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Vomit from both people and pets contains enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The acid must be removed quickly or it may permanently stain or lighten fabrics and carpeting. Scrape up as much vomit as you can immediately, and get plenty of water on the remainder quickly. “On clothing or washable fabric, flush the spot with cool or tepid water,” says Jeff Bredenberg, editor of Clean It Fast, Clean It Right: The Ultimate Guide to Making Everything You Own Sparkle & Shine. “On carpet and upholstery, sponge with water and blot to remove.”
Continue cleaning by following these tips:
Washable Fabrics
Soak in warm water for 30 minutes, mixing in a teaspoon (5 ml) of laundry detergent plus 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of ammonia per quart (945 ml) of water. Use cool water to rinse. If any spots remain, soak in a laundry pre-treating product containing enzymes, such as Biz or Shout!. Follow all label instructions carefully for best results. Then wash the garment as usual.
Carpet and Upholstery
Use a product containing bacteria digesters or enzymes, typically sold as “pet accident” treatments at pet-supply stores. As with enzymes, it’s important to use digesters exactly as directed in label instructions for best results. Pre-test the product in an inconspicuous location first. Products containing enzymes can break down wool fabrics as well as the vomit. Avoid using anything other than plain water.
“Detergents or cleaning solutions that are applied before the enzyme digestant could set the odor permanently,” Bredenberg says. In addition, detergents reduce digester effectiveness because the bacteria must break it down first, before getting to work on the vomit.
If nothing else seems to work, try bleaching the spot with hydrogen peroxide and rinsing with cool, clean water.
Absorbents such as cat litter will help you to remove vomit from hard surfaces such as floors. Sweep up the absorbent and discard. Flush the area with water, then mop on a solution of 1 ounce (30 ml) of ammonia per quart (945 ml) of water. Rinse with water and dry.
References:
Jeff Bredenberg, editor, Clean It Fast, Clean It Right: The Ultimate Guide to Making Everything You Own Sparkle & Shine
Don Aslett, The Cleaning Encyclopedia: Your A to Z Illustrated Guide to Cleaning Like the Pros
