# How to Clean Dog or Cat Vomit Out of Carpet Lift it with a spoon, then the Carpet and Rug Institute's five solutions in order, the spot kit mistake that sets a stain, and when to stop. Canonical: https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/pet-vomit-out-of-carpet/ Updated: 2026-10-01 Publisher: Klein's Carpet Cleaning Scrape up the solids with a rounded spoon, blot the liquid with a white cloth, then work through the Carpet and Rug Institute's order for vomit: a weak dish detergent solution, a white vinegar solution, lukewarm water, a spot removal kit, then a weak ammonia solution, rinsing between each. Act quickly, because the CRI warns that delay can make a spill permanent. Klein's Carpet Cleaning, in Waterdown, pre-treats pet areas before every clean. By Klein's Carpet Cleaning, Waterdown, Ontario. Last updated October 1, 2026. ## What should I do in the first minute? Get the bulk off before anything wet touches it. The CRI's [Spot Solver entry for vomit](https://carpet-rug.org/spot-solver/vomit/) starts: "Act Quickly! Delaying may cause the spill to become a permanent stain." Scrape the semi-solid part up with a rounded spoon, working toward the centre so you do not spread it, then blot the liquid with a dry white cloth or plain white paper towel. Printed paper towels can transfer ink into damp carpet. ## What is the CRI's order for vomit? Removing vomit from carpet, in the CRI's order StepSolutionHow to make it 1Detergent solution1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent per cup of lukewarm water 2Vinegar solution1 cup of white vinegar per 2 cups of water 3Warm waterPlain lukewarm tap water, to rinse 4Spot removal kitFrom a carpet store; follow its directions exactly 5Ammonia solution1 tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water; test a hidden spot first 6Call a professionalWhen the mark is still there after the above Move to the next solution only when the current one has stopped lifting anything onto the cloth. The CRI says to "be patient": complete removal may take the same step several times. ## What is the spot kit mistake? Using the second bottle too early. The CRI explains that some spot removal kits contain "(A) a detergent solution and (B) a stain-resist solution", and that using the (B) solution "prior to the complete removal of the spill may cause a permanent stain". Stain-resist locks in whatever is still in the fibre. Finish removing the vomit first, rinse, and only then use the protector, if at all. ## Why do I have to rinse so much? Because what you leave behind attracts dirt. The CRI warns that detergent residue "may cause rapid soiling" and that "many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil". Rinse with lukewarm water several times and blot after each rinse. A spot that looks clean today and grey in a fortnight usually had soap left in it, not vomit. ## What about the smell? On a quick clean-up, the smell usually goes with the stain. If it lingers, liquid has likely soaked below the surface of the pile, the same way urine does, and the [pet urine guide](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/pet-urine-out-of-carpet/) explains why that is harder. Never reach for bleach: it can strip colour from carpet, and Transport Canada's [CANUTEC](https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/canutec/articles/improper-mixing-common-household-cleaning-products) warns that bleach mixed with ammonia, which is on the CRI's list above, creates harmful chloramine vapours. ## When should I stop and call someone? When you have been through the list and a mark remains, or when the area is large, on a pale wool carpet, or on stairs where it is hard to blot. The CRI's last step for every stain is to call a professional, because professional cleaners "have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills". Point the spot out when you book; see [home carpet cleaning](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/residential/) and the other [pet accident guides](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/dog-poop-out-of-carpet/). ## Get a free carpet cleaning quote Tell us which rooms, how many stairs, and about any pets or stains. We reply within one business day, by phone or email, and the quote is agreed before anyone starts. [Request a free quote](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/quote/) [Call 289-776-7299](tel:+12897767299) ### The short version - Spoon up solids, blot the rest - Detergent, vinegar, water, kit, ammonia - Protector only after it is all out - Rinse several times - No bleach ## Pets and carpet - [Pet urine and odour (the service)](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/residential/pet-urine-and-odour/) When a professional clean fixes it, and when the pad has to go. - [Carpet, dust mites and allergies](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/carpet-dust-mites-and-allergies/) What Health Canada recommends, and what cleaning can and cannot do. ## More guides - [How do you get red wine out of carpet?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/red-wine-out-of-carpet/) Blot, detergent, vinegar, warm water, then the kit and ammonia, and when to stop. - [How do you get coffee out of carpet?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/coffee-out-of-carpet/) Black coffee versus coffee with cream and sugar, and the order the CRI gives for each. - [How often should office carpet be cleaned?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/how-often-to-clean-office-carpet/) Vacuuming, interim and restorative cleaning by daily foot traffic, from Interface's chart. - [Can carpet tiles be cleaned, or do they need replacing?](https://kleinscarpetclean.com/guides/can-carpet-tiles-be-cleaned/) What Interface, the carpet tile maker, recommends, and the machine that can void its warranty. 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