How to Remove Vomit Stains on Clothing and Carpet

Vomit certainly ranks up there among the most unpleasant things to deal with, but as stains go, they're usually pretty managable. Because these are food-related stains, the severity can vary by the contents. And, as with most food stains, it's best to address them as soon as possible.

Try the following steps to remove vomit stains from washable clothes. For dry-clean-only garments, follow step 1 below, then blot the stain gently with a clean, white cloth dampened with cold water. Blot the area with a dry cloth, and take the garment to a dry cleaner as soon as possible.

1. Remove as much vomit as possible. Yes, it's gross, but the less vomit on the clothing, the less work you'll have to do with the stain. Remove the bulk of the material with a spoon or a butter knife. Scrape only as much as necessary to remove the vomit without roughing up the clothing's fibers. Old stains may need to be gently scraped away too. Tip: Breathe through your mouth (not your nose), so you can work with both hands and not smell the vomit.
2. Rinse with cold water. Run cold water through the backside of the stain to force the stain out through the front of the fabric.
3. Soak the stain. Soak the stain in cold water with color-safe bleach, or soak in mixture of 1 quart warm water, 1 tablespoon ammonia, and 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent. Use an old toothbrush to make light strokes on the stained fabric (called tamping). Blot in between tamping with an absorbent pad. Rinse well with water to fully remove the ammonia. Note: Do not use hot water because it will set the protein in the stain. Repeat this process until the stain is removed.

The trick to removing vomit from carpet, as with other bulky stains, is to work from the outside toward the center of the stain, to prevent spreading out the stain.

1. Wipe up as much of the vomit as you can, using a rag, or scoop it up with a spoon.
2. Apply Stain-X Carpet Stain Remover or Up & Out Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover or similar stain remover (do not use these on wool) to the area. Make sure you don't force the stain deeper into the pile of the rug.
3. Mix 1 teaspoon of mild, non-alkali detergent with 1/2 pint lukewarm water. Sponge and blot the liquid with an absorbent pad until there's no more stain to remove. You can also try sponging the area with a mixture of 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 cup warm water. (Do not use ammonia on wool rugs.) Blot the excess liquid, and continue until there's no more stain to lift.
4. Place an absorbent pad over the damp area, then set a heavy item on top to weight it down (or you can simply step on the pad). When the liquid is fully absorbed, take the pad off and let the carpet air-dry thoroughly.