Whether it's a night out, or the dog got sick, vomit stains happen on your carpet or rug. But how do you clean puke from your carpet? In this guide, we will discuss the ways you can clean throw up out of a rug as best you can.
What Is In Vomit?
It's important to know what is actually in vomit as it will help you know how to clean it. Vomit is of course composed of whatever the stomach contains at the time of regurgitation, which can include food, digestive juices, enzymes, and bile. Because the bile is of high acidity, it can potentially have a bleaching effect or discolor fabrics or surfaces it comes into contact with, especially if not cleaned promptly. Also bile, as it consists of partially digested food and other components, has an acrid smell that is hard to both “stomach” and clean. In this way, it's best to clean vomit quickly and effectively.
Steps to Clean Vomit from Your Carpet
Remove Solid Matter
Vomit will consist of some solid matter. Remove as much of it from the carpet as possible using a utensil like a spoon or knife.
Blot the Liquid
Whatever liquid remains on the spot, blot it out as much as possible with paper towels. Don’t wet it yet with water as it will just spread the stain.
Use a Cleaner
It's best to get a cleaner that is designed for carpet and upholstery. Don’t use common dish soap as the residue is hard to remove and the dyes in the soap may stain the fabric. Spray the stain thoroughly with the cleaner and let sit for 10 minutes. Then with a damp towel, blot out the stain as much as possible. You can apply extra water to topically rinse the stain.
Deodorize with Baking Soda
Vomit is smelly and requires deodorization. Apply baking soda liberally to the area and let sit for at least 6 hours. Vacuum the baking soda away after this time.
When to Call a Professional
Cleaning a vomit stain at home is very difficult as the liquid will seep deep into the fibers of the carpet making it near impossible to remove with basic household cleaning items. If you love the upholstery item or carpet that was affected, it's best to call an upholstery or carpet cleaner as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage. Depending on the provider, a spot cleaning could run you between $80-$200 in NYC. If you are looking for vomit stain removal, give us a call or get an immediate free quote.! We offer emergency same-day services!
Frequently Asked Questions
Vomit contains food, digestive juices, enzymes, and bile, which has high acidity and can bleach or discolor fabrics, along with producing an acrid smell.
Due to its acidic nature and the potential for staining and odor, vomit should be cleaned promptly to avoid permanent damage to carpets.
Use a utensil like a spoon or knife to gently scoop up and remove as much solid matter as possible without spreading the stain.
Use a cleaner specifically designed for carpet and upholstery cleaning to avoid leaving residue or causing additional staining from dyes in common household soaps.
If the vomit has seeped deep into the carpet fibers or if the carpet is valuable, professional cleaning may be required to prevent permanent damage.
Professional spot cleaning for vomit stains in NYC can cost between $80-$200, depending on the service provider.
Scrape solids, blot liquids, apply specific cleaner, let sit, then blot again. Use baking soda to deodorize.
