How to clean dog vomit (and protect your carpet)

Mess is a part of pet parenthood. Whether it's pee, poop or vomit, we've all been there, and it unfortunately isn't going to clean itself.

It's important to know how to clean up dog vomit the right way, both for your home and your dog's health. You don't want your dog eating or licking old vomit, and it can help reduce smells, potential for bacterial growth and further staining.

One key thing to remember before we dive in: if your dog has an upset stomach and vomits frequently, please see a vet. It's really important to get it checked out as it can indicate a deeper issue.

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Your essential supplies for cleaning up dog vomit

Before you begin, gather these essential items to make the cleanup process smoother:

• Baking soda

• Enzyme cleaner (pet-specific is best)

• Mild dish soap (e.g., clear dish soap)

• Paper towels or clean, absorbent cloths

• Rubber gloves

• Soft brush or old toothbrush (for dried vomit)

• Spoon or dull knife/cardboard

• Spray bottle

• Vacuum cleaner (with hose attachment if available)

• White vinegar

First steps: act fast before the stain sets

Time is of the essence here; the longer the vomit stays, the more likely it'll stain. We'll discuss how to clean each surface type in the sections below, but some general advice includes:

• Absorb as much liquid as you can

• Always wear gloves

• Blot, don't rub

• Remove solids with a paper towel or disposable spoon/cardboard

• Test solutions before using them to make sure they won't damage the floor

How to get dog sick out of the carpet (step-by-step)

So, how do you clean dog vomit out of the carpet? Well, it depends if it's dry or fresh.

Here's how to get dog puke out of the carpet:

For fresh vomit

1. Remove as much of the vomit as possible. Scoop it up with a bit of cardboard or something disposable. This isn't the nicest part of the job, but the more you remove here, the easier it will be.

2. Clean the area with a safe cleaning solution. We recommend soaking a towel in the solution and blotting the area. Enzyme cleaners, white vinegar solution or baking soda and soap are popular options.

3. Soak up all excess moisture by blotting. Use clean cloths or paper towels. Don't rub.

4. Apply more cleaning liquid or a thick dose of diluted dish soap if it's not cleaning easily.

5. Rinse the area with clean water once finished, and continue blotting as needed.

6. Thoroughly dry the area with towels.

For dried vomit

Now, dried vomit is more difficult to clean, but it happens fairly often. Sometimes our dog is sick and we don't see it, which is always a nice surprise when we find it a few hours (or worse, days) down the line.

Here's how to clean dry dog vomit:

1. You'll need to loosen and scrape away with dried vomit. Sorry. We recommend using an old brush or scraper for this. Please be careful and don't use anything too sharp.

2. Vacuum up or use a dustpan and brush for the dried debris. Use paper towels to absorb any remaining moisture.

3. Lightly spray or dampen a clean cloth with warm water.

4. Apply a cleaning solution and follow the same steps as fresh vomit, blotting the area gently.

5. Rinse the area with cold water once finished and blot dry.

6. You can use baking soda if you want, which helps remove the smell. We'll discuss this later in our "How to get rid of dog vomit smell' section.

How to clean dog sick from other surfaces

Upholstery & furniture

Before we get started, remember to test your cleaning solution before attempting to clean upholstery. You don't want to stain any expensive furniture.

Otherwise, it's fairly similar to the steps above, but try to take more care on each stage:

1. Remove any solids - we recommend things like paper towels or a scraper to remove as much vomit as possible.

2. Pre-treat with baking soda - this allows absorption of the stain and any odours.

3. Vacuum away the baking soda.

4. Use a safe cleaning solution.

5. Blot the area with a clean cloth or paper towel. Do not rub as this will make the stain worse.

6. Allow the area to dry naturally or use a hair dryer to speed things up.

7. Repeat as needed.

Hardwood & tile floors

Hardwood and tile floors are usually the easiest to clean, but stubborn stains can still happen, so take care.

1. Remove any solids with a paper towel or dustpan.

2. Absorb the liquid with a clean cloth or paper towels.

3. Clean with your preferred cleaning solution. Don't get too vigorous as this can spread the vomit. We recommend using a vinegar solution (one part vinegar, one part warm water) or a pet-specific enzyme cleaner.

4. Disinfect the area afterwards with a pet-friendly cleaner.

5. Rinse and dry the area.

6. We recommend avoiding harsh chemicals for hardwood floors. If the vomit has entered any nooks and crannies, you can use a toothbrush or a smaller brush to scrub those areas.

Bedding & washable items

Bedding is difficult to clean, but by following the below steps, you can get there. You'll need to pre-treat the item and then machine wash or vacuum:

1. Remove solids from the bed with a blunt object, like a piece of cardboard or plastic.

2. Blot the area with paper towels or a clean cloth and absorb as much liquid as you can. Don't rub it.

3. Use enzyme cleaner or a natural cleaning solution. Apply it and spray directly onto the affected area. Let it sit for five or so minutes, and make sure the area is damp.

4. Blot the area with a clean cloth and towel until dry.

5. Apply baking soda so it removes any odour. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes before washing if possible.

6. If you can, put the item in the washing machine using a gentle cycle and cold water. You can add a cup of white vinegar to the cycle to neutralise any lingering smells.

Car interior

1. Remove solids away with a blunt object, like a piece of cardboard or a plastic spoon.

2. Blot the areas with a clean cloth or paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Like other areas we've mentioned, avoid rubbing - you should always blot.

3. Treat the stain with baking soda and a natural cleaning solution. For cloth or vinyl, we recommend warm water with a dash of dish soap and white vinegar. For leather seats, we recommend a paste of baking soda (three parts) and water (one part).

4. Scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush or clean cloth. Rinse and blot.

5. Odours tend to stick around in a car, so apply enzyme cleaners or use air freshener to mask the smell.

6. Ventilate the car if possible.

How do you get dog vomit stains out of carpet?

Some types of dog vomit can stain. For example, if you're asking "how to get yellow dog vomit out of the carpet", it's probably bile. While this is easier to clean, it does stain quickly.

The best cleaners for tough stains are baking soda and a dog-friendly enzyme cleaner. We recommend getting on cleaning as quickly as possible and getting a professional clean if it doesn't work.

How to get rid of dog vomit smell

• Act quickly - the longer the vomit stays around, the longer the odour will stay.

• Blot, don't rub - this actually gets rid of the vomit instead of rubbing it in further.

• Clean thoroughly - use our pointers above to thoroughly clean the area.

• Deodorise - use odour-eliminating substances like baking soda and white vinegar to neutralise lingering smells.

• Ventilate - open windows and use fans to circulate air. Make sure your pet is secure when opening the window and there's no risk of them jumping out (especially if you have a cat).

What NOT to do

• Avoid steam cleaning until the stain is removed as it can spread bacteria, create lingering odour and damage surfaces.

• Don't aggressively rub. Careful blotting is best.

• Never mix cleaning chemicals. This can be extremely dangerous.

Natural vs. commercial cleaners

There isn't a clear winner between natural and commercial cleaners for tidying up dog vomit. Pet parents prefer either.

But generally, it's better to use natural options, like vinegar and baking soda. They're safer for dogs and better for the environment.

Good natural options include:

• Baking soda - Neutralises smell and dries.

• Vinegar - Breaks down stains due to its acidity and neutralises odour.

For commercial options, pet-friendly enzyme cleaners are best.

Why dogs vomit: common causes

There are numerous reasons why your dog may be vomiting, varying from underlying health conditions to eating habits.

Common causes include:

• Bacterial or viral infection

• Dietary changes

• Eating something they shouldn't

• Eating too quickly

• Heatstroke

• Overeating

• Parasites

• Underlying health conditions, like allergies, bloat or organ damage

Our article on vomiting in dogs shares long-term tips on how to prevent it.

When to worry and call the vet

We recommend seeing a vet for recurrent vomiting that won't go away and when it's combined with other worrying symptoms like blood in vomit, chronic diarrhoea or lethargy.

Generally, you should see a vet if:

• Attempted vomiting with no production, which can indicate bloat.

• Ingestion of a toxic compound has happened.

• There's other symptoms, like diarrhoea and lethargy.

• Persistent vomiting over multiple days.

• Vomit looks like coffee-grounds, which indicates bleeding.

• Vomiting has happened more than once in 24 hours.

Final thoughts: clean carpet, healthy pup

You can't prevent every mess. Even the most organised pet parents can't anticipate when their dog will cause problems. But you can prepare to fix it.

A clean home, a cleaning plan you can rely on and plenty of dog insurance cover for vet bills can mean peace of mind for you and your pup.

At ManyPets, we have up to £20,000 vet fee cover on our Complete Care plan, 24/7 video vet access to discuss things like a pet's upset tummy and a host of ManyPets Perks.

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