How to Clean Vomit on the Carpet

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This article was co-written by Haim Shemesh. Haim Shemesh is a carpet & doormat specialist and owner of Sunlight Fine Rugcare & Restoration, a New York-based business. Haim Shemesh specializes in cleaning and repairing Oriental, Persian, handcrafted carpets and antique rugs. He also restores carpets damaged by fire. He has more than 17 years of experience in carpet cleaning at his business, Sunlight Fine Rugcare & Restoration. Sunlight Fine Rugcare & Restoration was awarded Angie’s List Super Service Award in 2017 and 2018. His clients include Staples, Ace Hotel, Momofuku, Banana Republic, and more.

There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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It’s unbelievable – someone in the house or a pet has vomited on the carpet! However, cleaning up vomit, stains and odors is not too difficult. Even if you don’t have a carpet cleaning product or baking soda available in your home, you can still get the dirty spot clean.

Table of Contents

Clean up vomit

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Wear latex or disposable gloves. You need to wear gloves to prevent dirt from getting on your hands. Gloves not only keep you from getting dirty with that horrible thing, but they also protect you from germs.

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Scoop out the vomit as much as possible. As soon as the floor becomes soiled, immediately grab a scraper or a flat object ^{[1] X Source of study} to scoop the solid portion of vomit into a trash shovel or plastic bag.

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Collect vomit with a cloth or paper towel. Another way to clean up vomit is to collect it with a towel. Once you’ve gathered everything you can in the towel, put the towel in the washing machine. You can also clean up the vomit with a tissue instead of a cloth and throw it in the trash.

One thing to keep in mind when washing towels in the washing machine: if there are solids in the vomit, they can get stuck in the machine.

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Cut a few pieces of cardboard to scoop up the vomit. Use a paper cake box or a notebook cover to scoop. Slide the piece of cardboard under the thickest part of the vomit and throw it in the trash. You should cut two pieces of cardboard, use one to wipe the vomit on the other to replace the broom and shovel. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Use a plastic bag. Turn a plastic bag over your hand to make a glove and collect as much vomit as you can. You can then turn the bag over and fasten the two straps. Throw the bag in the trash.

Make sure the bag is not punctured so that vomit does not get on your hands.

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Use a spatula to scoop up vomit. Another way to clean up vomit on the carpet is to use a spatula. Thread the flat edge of the spatula under the vomit and scoop it out of the carpet. You can also use a spoon to scoop.

Do not use a spatula with a gap. The vomit will pass through the opening and fall.
Disinfect spoon or spatula after shoveling vomit.

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Cover the vomit with sand. As soon as someone vomits on the carpet, cover the vomit with sand. Let the sand clump together with the vomit, then use a broom and shovel to sweep up the trash. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Do not rub the carpet. Whatever method you use to clean up the vomit on the carpet, do not rub it on the carpet. The pressure as you clean up the vomit can push the dirt into the carpet fibers and make the job doubly difficult.

Using a towel can cause vomit to press against the carpet. ^{[4] X Research Source} Using a flat object such as a spatula, cardboard or scraper to shovel will help prevent this.

Dry the water

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Sprinkle baking soda on vomit. Baking soda is a great product to get rid of stains left behind by vomit. It dries the remaining liquid and clumps into a lumpy lump. Pour a lot of baking soda on the stain, let it sit for 10-15 minutes or until the lumps begin to dry, then use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum them up. Repeat again if needed.

If the vomit is very thick, try sprinkling baking soda on the spot and leaving it overnight. The baking soda will soak into the vomit and clump. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Use the tip of a vacuum cleaner instead of a regular brush.

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Use cornstarch to dry the damp spot. Another way to dry up any remaining moisture in the vomit is to sprinkle with cornstarch. Remember to cover the stain. Wait for the cornstarch to dry for about 10-15 minutes, then use a vacuum cleaner with a straw to suck it up. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Use a clean rag and warm water to clean the residue. Spray or pour water on the dirty area, then use a clean rag to absorb the water. Do not rub the carpet so that any remaining crumbs do not get pushed deep into the carpet. Once the rag is wet, take another clean rag and continue blotting.

When absorbing water, you should press your hand a little hard to absorb a lot of water. Remember to only press hard, not rub.
Use a white rag to prevent the pattern or dye on the towel from spilling onto the carpet.
You can use paper towels instead of clean rags.

Clean stains

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Use soda water. Pour soda water into a spray bottle or just pour it directly onto the carpet. Use a clean rag to press on the dirty area to absorb water until the stain disappears. Add more soda water and blot with a clean, dry cloth if necessary.

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Use dry cleaning solvents. You can spray a dry cleaning solvent (such as Dryel) on a clean rag, then blot the stain until the solvent is completely absorbed. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Use vinegar. Mix one part vinegar with one part cold water in a spray bottle. Spray plenty of vinegar solution on the dirty spot. Wait for the vinegar to soak for 15 minutes, then use a clean, dry cloth to absorb the vinegar.

After most of the vinegar has been absorbed, you can scrub the stain with a stiff brush until the stain starts to come off. Use a dry cloth to blot the stain again.
You can also add to a spray bottle 5 drops of refined essential oil to mask the odor and 8 drops of thieves essential oil which is said to kill 99% of bacteria.
You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in this step.
Do not rub the rag into the carpet.
Do not spray too much. You need to cover the stain but not wet the carpet.

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Try hydrogen peroxide. Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part water or dishwashing liquid. Pour the mixture onto the carpet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Use a rag to gently rub your hands into the foam, then blot with a dry towel.

Water the stain to rinse off the soap. You need to rinse the soap off the carpet, because soap can collect dirt.

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Make your own carpet cleaning solution. Mix 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of salt, ½ cup of white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid or colorless laundry detergent, and 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. ^{[8] X Research Source} Use a sponge to dab the solution on the stain, then blot with a clean, dry cloth until it is no longer wet.

Remember to rinse again after the stain has disappeared. Spray water on the cleaned area and pat dry with a towel. Repeat 2-3 times.

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Use a carpet or fabric cleaner according to the directions on the bottle. You can use a stain remover. A suitable product that you should try is an enzyme stain remover for pets or car seat cushions. Make sure to use according to the directions on the bottle.

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Use a carpet cleaner. For tough stains, consider using a carpet cleaner. You can use a wet vacuum cleaner to deal with dirt if you have one at home. If not, you can find places to rent carpet cleaners.

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Try ammonia. Mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia with 1 cup of water, then spray or sprinkle the mixture over the stain. Use a towel or sponge to dab ammonia on the stain, then rinse with water and pat dry with a towel.

Do not use ammonia if you have pets in the house. The smell of ammonia can attract them to come and pee there. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Remove stains with an iron. Spray a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar on the stain. Apply a white, damp towel to the stain. Turn the iron on steam and iron the area for 30 seconds, repeating as many times as necessary. ^{[10] X Research Source} The stain will transfer from the carpet to the rag.

Don’t leave the iron in one place for too long – the towel could scorch. Instead, you should gently glide the iron back and forth over the stained area.
Never be directly onto the carpet. You should always lay a towel over the carpet to iron. Otherwise, your carpet is at risk of burning.

Deodorant

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Sprinkle baking soda. After cleaning the stain, sprinkle plenty of baking soda over the cleaned area. Baking soda is an alkali that helps neutralize the acid in the vomit. It also helps to deodorize rather than just masking the smell. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Leave the baking soda on the carpet overnight and vacuum it up the next morning. This step will also help absorb any remaining moisture.

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Vinegar spray. Mix vinegar and water in equal proportions, then spray or water the smelly area. The vinegar solution will deodorize or at least reduce the unpleasant smell. ^{[12] X Research Source} The downside to vinegar is that it also leaves a vinegar smell.

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Spray deodorant. Buy a deodorant spray like Febreze or Renuzit. Choose a deodorant instead of a room freshener. Herb or floral room fresheners will only help mask the smell, sometimes even mixing with the smell of vomit into a more bearable smell. Deodorant sprays can help you get rid of odors.

Advice

If the vomit is dry, you can vacuum up large chunks, then moisten the area with water. Continue to treat as fresh vomit.
You may need a combination of the above methods. Try cleaning with vinegar or soap, then sprinkle with baking soda mixed with water.
After using a vacuum cleaner to clean up the vomit, you need to change the trash bag or clean the machine to prevent bacteria and odors.
Before using the above products to clean the carpet, you should test it on a small area of the carpet for 5-10 minutes first to make sure the carpet is not discolored.

Steps

Clean up vomit

Dry the water

Clean stains

Deodorant

Advice

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