First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape up semi-solids with a rounded spoon and blot liquids with a dry, white cloth or paper towels.
- Run cold water first. Never start with hot water.
- Work from the edges toward the center without rubbing.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot before using it.
Vomit on clothes is a protein stain, and heat can set it in fast, so the first wash should never be hot. Cold water is what loosens it, and a stubborn spot may need the cold soak repeated more than once. Stomach acid can change fabric dye for good, so a colored item may keep a faint mark even after careful treatment.
Rinse the back of the spot so the mess doesn't push further into the weave. Then work an enzyme laundry pretreater into the fabric before the wash, since it helps lift what the cold soak leaves behind. If cat vomit has dried into the fabric, keep the item out of the dryer until the spot is completely gone.
Before you start
What clothes can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Rounded spoonLifts solid pieces without pushing them into the fibers.
- Dry white cloth or white paper towelsBlots liquid up without rubbing it in. (opens Amazon)
- Cold waterThe first rinse and soak; hot water sets protein stains.
- Laundry detergent or mild liquid dish soapUsed for the warm wash after the cold soak. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme presoak productBreaks down protein stains such as blood and grass, for dried or old spots. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Scrape and blot the vomit
Lift any solid pieces with a rounded spoon, and don't push them into the fibers. Press a dry white cloth or paper towel onto the liquid, working from the edges toward the center so the stain doesn't spread. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than those over 24 hours old, so don't wait.
Careful. Rubbing pushes the vomit deeper into the weave, so press and lift instead.
Step 2 of 6
Test on a hidden spot
Dab a little cold water on a hidden seam or the inside hem, then blot it with a white cloth. Check the cloth and the fabric for any color change before you go further. If the care label is missing or unreadable, use only cold water and skip anything stronger.
Tip. Pick the spot that will stay hidden if the fabric reacts.
Careful. Gels should stay on bright or fluorescent items no more than a few minutes.
Step 3 of 6
Soak in cold water first
Submerge the stained part in cold water, or soak the whole item if it fits, and leave it while you do the other steps. Gently agitate it now and then so the water reaches the stained area.
Careful. Hot water cooks the protein and can set the stain for good.
Step 4 of 6
Wash in warm water with detergent
Once the soak has loosened the stain, wash the item in warm water with a regular laundry detergent. Use the usual amount on the label and choose a warm cycle.
Tip. If the care label rules out warm water, wash it on cold instead.
Step 5 of 6
Soak again if it stays
If the stain is still visible after the wash, soak it in cold water again and wash it a second time. Some stains need more than one round, so don't expect everything to lift on the first attempt.
Step 6 of 6
Check before the dryer
Look at the damp item in good light before you let it dry. If the stain is still there, even faintly, go back to the cold soak.
Tip. Hang it to dry only once the spot looks clear.
Careful. Heat from the dryer sets the stain for good, and it is hard to undo.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for pet vomit on clothes
Look for an enzyme presoak product for dried or old protein stains, and choose oxygen bleach rather than chlorine for colored items.
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
ECOS OXO Brite Stain & Odor Remover Pre-Wash Spray
Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover, Enzymatic Cleaner, 32 oz
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on clothes, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the damp fabric looks the same as the area around it, with no shadow or tinted spot. Check in good light while the item is still damp, and if the mark is still visible, go back to the cold soak.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your clothes
Cat vomit
Cat vomit uses the same cold-water route as any protein stain, so start with the scrape and the hidden-spot test. What changes is the item, so check the care label first, and if it says dry clean only, skip the machine and take it to a dry cleaner promptly.
For delicate fabric such as silk, wool or spandex, leave out chlorine bleach and keep the wash gentle. If the fiber is unknown and the label is missing, stick to the cold soak and don't guess with anything stronger.
Dog vomit
The method is the same, and dog vomit with grass in it is a reason to reach for an enzyme presoak, since those break down protein stains such as blood and grass. Use the presoak on dried or old stains and leave it overnight.
Vomit that has soaked through to a couch or rug needs a different method, so see the Couch & Sofa or Carpet & Rugs guide for that surface. Otherwise, the steps above apply to the garment, and you should go through them in order.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old vomit stain has had time to settle into the fibers, so expect it to take more than one round. Start by scraping or brushing off any crusted matter, then soak the item in cold water with detergent or an enzyme presoak.
For a dried stain, use an enzyme presoak and leave it overnight, then wash as usual. On colorfast fabric, oxygen bleach can be added to the wash after a hidden-spot test.
If the stain has been through the dryer, the heat has probably set it, so it may fade without fully lifting. If it still shows after several rounds, take the item to a dry cleaner rather than scrubbing harder.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pet vomit on clothes?
Some home remedies work on other stains but don't suit vomit. Skip most of them on vomit; cold water first, then a warm wash with detergent, does the job.
Helps1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub with bar soap
Bar soap sets many stains, so rubbing a fresh spot with it can make the mess worse. Use the cold soak and detergent from the steps instead.
Don't mix your cleaners
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia, vinegar or alcohol can give off hazardous fumes. If you need more than one product, rinse the item thoroughly between them.
Don't iron or steam the spot
Steam cleaners and heat set both the stain and the odor for good. Leave the item cool and dry until it looks clear.
When to call a professional
Take dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and that the stain is from vomit. Take even washable items if the stain covers a large area, the item is bulky, or the fabric is fragile.
Questions
Can stomach acid stain clothes permanently?
Yes, it can. Stomach acid can permanently change dyes or fabric, so the sooner you treat it, the better. The steps above apply to bile too.
Can I use chlorine bleach on vomit?
Not as a first step. Chlorine bleach only suits colorfast items whose care label allows it, and it belongs at the very end, after everything is rinsed out. Never use it on wool, silk or spandex.
Will the smell stay after the stain is gone?
It can. Heat sets odors in man-made fibers, so a smell that lingers is a sign to repeat the cold soak and wash, not to dry the item again.
What if the vomit dried on the fabric?
Scrape off the crusted matter first, then use an enzyme presoak, ideally overnight, before a warm wash. Expect more than one round, and take the item to a dry cleaner if it still shows after several rounds.
Does cat vomit need a different method?
The core method is the same, and the cold-water route applies. What changes is the item, so check the care label first and use a dry cleaner for dry-clean-only fabric.
Is dog vomit treated differently?
The method is the same, and grass in dog vomit is a reason to reach for an enzyme presoak. Enzyme presoaks break down protein stains such as blood and grass, so use one on dried or old stains.
Do I need to test every fabric first?
Yes, test a hidden seam before any cleaner, every time. A small test shows how the fabric reacts before the stain does, and if the color changes, stop and take the item to a dry cleaner.
Pet Vomit on other materials
Other stains on clothes
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.