First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Put on gloves, wipe up the solids with paper towels, and throw them in a plastic trash bag.
- Blot or carefully scrape off the excess. Do not rub.
- Treat it as soon as possible, because set-in stains are harder to remove.
- Keep heat off the spot until the stain is gone, since heat sets it.
Vomit on carpet is a protein-and-starch stain, and its acid can permanently alter carpet dye if it sits too long. Because the mess sinks into the pile and the backing, you want to lift it from the top before it travels, and a fresh spill comes up far more easily than an old one. If the color of the carpet changes during a pretest, that's your signal to stop and call a pro.
Blot the fresh spill with white cotton cloths, then work a carpet spot cleaner into the pile from the outside in. If you can't get rid of the smell after one pass, don't scrub harder, because that pushes the vomit deeper into the backing. Getting dried vomit out of carpet takes a longer soak with the spot cleaner before you try to lift it.
Before you start
What carpet & rugs can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Hot water
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid3
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
10 items
What you'll need
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- Clear liquid hand-dishwashing detergentThe mild base for the first solution. Anything stronger leaves residue.
- White vinegarThe acid solution that follows the detergent. Colored vinegar can stain. (opens Amazon)
- White paper towelsLift the spill and blot without transferring color. (opens Amazon)
- White clothShows you when the vomit stops transferring. (opens Amazon)
- Rounded spoonScrapes semi-solids up without pushing them into the pile.
- Mist sprayerRinses with a fine mist so the carpet doesn't soak. (opens Amazon)
- Disposable gloves and a plastic trash bagKeep the mess off your hands and out of the house. (opens Amazon)
- Lukewarm waterUsed for both the detergent solution and the rinse.
- Carpet spot-removal kit (optional)For a stubborn shadow. Follow its label.
- Household ammonia (optional)For a stubborn shadow, diluted as in the steps and tested first. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Lift the solids and blot
Scrape any semi-solids gently with a rounded spoon, working from the outside edge of the spot inward. Then blot the liquid with white paper towels, pressing and lifting instead of wiping across the carpet.
Tip. Swap in a clean towel whenever the one you're using picks up color, so the stain doesn't get pressed back in.
Step 2 of 6A few minutes
Test then apply the detergent solution
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of clear liquid hand-dishwashing detergent into 1 cup of lukewarm water, and test it on a hidden spot first. Apply the solution to a white cloth, work it in from the edges toward the center, and leave it a few minutes before blotting. Repeat while vomit still transfers to the cloth.
Careful. Never make this solution stronger, because extra detergent leaves a residue that attracts soil.
Step 3 of 6
Follow with the vinegar solution
Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 cups of water, then apply it the same way as the detergent and blot. Keep working until the cloth stops picking up the stain, then move on to the rinse.
Careful. Use white vinegar only, since colored vinegar can leave its own stain.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse with a mist sprayer
Mist the spot with lukewarm or cold water from a mist sprayer, then blot it dry. Repeat until no residue remains, since leftover cleaner can keep the smell going.
Careful. Don't overwet the carpet. A fine mist is all you need.
Step 5 of 6
Try a spot kit or ammonia
If a shadow remains, use a carpet spot-removal kit and follow its label, holding back any stain-resist product until the stain is fully gone. Or mix 1 tablespoon of household ammonia into 1 cup of water, test it first, then rinse and blot again.
Careful. Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach or vinegar, and rinse thoroughly between each product.
Step 6 of 6
Call a pro if it still shows
If the spot is still visible after the kit or ammonia round, stop and call a professional carpet cleaner. Pushing harder with stronger products at home risks damaging the carpet's backing and fibers.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for vomit on carpet & rugs
A carpet spot-removal kit is the product type to buy for a stubborn shadow. Follow its label, and skip any product that contains chlorine bleach.
Zep Advanced Oxy Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover
Resolve Carpet Cleaner Spray, Stain & Spot Remover for Carpet, 32 Fl
BISSELL Little Green Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 Carpet Cleaner
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on carpet & rugs, 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. 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
Each round of detergent and blotting should lift some of the mess onto the white cloth, and the rinse water should look cleaner every time. When the cloth stops picking anything up but the spot still shows, the stain has set, and it's time for the spot kit or the ammonia step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your carpet & rugs
Red, yellow, or orange vomit
Stomach acid can permanently change dyes, so colored vomit calls for extra care before you start. Test each solution in a hidden corner, and check that the carpet color holds as it dries.
Keep the rinse light and blot until no color transfers to your white cloth. If the carpet color changes at any point, stop and call a professional carpet cleaner.
White, wool, or cream carpet
White and cream carpet shows every trace of the rinse, so use white paper towels and a white cloth throughout. On wool, skip oxygen bleach, which is unsafe on wool, and never use chlorine bleach.
If you can't tell whether the carpet is wool or a synthetic blend, don't guess. Stick to the mild detergent and vinegar steps, test first, and blot the rinse water up right away so it doesn't leave a ring on light fibers.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old vomit usually needs more than one round, so expect to repeat the detergent and vinegar steps several times. Scrape away any crusted matter with a dull spoon first, and don't soak the carpet to loosen it.
Dried spots respond to the same steps if you keep the cloth damp rather than wet and give each round time to work. If the spot was heated by a dryer or an iron, the heat may already have set it, so expect slower progress.
If a shadow remains after several rounds, moisten the tufts with 3% hydrogen peroxide, leave it for one hour, blot, and repeat. Test it in a hidden spot first, and skip it on colored carpet that isn't colorfast. If the shadow still stays after that, it's time for a professional.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on vomit on carpet & rugs?
Plenty of home remedies float around for vomit, but most don't suit carpet. Remedies that suit carpet are already in the cleanup, and the rest get skipped for a reason.
Works2Helps1Skip2Avoid1
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Ammonia + Vinegar
Poison Control warns that mixing ammonia products with other cleaners is dangerous, and the ammonia maker's safety sheet lists acids such as vinegar as incompatible.
Ammonia + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals, and Poison Control warns that mixing ammonia products is dangerous.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use hot water on it
Hot water cooks the protein in vomit and can set it into the fibers, making the stain harder to lift. Stick to lukewarm or cold water for every solution and every rinse.
Don't pour solvent onto the carpet
Solvents can dissolve carpet materials and destroy the backing. If a spot-removal product calls for a solvent, apply a few drops to a white cloth and dab instead.
Don't mix ammonia with vinegar or bleach
Ammonia is only a backup for stubborn spots, and it must never be combined with chlorine bleach or vinegar. Rinse thoroughly with water between each solution so no two products meet in the carpet.
Don't make the detergent mix stronger
Extra soap doesn't clean any better, and what it leaves behind attracts soil. Stick with the weak mix from the steps and rinse until nothing sudsy is left.
Don't apply a stain-resist product early
Spot kits often include a protective treatment that should only go on once the stain is completely gone. Putting it on over traces you haven't rinsed out can lock them in.
When to call a professional
A pro is the right call if a pretested solution changes the carpet's color, if oily residue stays after rinsing, or if the liquid has reached the backing. When you call, describe the stain as vomit, mention how old it is, and list each product you've already tried.
Questions
Will the smell come out of carpet after the stain is gone?
Usually yes, once you rinse until no residue remains, because leftover cleaner and soil can keep an odor going. If it still smells after the stain is gone, call a professional carpet cleaner for the odor.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide on dried vomit on carpet?
Yes, as a set-in treatment only: moisten the tufts with 3% hydrogen peroxide, leave it for one hour, blot, and repeat. Test it first and skip it on colored carpet that isn't colorfast.
How long can I wait before cleaning up vomit on carpet?
Not long, because delay can turn a spill into a permanent stain. Fresh vomit lifts more easily than vomit that has dried into the fibers, so start as soon as you can.
Will the stain come out completely?
A fresh spot can lift fully with the steps above. An old one may need several rounds and can leave a faint shadow, and if it stays after the kit or ammonia round, a professional is the next step.
Can I use a spot-removal kit after the vinegar?
Yes, once the vinegar has been blotted up and the spot rinsed out. Follow the kit's label, and hold back any stain-resist product until the stain is fully gone.
Do I need a special carpet cleaner for vomit?
Not usually, since a mild detergent, white vinegar, and water handle most fresh spots. For a stubborn shadow, a carpet spot-removal kit is the product type to try, used according to its label.
Can I steam clean vomit out of carpet?
Skip the steamer while the vomit is still in there, because heat can lock in both the stain and the smell. Hot water extraction is something a professional may use on a large or stubborn spill, so leave that to them if your first rounds don't lift the mess.
Can I use laundry or dishwasher detergent on vomit?
Neither belongs on this stain. Dishwasher detergent contains bleaching agents that can destroy carpet dye, and laundry detergent is something to keep off carpet too. Use the weak dish-soap mix from the steps instead, and rinse until nothing soapy is left behind.
How do I dry the carpet after I've cleaned up vomit?
Stack dry white towels over the damp area and press down, swapping them out as soon as they feel wet. Keep going until little or no moisture comes up, then lift the pile with your fingers and let the carpet air-dry in a ventilated room.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Vomit on other materials
Other stains on carpet & rugs
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.