How To Get Baby Spit Up Out Of Carpet

There’s nothing quite as precious as welcoming a new family member into the home. It’s a time of joy when your whole family gathers around to take care of and celebrate the new baby. 

However, your new bundle of joy does provide a few new challenges. One of those challenges is dealing with spit-up and other bodily fluids. 

You can get baby spit up out of the carpet with baking soda, baby wipes, or simple water and soap. With just a little bit of elbow grease you should have this out of your carpet in no time!

Why Does Baby Spit Up Stain, Anyway?

There really is nothing cuter than your bouncing bundle of joy … until he spits up all over your clean white carpet! Worse yet, that spit up seems to stain. 

The reason baby spit-up has a reputation for leaving ugly yellow marks in its wake is because it’s made up mostly of milk. Milk contains protein, which can leave some nasty stains behind it.

The good news is that, like most other protein-based stains, it’s not too tough to get rid of. You just have to make sure you act quickly and have a bit of patience. 

When in Doubt, Water and Baking Soda!

As with most things, baking soda and water are a great home remedy for getting baby spit up out of your carpet. Since these are on hand, you’ll have no problem getting rid of spit up with this method!

As gross as it might be, you’ll need to start by blotting bib blobs of baby barf off the carpet. Make sure to get as much of it up as you can. That way you’ll be able to reach the fibers when you get to work on the carpet!

Now, you’ll want to grab a bit of baking soda and sprinkle it on the carpet stain. Allow the baking soda to sit for about 30 minutes. 

When the time is FINALLY up, dip a washcloth in water. We know you’re ready to get rid of that baby spit up already! 

To finish getting up the spit up, simply dab away the baking soda. As you work, the stain will start to vanish. 

The Harried Housewife’s Hiccup Fix

Another handy method for getting baby spit-up out of your carpet is to use a bit of dish soap and vinegar. This method requires a couple more ingredients, but it’s still pretty straight forward. 

For this method, you’ll need to mix one cup of warm water, one cup of distilled white vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap together. 

Then, gently dab the mixture onto the baby barf with a rag or an old towel that you don’t care about. Continue dabbing at the spit-up stain until you can no longer see any visible signs of baby’s barf. 

Housewife’s Tip: If you want to deep clean your carpet after removing spit-up stains, you can steam clean them. Just make sure to vacuum before steam cleaning as this removes all loose dirt and lingering spit-up residue. 

Break Out the Baby Wipes

Baby wipes were invented for a reason! These handy wipes are helpful because you can have them with you at all times, making it easy to tackle spit-up stains even if they happen at a friend’s house. 

If you use baby wipes to clean up the carpet, all you need to do is scoop up the worst of the spit-up from the carpet. Then, gently dab the stains using the baby wipes. 

Keep in mind that this method is best when in a pinch. Baby wipes may not be as effective as getting stains out of your carpet as baking soda or dish soap is. Our recommendation? Use the baby wipes to get the worst of the stain up and then head out to the store for some baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap so you can clean up the rest. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Spit Up Stain?

If you don’t clean up spit-up it can stain your carpet. Not only does this create unsightly spots but it can also lead to unpleasant smells in the home. It’s best to clean up the spit-up as soon as you notice it on your floor. 

How Do You Get Spit Up Out of a Couch?

You can use water and dish soap, baby wipes, or distilled white vinegar to get spit-up out of a couch as well as out of your carpet. Just note that the lemon juice method will likely not work on your couch. However, you can use any of the other three methods or a combination of them to remove the spit-up once and for all.