Removing vomit stains from a carpet isn't a task anyone would be pleased to take on. It could be your child or pet getting sick, or maybe you simply had too much fun last night. Regardless, there's some cleaning up awaiting you, and in this article we will aid you in that task.

Warning Note: Before you begin cleaning the issue using any of the provided tips, there is something important to check. All carpets have a cleaning instructions label attached. If you're unsure where to find them, try calling a professional cleaning company. In case no specific information can be found, perform a spot test on an inconspicuous area of the carpet.

How to clean vomit from carpet

How to remove vomit stain and smell with soapy water?

Let's firstly establish what's needed to successfully pull off this cleaning method:

  • fairy liquid/ dish soap
  • cold water
  • a wet/ dry vacuum
  • a spray bottle
  • a soft brush
  • 2x clean cloths

Have your spray bottle handy and fill it up with 80% water and 20% fairy liquid. Make sure the solution is well mixed and begin spraying the stained area. Afterwards, go over said area with your wet/ dry vacuum cleaner. Once you do that, re-spray the stain and start cleaning it in circular motions with your soft brush.

It's key to not scrub too hard onto the area, as that can damage the carpet fibres. If needed, spray some more of the soapy water and keep on scrubbing. At this point, the stain should barely be visible, but there are a few more steps you need to take.

Grab one of the prepared clean cloths and dampen it with lukewarm water. Rinse the stain as much as you can and try to remove as much of the cleaning product as possible. Lastly, blot the stain with the dry cloth by applying pressure. You should do your best to absorb as much of the moisture as possible, as that could lead to the forming of a watermark.

Dealing with the stain and odour at the same time is impossible. Hence, the area should be cleaned with other products to remove the smell. Your best shot at it is using an enzymatic cleaner. Enzyme cleaners can be found at any shop, they help by destroying the protein smell source.

In case you don't have an enzyme cleaner at hand, it's not the end of the world. We recommend pouring club soda then blotting out using paper towels. Alternatively, drizzle some cheap vodka and leave it for 15 minutes. Once dry, sprinkle baking soda on top, leave it for 60 minutes, then hoover it.

This is the single most effective and harmless way to remove essentially any type of stains over carpets. The reason why is that soap/ fairy liquid do not contain any chemicals inside harmful to carpet fibres. Additionally, all modern homes, and even offices, have a wet/ dry vacuum handy. In case you're reading this, and you by any chance do not own one, let's assist you with choosing one!

Read also: Carpet Cleaning Tools at Home

Removind vomit

What matters most when choosing a wet and dry vacuum cleaner?

  • Price
  • Can it be used on carpets and rugs, as well as hard floors?
  • Does it have a dual-tank system?
  • Would you need it for light cleaning or heavy-duty work?

In terms of pricing, the Kärcher WD2 model is the most inexpensive and widely popular in the UK. Apart from its low cost, the model is also light-weight and compact. The main drawbacks are its 1000W motor, and the inability to clean soft floor coverings well.

A wet and dry vacuum cleaner which is still affordable, but double the price of the Kärcher model, is the Einhell TC-VC 19300S. Its manufacturer confirms that the model is mainly built for carpet and upholstery cleaning. It has a 30L vessel capacity and is likely more than enough for your daily needs.

The Tineco wet and dry vacuum cleaner is the ideal cleaning tool for anyone. While it is a bit pricey, sitting at a £399 cost for the premium model, it's extremely useful and multi-functional. One of its key selling points is its dual tank system, which does not allow for the clean water to mix with the dirty one. Additionally, it's cordless and it also self cleans.

Our last recommendation is the Crafstman CMXEVBE17595, which is built for heavy-duty work. While the overall material used is plastic, it's very high quality and made to last. It comes with various attachments and also has a blow function for quick cleaning of leaves and grass.

These cleaners can be found at your local Argos or online. Using them is vital in order not to spread out the stained area with paper towels or cloths.

How to remove carpet stains

How to remove old vomit stains from carpet?

The best advice anyone can give you in terms of removing stains is to act fast, but you may not be lucky enough to be there once the accident occurs. Start by scraping off as much of the vomit as you can. You can use a spatula or a spoon, and the waste can be put into a plastic bag. In case you don't have these at hand, put on your rubber gloves and use paper towels.

Once you've removed all the bigger bits of waste, treat the remaining fluid to avoid the stain and odour settling in. If you don't have a carpet cleaner handy, dilute white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide with equal parts of water. Just make sure to not combine vinegar and peroxide as the two create peracetic acid, which is an irritant.

Begin blotting the stain with a clean cloth, but make sure to not rub it deeper into the carpet. Application of the cleaning solution several times may be necessary in order to clean up all the vomit.

Once you're done cleaning the area, let it dry or cover it with a thin layer of banking soda to absorb the remaining moisture. This will also help neutralize the acidity of the vomit. As soon as the soda dries to a powder, hoover it and enjoy your freshly cleaned carpet.

Check also: Do Steam Mops Clean Carpets?

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Bonus tips

The internet can be a very confusing place to gather information from. On one specific topic, there could be numerous answers from various sources. With the help of the cleaning experts at ProLux, we compiled a list of bonus cleaning tips for you.

How do I take care of my carpets and rugs?

Apart from regular hoovering, carpets and rugs should be professionally steam cleaned at least once or twice a year. Doing that keeps the carpet colours fresh and improves indoor air quality be removing dirt and dust stuck deeply inside.

How do you get cat pee smell out of the carpet?

Try soaking up as much of the liquid as possible by using a paper towel or an old cloth. Then, generously pour enzymatic cleaner onto the stained area. Let it dry for about 5 minutes and then repeat the same blotting process. Lastly, sprinkle baking soda, let it sit for an hour and hoover it.

Should a carpet smell weird after being cleaned?

This answer does depend not only on what cleaning method you used, but also on the carpet type. Wool carpets, for example, have been known to smell funny even after a professional steam cleaning session. We recommend ventilating well, not just for the duration of the drying, but even after that. In case the smell doesn't go away, seek the advice of professionals.