luck!