Vomit accidents can happen to the best of us. Whether you have pets or kids, carpet stains are inevitable. The best thing you can do?
Vomit stains and odours can be particularly tough to tackle. If you find the task too overwhelming, our professional cleaning team is ready to help. Call us at 07557914387 or 02036215221 for immediate assistance.
Now, let us help you understand the best techniques for removing vomit from upholstery and carpets so you act quickly once it occurs. In this post, we are happy to show you how to do it the right way without damaging your expensive belongings. Let’s get started.
If you're not able to get rid of the stains by yourself, you can always give us a call and use our professional carpet cleaning services in London.
Before you can successfully treat a stain, you need to know what it’s made of so you can find a mixture that can counteract the spot.
Just like blood, urine, and dog poop, vomit is a body fluid which means it contains protein. And protein-based stains are best removed with an enzyme cleaner. In particular, you’re looking for protease enzymes since they break down protein into smaller molecules. This way, the spot can be washed more easily. Just to compare, for oil stains, you’ll need lipases.
Enzyme cleaners are available both online and offline, their price varying widely from one store to the next. You can make your own concoction by mixing citrus rinds, yeast, water, and brown sugar into an airtight jar. Let them ferment before use.
Other things that will work include dishwashing soap, vinegar and water, and club soda. There is a special home concoction you can make to remove the stain. It involves mixing 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, 2 cups of warm water, 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of liquid soap, and 1 tablespoon of salt in a container. Then you want to transfer it onto the carpet and work with it.
The perfect combo that will help you loosen the stain is a dab of dish soap, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Mix them well and sponge the surface with the solution. Try not to rub. Use a blotting action instead. Do this until you loosen the stain. When the stain comes out, apply cold water and blot it with a clean cloth or paper towel. Allow to air dry.
It is important to address any vomit stains as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming permanent and more difficult to remove. You want to start by scraping the excess vomit off. Remove as much vomit as possible. Next, blot the stain with paper towels or a clean cloth, whatever you have at your disposal.
If you have pets, you’ll find it handy to keep an enzymatic cleaner in the pantry at all times for ‘special' occasions like this one. Grab that product and spray a decent amount of it directly on the targeted area. Using a clean towel or a sponge, start blotting from the border of the stain into the centre. In other words, don’t let it spread outside the affected region.
Repeat these steps as many times as needed until you get as much of the stain out. Then, rinse well with a clean damp cloth.
With this technique, you need some good old baking soda or cornstarch. If you catch your pet in the act of puking on your sofa, sprinkle the targeted carpet area with baking soda right away and let it sit overnight. If necessary, go back to the stain a couple of times to sprinkle more soda. It will soak up any bad smells and the stain itself. On the next day, take the vacuum and go over the powder until you suction all of it.
When you finally remove the vomit stain, you’re not done with the job. Now, you are left with a rancid odour that can hang over for days and re-emerge every time the carpet is damp. It’s vital you deal with it now so you don’t have to tackle it later.
Mix hydrogen peroxide with water so it is diluted and apply it directly on the affected area with a spray bottle. If you don’t mind the smell of vinegar, you can substitute hydrogen peroxide for distilled white vinegar. For this one, combine equal parts vinegar and water.
Baking soda works great too. Dilute baking soda in water until you make a paste. Transfer it onto the targeted area of the carpet and leave it on until it dries. Use a spoon or another flat tool like the back of a knife to scrape off the paste from the fabric. Run a vacuum over it to remove any remaining powder.
Before you begin, do a spot test on an inconspicuous area of the carpet to ensure the solution doesn’t discolour or damage it.
When you are done add a few drops of essential oils.
Some experts believe that the act of vomiting is quite a violent exercise for cats and dogs, that’s why they need to have a good grip on the floor with their legs. And since floors can be slippery, pets prefer being on a carpet during a vomiting event.
If you don’t use gloves or wash your hands after you clean the vomit, there is a chance you might get sick depending on how contaminated the area is. Viruses are notorious for surviving days on hard surfaces. That’s why you should use a disinfectant on the stained area (and your hands) after you scrape off the stain.
If you don’t remove the traces of vomit as soon as you can, it may leave a permanent stain on your carpet. Hurry up and clean the mess before it had gotten a chance to damage your item. Use paper towels to absorb as much of the spot as you can. Next, spray the area with a commercial cleaning product that you should leave for 10 to 15 minutes. Before you get to this step, we advise you check your carpet care label to avoid causing further damage.
Depending on how deep the stain is, the bad odour will linger on for days and even months. If you want to get rid of it fast, you should provide adequate airflow in the room by keeping windows open or running a fan.
It's easier to remove stains that just happened rather than dried vomit on carpet.
And this wraps up our tips on cleaning vomit from your carpet. We hope you did a good job. If you can't get vomit off the fabric despite your best efforts, consider calling in a pro. Not only will they give it an effective treatment but they can help you keep your home clean.
