First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Put on gloves and pick up the solids with paper towels, then bag them.
- Blot the wet spot with a clean cloth.
- Treat it as soon as you can, since set-in stains are harder to remove.
Vomit on bed sheets combines protein, starch and stomach acid, and that acid can permanently change dye, so the sooner you treat it, the better. Fresh marks on cotton or polyester respond well to a pretreat before the sheets go in the machine. Silk, wool or spandex can't take chlorine bleach, so the fabric decides what you can use.
Vomit on bed sheets needs a look before the dryer, because heat can lock in the smell and set any stain left behind. Vomit stains on white cotton or polyester sheets can take an oxygen bleach soak, but silk, wool and spandex need a gentler touch. If the smell hangs on, run another wash cycle instead of hoping the air will clear it.
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
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Disposable glovesKeeps the vomit off your skin while you lift the solids. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towels or a clean clothLifts the solids and blots the spot without rubbing. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic trash bagHolds the solids so they never reach the washer.
- Liquid stain remover labeled for colorsPretreats the spot on colored sheets. (opens Amazon)
- Enzyme presoakBreaks down the protein part of the stain. (opens Amazon)
- Laundry detergentGoes in the heavy duty wash. (opens Amazon)
- Chlorine bleachFinishes white cotton or polyester sheets in a separate final wash. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Lift off the solids
Put on gloves and strip the sheets off the bed, rolling them inward so loose matter stays inside. Pick up the solids with paper towels and drop them into a plastic trash bag. Blot the wet spot with a clean cloth and leave it at that for now.
Step 2 of 6
Rinse the solids out
Rinse the sheets in cold water until the solids are gone, working from the outside of the stain inward so it doesn't spread. Keep the water cold for this step, and keep the clean fabric away from the rinse water.
Step 3 of 6
Pretreat the spots
On colored sheets, work a liquid color-safe stain remover into the spot. On any sheet, an enzyme presoak handles the protein part of the stain, and a stubborn spot can sit in it overnight.
Careful. Leave a liquid pretreatment on no longer than its label says.
Step 4 of 6
Run a heavy duty wash
Add a good laundry detergent and run the heavy duty cycle. Use the hottest water the care label allows, but only once the spot has cleared; if any mark is still visible, use cold water instead.
Step 5 of 6
Finish whites with chlorine bleach
On white cotton or polyester sheets, run a separate final wash with chlorine bleach after the sheets are fully rinsed. If you aren't sure the fabric is colorfast, test a hidden seam first and wait for the result before you go on.
Careful. Chlorine bleach can strip color from anything that is not colorfast, so skip this step on colored sheets.
Step 6 of 6
Air dry once the stain is gone
Once the spot is fully gone, let the sheets air dry away from any heat source. If a mark is still visible when they're dry, repeat the pretreatment and wash again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for vomit on sheets, towels & table linens
Choose a liquid stain remover labeled for colors for colored sheets, and an enzyme presoak for the protein part of the stain. Read the label for the soak time and the bleach rules before you start.
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
ECOS OXO Brite Stain & Odor Remover Pre-Wash Spray
OdoBan Odor Eliminator & Disinfectant Concentrate
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
Look at the fabric while it's still damp and in good light, since that's when a trace is easiest to spot. Each round should lighten the mark, and once the sheets are fully dry the spot should blend in. If you still see a shadow, pretreat and wash again before the sheets touch a dryer.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
Bed sheets
Bed sheets are usually the biggest and heaviest item in the load, so do the solids removal over a tub or bin rather than on the mattress. Blot the spot and move the sheet to the wash as soon as the solids are out.
If the vomit soaked through to the mattress, that's a separate job, so see our mattress guide for that part. Treat the mattress while it's still damp, since dried stains are harder to remove.
Colored sheets
Colored sheets skip the chlorine bleach entirely, so the liquid color-safe stain remover does the pretreating. Test the remover on a hidden corner first, since untested dyes can change.
Once the spot is out, give the sheet the same heavy duty wash as the rest. Then let it air dry, and check the spot in good light before it goes back on the bed.
White cotton or polyester sheets
These are the only sheets that get the chlorine bleach wash at the end, once the stain is out and everything has been rinsed. Test a hidden seam for colorfastness first if you aren't sure of the fabric.
If a faint mark remains after that final wash, let the sheet air dry and then pretreat the spot again before you wash it.
Silk, wool or spandex sheets
These fibers can't take chlorine bleach, so the chlorine step is off the list entirely. Use the enzyme presoak and a gentle wash on the cold setting only if the care label allows it.
If the label is unclear or the sheet is dry-clean only, take it to a dry cleaner promptly rather than guessing.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old stains are harder to remove than fresh ones, so expect to put in more effort with them. Start with the enzyme presoak before trying anything stronger.
For a dried stain, scrape off any crusted matter, then repeat the enzyme pad treatment and the liquid-detergent pretreatment. Soak the sheet for 1 or 2 days, stirring it now and then, and wash again. Stomach acid can permanently change dyes, so some color loss may not come out.
If the sheet has already been through the dryer, plan on several rounds of pretreating and washing, since dried and old protein stains often need that. If a faint mark is still there after that, accept that it may not fully come out.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on vomit on sheets, towels & table linens?
Plenty of home fixes get passed around for vomit, and several of them set the protein rather than lifting it. For the smell, the full wash and air drying once the stain is gone do most of the work, since odor usually leaves with the stain. Skip any fix that sets protein instead of lifting it; a full wash does most of the work.
Helps2Skip3Avoid1
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.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
Chlorine bleach + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Washington State's health department says bleach reacts with hydrogen peroxide, and Clorox says not to mix bleach with other household chemicals.
Hydrogen peroxide (3%) + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
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 put solids in the washer
Loose vomit that goes into the drum with the sheets spreads across the fabric and deepens the stain. Lift and bag it first, and rinse only what's left.
Don't rub the stain into the weave
Rubbing pushes the vomit deeper into the fibers and spreads it outward. Blot with a clean cloth and move to a fresh section as it picks up, until nothing transfers.
Don't use bar soap on a fresh mark
Rubbing bar soap into a fresh mark can set it, because soap sets many stains. Reach for a laundry pretreat or plain cold water instead.
Don't reach for vinegar on cotton or rayon
White vinegar can weaken cotton and rayon, and it can change the color of acetate and triacetate too. Skip it unless you've tested a hidden seam first.
Don't leave a pretreat on past the label
Liquid and aerosol pretreatments should only sit as long as the label says, and gels on bright items should come off after a few minutes. Longer contact can fade unstable dyes, so set a timer if you need one.
When to call a professional
Dry-clean-only sheets should go straight to a cleaner, and name the fiber content when you drop them off. For a washable piece that's bulky, delicate or badly stained, a dry cleaner can often do more than a home wash can.
Questions
Does vomit stain sheets?
Yes. Stomach acid can permanently change dyes or fabric, and time and heat make stains harder to remove, so treat it quickly and keep it away from heat until the spot is gone.
How do I get the vomit smell out of sheets?
Wash the sheets through the full heavy duty cycle once the stain is out, and air dry them afterward. The smell usually leaves with the stain, so if it lingers, repeat the wash rather than adding stronger products.
Can I wash vomit sheets with other laundry?
It's better to wash them on their own, after the solids are rinsed out, so the stain doesn't move onto other items. Rinsing the solids out first is what keeps the rest of the load clean.
Do I need to disinfect sheets after vomit?
For white cotton or polyester sheets, the final chlorine bleach wash is the disinfecting step. Other sheets don't get chlorine, so a full heavy duty wash once the stain is gone is the step that matters.
What if the sheets are silk or dry-clean only?
Take them to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and that the stain is vomit. Don't use chlorine bleach on silk, wool or spandex at home.
Should I wash white sheets in the hottest water?
Hot water is fine for the final wash on white cotton, but only once the stain has come out completely. Until then, keep the spot cold, since heat can lock in the protein and leave a mark behind. Check the label for the highest setting it allows before you pick a temperature.
Can I bleach colored sheets to finish the job?
Colored sheets only take bleach once the dye is confirmed colorfast and the care label permits it, so test a patch on an inside seam first. If the color shifts at all, drop chlorine and move to oxygen bleach, which is the gentler option. Dilute any bleach you use, because full strength can weaken the weave.
Is an overnight soak a good idea for these sheets?
Yes, if you use an enzyme presoak in cold water, since it loosens protein residue that a quick wash often misses. Sprays and gels are the exception, and on bright colors they should come off within a few minutes so the dye stays put. Check the care label before you leave anything to soak.
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.