Learning New Things

Isn't life fun! I'm always learning new things. This week, I learned about washing vomit-stained sheets, clothes, and a mattress. It's been so long since my son barfed that I forgot about how to deal with it. My son hasn't barfed on himself in years, maybe 10. It's been so long, that both of his mattress protectors have holes in them. Yes, I have 2 just in case. The holes are right where the vomit landed.

His cold is better but he still has a dry cough. The combination of a cough and his strong gag reflex is what did it. He was sleeping until he coughed so hard, I think some chunks must have come up. Then, the hurling began. My husband ran in tried to get him to the bathroom. I was blissfully asleep and woke to sounds of  retching and sobbing. Because, let's face it, it's really scary when our bodies betray us. A middle of the night hurling session is a huge betrayal, huge!

Most of it landed on his sheets and blankets with a nice splash down his arm and front. After peeling off the regurgitated mess, we put him in the shower with an apple Izze. I lit a candle, put a bowl of white vinegar near the incident, opened the window, and burned incense. That knocked the puke molecules out of the air.

My husband had the joy of rinsing off the chunks in the laundry sink. Then we washed the mass on super-wash with extra vinegar. That used to work when he was smaller. But, now, with more grown-up-like puke, it didn't work. They came out smelling of clean barf. So, we washed them again. And, same thing happened. In case you don't know, clean vomit smell is the smell of detergent with a slight whiff of the stank.

Being half asleep, I tossed the twice washed on super-wash with vinegar and more vinegar into the dryer on super hot. That used to work, did I mention that? But, it didn't work this time. And, to top it off, the dryer now smells like last night's dinner with a side of bile.

The internet told me that I have to use something with enzymes in it. I've been spraying his mattress with enzymes all day and I think it's working because the stink is very faint.

So, here I go again on super wash with enzymes. Wish me luck.

And, you can add enzymes to your arsenal. You know, in case you ever have to clean barf in the middle of the night.