dog sick on carpet

How to Get Dog Sick Out of Carpet

When it comes to cleaning, wiping up vomit is one of the worst tasks out there. 

Cleaning up vomit from hard floors is relatively straightforward, but cleaning up sick on the carpet is particularly unpleasant. Not only is it hard to clear up, but it also leaves a lingering smell that is foul. 

Unfortunately, cleaning up sick can become a regular task when you have a dog. They can’t grab a bowl or get to the toilet as we would! 

Thankfully, with the right steps and a suitable cleaner, it is possible to clean up the stain effectively. 

Keep reading to find out how to get dog sick out of carpet and leave your floor looking as good as new!

 

How Do You Get Dog Vomit Out of Carpet?

dog vomit on carpet

As with many stains, it’s always best to try and clean up any dog sick as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t have time to dry into your carpet. Dried stains are harder to clean, and the pungent smell will linger for longer. 

However, if you don’t get to the stain in time, don’t worry; there are ways to get dried sick out of a carpet.

This article will focus on cleaning up fresh vomit, though. When dealing with a fresh pool of dog sick, all you need to do is follow our simple steps that are laid out below. 

Just a head’s up—we highly recommend wearing rubber gloves during this process as it can be pretty gross! 

  1. Use a spoon to scoop up as much of the dog sick from your carpet as possible! Put it straight into a bin bag and throw it away.
  2. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) onto the vomit stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. The bicarbonate of soda will absorb the remaining liquid, making it easier to clean. Hoover up the bicarbonate of soda with your vacuum cleaner. 
  3. Either use a store-bought cleaner according to the instructions on the packet or choose one of our natural cleaning solutions from below. Apply your chosen cleaning formula on the areas where your dog was sick. 
  4. Use a clean towel, gently blot the stain and soak up the cleaner and remaining vomit. Be careful never to scrub the soiled patch, as this can push the vomit deeper into your carpet fibres, making the smell harder to remove. 
  5. Once you’ve removed the dog sick from the carpet, let your floors dry overnight.

 

What Products Should You Use for Cleaning Dog Sick?

products for cleaning dog sick

There are plenty of store-bought cleaners on the market which will have your carpet looking back to its usual self in no time. But unfortunately, these cleaners often use chemicals that aren’t pet-safe. 

If you’re worried about your pet’s health, why not try one of our natural homemade cleaners instead? These are all straightforward to make and safe for pets. Follow the recipes below and see the results for yourself:

  • Washing-up liquid, white vinegar & warm water: Mix one tablespoon of washing-up liquid, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and 240 ml of water in a spray bottle. Apply this solution to your carpet and blot.
  • Hydrogen peroxide & lukewarm water: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide and one part lukewarm water in a spray bottle. Spray this on the sick-stained areas and blot with a clean, dry towel.
  • Salt, white vinegar, detergent & rubbing alcohol: In a large bowl, mix 500 ml of warm water and one tablespoon of salt until fully dissolved. Add 120 ml of white vinegar, one tablespoon of detergent, and two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and mix well. Apply this to your carpets and blot to clean.

 

What Gets the Smell of Vomit Out of Carpet?

Sometimes, the most challenging part of cleaning dog sick off your carpet isn’t getting rid of the stain. Instead, it’s the foul smell that lingers because the scent has seeped so deeply into the carpet.

If this is the case for you, use one of our trusty methods to eliminate that smell in no time!

1. Bicarbonate of soda

bicarbonate of soda on carpet

Bicarbonate of soda is a fantastic deodoriser that can be found in many people’s kitchen cupboards.

Try covering the smelly bit of carpet with several tablespoons of the powder, leaving it overnight, and hoovering it up the next day.

Make sure to cover the area while the bicarbonate of soda is working so that your dog can’t get to it.

If your carpet still smells of sick the following day, dampen the sick spot first and then leave the bicarbonate of soda on for several days before hoovering. This will leave your carpet odour-free, but it isn’t the most convenient solution.

 

2. White vinegar

removing carpet stain

Another excellent deodoriser is white vinegar. Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and mist the carpet until it is damp.

Allow it to air dry, and the foul sick smell will disappear. The only downside of using white vinegar is that it has quite a distinctive smell itself. Try using apple cider vinegar instead if you want a more pleasant scent.

 

3. Steam cleaner

dog and steam cleaner on carpet

Your next option is to use a steam cleaner. These machines use boiling steam to remove germs from your carpet, eliminating the lingering sick smell.

To use one to remove vomit odours, you’ll need to fill it with white vinegar or detergent before running it over the sick area. Let your carpet dry, and the vomit smell will be gone!

There are plenty of steam cleaners you can buy or rent, but you can also get this professionally done if you’re unsure about using one yourself. If you are using one, check that it’s safe for use on your carpet first, as some reach high temperatures that can damage your floors.

 

4. Carpet deodoriser

pet-friendly carpet deodoriser

Your final option is to buy a carpet deodoriser from the store. While there are plenty of deodorisers and carpet cleaners that are unsuitable for dogs, there are some people who swear by the pet-friendly options out there.

The method you need to use for these will differ slightly depending on the product, but most will involve sprinkling the deodoriser onto the carpet, letting it sit, and hoovering it up.