Sick Happens: How to Get Vomit Out of Carpet

Vomit is one of the worst substances that can make its way onto your carpet. Whether it's a sickness bug, a young child, or a party that got out of hand, sick on your carpet is the last thing you want. Here are our top tips for how to get vomit out of carpet. 

Cleaning fresh vomit out of carpet

If you're ill, cleaning is probably low on your list of priorities. However, it's much easier to clean vomit out of carpet while it's still fresh. When dealing with bodily fluids, ensure that you wear gloves to protect you from bacteria.

Step one: Scrape

Any solids should be scraped up. Blunt tools like spatulas and spoons are best for this, but make sure that you disinfect them afterwards. If you don't have something like this to hand, you can use a paper towel to collect any fragments. 

Step two: White vinegar and water

Next, it's time to treat the liquid. Combine equal parts white vinegar and water and apply it to the stain. If you have a spray bottle, you can use this to apply the mixture. Otherwise, you can soak some into a paper towel and blot the area with it.

Step three: Blot

However you apply the solution, you will need a towel for the next step. Gently blot the area, working towards the middle of the stain to avoid spreading it. As tempting as it is, you should never scrub carpet as this can damage it or drive the vomit further into the fibres. 

Keep repeating steps two and three until the stain has lifted. If this does not work, it's worth contacting a professional cleaner about how to get vomit out of carpet.

Cleaning dried vomit out of carpet

There are all sorts of reasons why you might not be able to clean vomit right away. While it's not ideal, it doesn't have to be a death sentence for your carpet. 

Step one: Scrape

Just like fresh vomit, dried vomit is likely to contain chunks. Use a blunt tool or a paper towel to collect any solids. If they have dried into the carpet, continue to step two.

Step two: re-hydrate

Dried vomit is so difficult to clean because it's dry. To fix this, use a small amount of warm water to dampen the area. Be warned that this will reactivate the smell, so ventilate the room as much as possible!

You can then treat the vomit as if it were fresh, using steps two and three of the above method. 

Contact a professional carpet cleaner 

If you have a stubborn vomit stain on your carpet, the best action is to call a professional carpet cleaner. The National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) makes this easier with a network of accredited, experienced carpet cleaning contractors. 

Use our directory to find a cleaner who knows how to get vomit out of carpet while protecting your carpet.