Removing vomit: pick your surface

Vomit is a protein-based stain, usually from an ill child, a car-sick passenger or a pet. The chemistry stays the same wherever it lands — but the safe way to treat it changes completely with the surface, which is why each pairing below has its own guide.

Water-soluble

Water-based cleaning can dissolve this stain — method and temperature are what matter.

Heat sets it

Keep hot water, steam and dryers away until the vomit is fully out — heat fixes it permanently.

Fresh vs dried-in

Deal with vomit as fresh as you can bear to: stomach acid starts bleaching and etching some dyes within the hour. Once dried, the protein residue needs an enzyme cleaner and the acid may have left permanent colour change no cleaning will reverse.

Vomit removal guides by surface

Vomit on a wool carpet

hard to remove · pro sometimes needed

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a nylon carpet

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a polypropylene carpet

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a wool rug

hard to remove · pro sometimes needed

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a fabric sofa

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a microfibre sofa

moderate to remove

Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit) on S-code microfibre; minimal water-based cleaning only on W-code

Vomit on a mattress

hard to remove · pro sometimes needed

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a polyester carpet

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a cotton rug

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a linen sofa

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a cotton sofa

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner

Vomit on a fabric car seat

moderate to remove

Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner