First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape up solids with a rounded spoon and blot the liquid with a dry white cloth.
- Keep the water cold until the stain has lifted.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden seam first.
Dog vomit on sheets is a protein stain, so the wrong first move, usually hot water or the dryer, can leave a mark for good. Stomach acid can also change the dye in colored fabric, which is why a yellowish tint sometimes stays after the protein is gone. Fresh spills usually come out with a cold soak and a normal wash, while older spots may only lighten.
Take the sheet off the bed and rinse the back of the stain under cold water before anything else. Work an enzyme laundry pretreater into the spot, then give it a normal wash. If a bile stain on sheets is still visible after washing, pretreat it again rather than putting it in the dryer.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens 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
6 items
What you'll need
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- Rounded spoonLifts semi-solid vomit off the sheet without pushing it deeper into the weave.
- Dry white cloth or white paper towelsAbsorbs the liquid without leaving lint or color behind. (opens Amazon)
- Cold waterKeeps the protein from setting while you soak.
- Mild liquid detergentUsed for the warm wash after the cold soak. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme presoak productBreaks down protein in stubborn spots; see the set-in options below. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric oxygen bleachA gentler option for leftover stain on colorfast sheets. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Blot up the vomit first
Scrape up any solids with a rounded spoon, then blot the liquid with a dry white cloth or white paper towels. Move to a clean section of the cloth as it fills up so you don't press the mess back into the sheet.
Step 2 of 5
Soak the spot in cold water
Soak the stained part of the sheet in cold water, moving it gently so the water reaches the fibers. Cold water keeps the protein from setting, so the stain has a better chance of lifting away.
Tip. Work over a sink or tub so the water and any leftover matter drain away cleanly.
Step 3 of 5
Wash in warm water with detergent
Once the cold soak is done, wash the sheets in warm water with a mild liquid detergent. The detergent goes in only after the cold soak, so the stain meets the cold water first.
Tip. Rinse the sheets fully before you check them.
Careful. Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap; soap sets many stains.
Step 4 of 5
Check the sheets while wet
Look at the stained area while the sheets are still wet, since the stain shows most clearly then. Check both sides of the fabric under good light before you go on.
Step 5 of 5
Repeat the soak if needed
If the stain is still there, soak the spot in cold water again and wash the sheets once more. Some stains need several rounds, so be patient before you move on to the stronger options below.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for pet vomit on sheets, towels & table linens
Look for an enzyme presoak made for protein stains, and an all-fabric oxygen bleach if your sheets are colorfast. Read the label on each before use, since they do different jobs.
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 sheets, towels & table linens, 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
A stain that's responding shows a faint tint in the soak water or on the pretreater cloth, and the mark looks lighter while the sheet is still wet. If a shadow remains after the wash, treat only that spot again and let it air dry before the sheet goes near the dryer. A mark that holds its color through a second soak has probably set, and that's when the older-spot notes matter.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
White cotton sheets
White cotton is the most forgiving fabric here, so the standard cold soak and warm wash usually do the job. If a faint mark is left, give it a second round before deciding it's permanent.
White fabric shows even a small mark clearly, so check the spot under good light before anything else.
Colored or printed sheets
Colored and printed sheets need a colorfast check before any detergent or bleach goes on. Test a hidden seam and wait to see whether the dye runs, since untested dyes can change or fade.
If the test is clean, follow the same cold soak and warm wash, and use only an all-fabric oxygen bleach if the stain is still visible.
Linen sheets
Linen takes the same cold soak and warm wash as cotton, so the steps don't change much. Keep the scraping light, since the weave can pull when it's worked hard.
If the spot is still there after a second round, move to the set-in options rather than scrubbing harder.
Polyester or microfiber sheets
Man-made fibers tend to hold on to both the stain and the odor, so take extra care with the spot. Follow the same cold soak and wash as above, and don't skip the inspection step.
If an odor lingers after washing, let the sheets air out fully and wash them again before you consider them clean.
Old, dried or set-in stains
If the stain is older than 24 hours, start with an enzyme presoak before the cold soak. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of enzyme product into 1/2 cup of warm water, lay an absorbent pad over the stain, and keep it moist with the solution for 30 minutes. Flush the area with water afterward, then go back to the cold soak and warm wash.
Dried protein stains usually need a longer soak, so scrape off any crusted matter first and then soak the sheets in an enzyme presoak for several hours. Expect to repeat this more than once before the stain is fully gone.
If the stain went through the dryer, the heat has likely set it more firmly, and a faint mark may stay even after all of this. If it's still there after the rounds, chlorine bleach is the last option, but only on white, colorfast sheets whose care label allows it. Do a bleachability test on a hidden seam and apply it only after everything has been rinsed out.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pet vomit on sheets, towels & table linens?
Most home remedies people reach for on vomit either do nothing or make the stain harder to lift. Cold soaking and a warm detergent wash cover most of what sheets need, and the others rarely help.
Helps1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the sheets
Rubbing pushes the vomit deeper into the weave, spreads the stain, and can take the color out of the fabric. Blot and press instead, so the stain stays where it is.
Don't wait on a dried spot
Fresh vomit is much easier to remove than a stain that is more than 24 hours old, so start right away. Dried protein is harder to lift, and you'll need the longer soaks described below.
Don't test a pretreater on the stain alone
Colored and printed sheets can lose color from a pretreater you didn't test, and the damage can be worse than the spot. Dab the product on a hidden seam, wait the time on the label, and blot it dry before you use it on the vomit.
Don't leave a liquid pretreater on past the label
Liquid and aerosol pretreaters can fade bright or fluorescent sheets if they sit too long. Gels on those colors need only a few minutes, so set a timer and rinse on schedule.
Don't rub bar soap into a fresh spot
Bar soap can set many stains instead of lifting them, and it can make a protein stain like vomit harder to lift. Use the detergent from the steps or an enzyme presoak instead.
When to call a professional
If the sheets are dry-clean only, or are made from silk or wool, send them to a dry cleaner instead of washing them at home, and point out the vomit so they treat it first. Note the fiber content on the care label, because that decides how a cleaner handles the stain.
Questions
Can I use an enzyme presoak on sheets?
Yes, an enzyme presoak is the usual next step for a protein stain like vomit that has already dried or started to set. Use it after the cold soak, following the set-in options above.
Can stomach acid permanently change the sheets?
Yes, stomach acid can permanently change dyes or the fabric itself, and some stains of this kind are unlikely to come out completely. Treat it quickly anyway, since the cold soak can still remove the vomit even when the color is at risk.
Why does the smell stay after washing?
Heat sets the odor into man-made fibers along with the stain, so a smell can linger if the sheets were dried or ironed too early. Wash them again with the cold soak first, and only dry them once neither the smell nor the mark remains.
Can I use a stronger treatment on silk or wool sheets?
Not with chlorine bleach, which should never go on silk, wool or spandex. Stick to the cold soak and a gentle enzyme presoak, and test any product on a hidden seam first.
What if a faint mark is still there after everything?
A faint mark can remain on some sheets even after the full set of steps. If it's still visible once the sheets are completely dry, a professional cleaner can look at the fabric and advise on the best next step.
Should I run white sheets on hot once the vomit is gone?
Yes, once every trace is gone, cotton and linen can go on the highest setting the label permits. Check the sheet in good light first, because heat will lock in anything you can't see.
Can I use bleach on a colored sheet to lift a faint mark?
Chlorine is off the table unless the color is fast and the label says bleach is okay, and even then you'd test a hidden seam first. Oxygen bleach is the gentler option for colors, though it still needs its own patch test before it goes near the mark.
Should I blot the vomit with a colored cloth or towel?
No, use a dry, white cloth or white paper towel, because colored fabric can transfer dye onto wet sheets. Press gently and switch to a clean section each time the cloth picks up any color.
Pet Vomit on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
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.