How to Clean a Stain From Cat Vomit

Cat owners are very familiar with the sounds cats make when they are about to vomit. Vomiting doesn't necessarily indicate an illness. A cat could have a hairball or could have accidentally ingested a foreign object, such as a plastic candy wrapper someone dropped on the floor. Unfortunately, cats seem to always zone in on mattresses, articles of clothing, rugs and carpeting when they need to vomit, which can make cleanup challenging. But by acting quickly and using some common household products, you have a good chance of making vomit stains disappear.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber or disposable plastic gloves
  • Paper towels
  • Soft cloths
  • Mild dish-washing liquid soap
  • Commercial spot remover
  • Salt
  • Vacuum
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Instructions

  1. Water and Mild Soap Solution

    • 1

      Put on some disposable plastic gloves.

    • 2

      Immediately pick up the food particles or hairball from the area with paper towels. Some dyes in canned or dry cat food may stain.

    • 3

      Dab a clean, water-dampened cloth onto the stained area, and use a dry cloth to absorb the moisture.

    • 4

      Squeeze a tiny amount of mild dish-washing liquid onto the damp cloth if the stain remains, and use gentle, circular motions to rub out the stain.

    • 5

      Rinse the stained area by repeatedly blotting it with clean sections of a water-dampened cloth.

    • 6

      Allow the area to dry thoroughly. Use a commercial spot remover or have the stain professionally cleaned if the stain is still there.

    Salt Solution

    • 7

      Remove the vomit residue with paper towels.

    • 8

      Blot the area with a clean, damp rag to remove most of the stain.

    • 9

      Cover the stain with a thin layer of salt, and let it dry thoroughly. This may take several hours or overnight, depending on the size of the stain.

    • 10

      Vacuum up the salt. The stain and odor should be gone.