My son recently threw up all around the toilet, not much made it in the toilet. It was all over the wall, floor and covering the toilet. I have cleaned it several times with my household cleaners, and the smell lingers. Does anybody have any suggestions on something I can use to get the smell out?
I have been able to get terrible vomit smell away with bicarbonate soda. Try and sprinkle (or somehow puff) it on the walls and floor, and leave for a good while. Then wipe away with a damp cloth.
You could try Nature's Miracle. It is an enzymatic cleaner for pet issues. The trick is that the longer the affected area stays wet with the product, the better it works. So, in other words, don't just spray and wipe right away. Let it do its thing.
So sorry! If you don't have a bead of clear caulk around the bottom of the toilet, the throw-up may be under there and smelly because of that. The same thing happens with urine collecting under a toilet.
What I did for a friend who had an incontinent elderly father was slide a paper towel under it and absorb as much as I could. Then I slid one soaked in PineSol under the toilet. That helped.
What kind of flooring do you have around that toilet?
Vinyl flooring/tiles?
Ceramic tile?
If it is something like vinyl flooring tiles, the vomit probably made its way into the cracks/crevices of the tile joints. Hence the remaining smell.
Ceramic tile on the other hand, is less porous and has grout joints. So it is less impervious at the joints.
And what are the walls made of? Are there any joints/crevices/baseboard edges where the vomit could have seeped into? If so then maybe the smell is still remaining there too.
Perhaps, use something like cat litter, to absorb the smells/remaining moisture??? Not the granulated/sand type cat litter, but the kind that is paper pellets that will absorb things. And leave it there, then vacuum it up after.
Or, some kind of dessicant... that can absorb moisture by drawing it out.
Or maybe vinegar?
Mainly, I would think that the "moisture" from the vomit, which is remaining, is causing the smell. Especially if it made its way into any cracks/crevices/joints of the flooring or the walls.
And yes, those "pet" odor sprays, from pet stores that are enzymatic based, are good. It neutralizes things.
So maybe go to a pet store, to buy some.
In any event, hope your son gets better.
Vomit illnesses are not fun. :)
I keep a trash can, RIGHT near my kids when they have these stomach/vomit viruses. And then on the floor, I line it with pet pee pads, to absorb anything that may miss the trash can. Or line large plastic trash bags all around them on the floor and the trash can.
It has worked well, so far.
Have you used bleach? that usually takes it away. Also, you could use Oxyclean and mix it with water into a paste and let it set there. I'm not sure really because I have always just used cleanser and haven't had any problems getting it out. And I threw up everyday I was pregnant, twice, so I should have had a lot of experience cleaning it up....
I agree with the first answer- try a pet odor solution and I love Nature's Miracle. I use it to clean up all kinds of messes here :)
Since everything is clean and it is just the smell that lingers burn a match in the room. The smell will instantly go away.
I have used OxiClean in carpets with great success, I would think it would work on floors too.
M
What kind of floor do you have in there, is there tile and grout? I would use bleach or Clorox clean up on that grout if so, with a toothbrush and good ventilation! Good luck!
