How to get barf off of seats...

[Shamish]

The little guy barfed all over the back seat in my 4Runner (2010 SR5 with Black Sport Cloth Seats) this evening. If we had just left a few minutes later, he would have done it at the house we were at (that would have been preferable...). For the first time in my life, I wish I had leather seats. There goes the new car smell...

He was sitting in the Right Rear seat, and some of the stuff went down through the little hole in the seat where the seat belt latch protrudes, and then into a little well in the carpet, and then under the carpet.

After a few hours and several boxes of baking soda, I have gotten all of the "sludge" out, but the seats are still stained and somewhat smelly.

Does anyone have some advice on what the next steps should be? I have no problem expending some elbow grease, so I am happy to buy a can of upholstery shampoo and go at it. If the best shot is to go to a detailer or just have the seat cushion replaced, I'll do that. I just want the problem to be solved...

Thanks in advance for any advice...

 

[Nervo19]

Go get one of those grocery store/drug store rental carpet shampooers. $20 a day. Make sure you get the attachment for doing the stairs. Clean with the hottest water you can put in it and the cleaning solution for pets. You can also try the enzyme cleaner stuff they sell at PetSmart with it. Sorry I don't know a brand name but someone at the store can show you. The enzyme stuff will definately get rid of the odor.

I have three kids. I'm blessed that they have strong stomachs. Only the oldest ever barfed in a car, my '97 4Runner. He's a '97 model too. The baby seat contained the entire load. I only had to strip out the seat liner and hose off the shell of the seat. Good times!

 

[westwind77]

For the first time in my life, I wish I had leather seats. There goes the new car smell....

This is exactly why I by my vehicles with leather! 11 years with my last SUV w/ leather and not ONE stain on it!

They sell those spray foam cans with brushes built in on the end to use on the carpet of the floor, not sure if they would help with the seat back or not. If you know anyone with a pet 'spot bot' you can borrow it, toss in your cleaner/water and that should help too.

 

[Pug]

"Kids & Pets Brand Stain & Odor Remover" by Paramount Chemical Specialties. Using a rental machine to pre-clean, follow the instructions on the KPBSOR and let the enzymes do the rest.

Linked here...

 

[DizzyV6P]

The pet spray is called Nature's Miracle and it works wonders. The use a wet dry vac on it. I have that portable spot cleaner one that's handy for cars. With two little ones, that little green machine has made its money back multiple times.

 

[Paragon1]

Feel your pain brother. Same thing happened to me, but in my case it was a bridesmaid. Amazing how something so small can create so much, but anyway.

Make sure to pull the plastic panels along the floor by the doors. The enzyme cleaner works great. I have a TE though so i was pretty grateful for the waterproof seats. Check along the door panels as well. It took about 2 weeks for the smell to totally subside. If your car is garaged keep the windows open at night so the moisture wont evaporate into the ceiling.

I also kept a bottle of febreeze in the car with me for a couple months just in case. Fact is the car still smells new. It just sucked that when it happened i was on vacation and still had a 1000 miles to drive...

 

[ShaggyTDawg]

The pet spray is called Nature's Miracle and it works wonders.

:iagree:

I've only ever used it w/ pet problems, and none in the car (yet), but the stuff does make it like the accident never happens.

Has anyone done any mods for sealing up all of the harder to clean "crevices" to make just such an occasion easier to clean up?

 

[offroadingatc]

Ive used the 'bissel little green' with good results as stated above.

another easy method is a good wet dry vac, a toothbrush, and some good carpet shampoo.

sorry about your luck I'm still transitioning from cleaning up after drunk 25 years olds, to cleaning up after (possibly drunk) kids, so i feel your pain!

 

[Shamish]

Thanks for the great advice everyone! I am going to see if I can find some of the kid/pet odor remover. If that does not work, then off to the QFC to rent the carpet cleaner! In fact, I think that one of my friends might have one so I may try and borrow that!

Responding to another comment: The sludge did not get under the door trim along the edges of the carpet or on the door panels...the seat managed to catch most of the sludge...I suppose that is good news?

 

[rlinger]

If cost is not a concern, take it to car cleaners. Tell them you what dry-cleaner fluid used to clean-up the mess. (They used to sell it at Wal*Mart). I have not been able to find it in recent years.

They will use a cloth soaked in the stuff, which should clean up the stuff. Then they will vacuum as much liquid as they can remove. In the future (if the kid was in a car seat), they make a car seat protector that catches most stuff in the future. http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-Stage-Saver-Black/dp/B000083GHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323022944&sr=8-1

Good Luck

 

[tlflow]

natural fresh

The best thing to get the smell of vomit out of your carpet is this stuff:

 

[tlflow]

?

Coons are pretty smart, so I'm sure that it wasn't too hard to get them to pee in those little bottles, probably give them lots of beer to get more yield/coon

 

[Quentin]

I was sold on the cloth sport seats until talking to some coworkers. They recommended leather based on kid barf. I don't yet have kids, but we were thinking about it, so I sprung for the leather.

 

[4Runnerspv]

I would take it to get detailed ASAP!

 

[ClockWork]

I would take it to get detailed ASAP!

This.

 

[1000MPH]

Can you take the seats out and hose 'em down? Throw 'em in the pool or hottub?

 

[Shamish]

Update: Went to a friends house and used their Bissel vac/carpet cleaner. Then went and got a can of upholstery shampoo and used that on the seats. Everything seems OK now. I am going to give everything the "nose over" tomorrow morning, and if I get a whiff of anything that's off, it's off to the detail shop I go!

Thank you everyone for the great advice!!

 

[Antman]

Coons are pretty smart, so I'm sure that it wasn't too hard to get them to pee in those little bottles, probably give them lots of beer to get more yield/coon

More yield/coon? That made me spit coffee. Thanks!

 

[Okki]

Update: Went to a friends house and used their Bissel vac/carpet cleaner. Then went and got a can of upholstery shampoo and used that on the seats. Everything seems OK now. I am going to give everything the "nose over" tomorrow morning, and if I get a whiff of anything that's off, it's off to the detail shop I go!

Thank you everyone for the great advice!!

If you need any further bio-material removal, I'd recommend this:

Nature's Miracle Just For Cats Advanced Stain & Odor Remover - Stain & Odor - Cat - PetSmart

It's enzyme based and works wonders when my Maincoon decides to toss his cookies. But hopefully the elbow grease you've put in so far will have taken care of things.

Okki