Sick is unpleasant but manageable. It's acidic and protein-based, so the rules are: remove the solids carefully, keep the water cool, and deal with the smell as well as the mark.
Put on gloves, lift the solids with a flat tool (a piece of card works), and blot — don't smear. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on to absorb moisture and knock back the smell while you fetch your kit. Never rub — rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the pile and frays the fibres.
- Disposable gloves
- Kitchen roll / cloths
- Washing-up liquid
- White vinegar
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Cool water
Step by step (carpet)
- Remove solids carefully with a piece of card, scraping towards the centre.
- Absorb by sprinkling bicarbonate of soda over the area; leave a few minutes, then lift and vacuum.
- Treat with a teaspoon of washing-up liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar in 250ml of cool water; dab and blot.
- Rinse and deodorise with a little more vinegar-water, then blot dry.
- Dry fully and check — repeat if a smell lingers.
Keep the water cool throughout — heat sets the protein. The vinegar also helps neutralise the acidity and the smell.
By surface
🛋️ Sofas & upholstery
Check the cushion's cleaning code first: W or W/S means the method above is fine used sparingly; S means solvent-clean only, so leave that to a professional. Use less water than on carpet and blot, don't soak.
🧶 Wool & delicate rugs
The stomach acid in vomit can alter the dyes in a wool rug if it sits, so clear it and blot straight away, and keep it cool and gentle. Use cool water and a gentle touch — wool can ‘brown’ if over-wet and some rug dyes run. Test a hidden corner first, and for an antique, hand-knotted or silk rug, don't gamble — leave it to us.
🛏️ Mattresses
Remove any solids first, then go gently. You can't rinse a mattress, so go light: blot, treat sparingly, then use bicarbonate of soda to absorb the rest. Never soak it — trapped moisture leads to mould and smells.
✅ Do
- Wear gloves and remove solids first
- Keep the water cool
- Use bicarb to absorb and deodorise
- Dry fully before judging
🚫 Don't
- Use hot water — it sets the protein
- Rub it in
- Use bleach on coloured carpet
- Over-wet the area
Tried it and the vomit & sick mark is still there — or it's a wool rug, a mattress or something you'd hate to ruin? Don't keep scrubbing; that's how a stain turns permanent. We can often draw out what's left with professional hot-water extraction, and we'll tell you honestly what we expect to get up before we start. We usually reply within 15 minutes, prices are fixed with no VAT (rooms from £20, £50 minimum call-out), and we can normally fit you in within two to three days — worth sending that photo sooner rather than later, as the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to lift. Watford family business — 25 years' experience, fully insured — and if you're not happy with the result, we re-clean free. That's our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Get my free quote 💬 WhatsApp us a photo of the stainCommon questions
Will the smell of sick come out of my carpet?
Usually, yes — provided the residue is properly removed rather than just wiped over. The smell comes from what has soaked into the pile below the surface, so the key is a thorough rinse: hot-water extraction flushes it out rather than masking it. Keep the room well ventilated while the carpet dries — touch-dry in a few hours, fully dry in around 4–6.
Is it cheaper to hire a carpet cleaning machine than pay a professional?
Often not by much, once you've added the hire fee, the cleaning solution and a day of your own time. Our prices are fixed — from £20 a room (£40 for a through-lounge), no VAT added, with a £50 minimum call-out — and the job is done with professional Prochem hot-water extraction equipment rather than a rented unit. You also get our 100% satisfaction guarantee: if you're not happy, we re-clean free.
Will a vomit stain come back after the carpet dries?
It can if residue is left deep in the pile — as the carpet dries, moisture wicks upwards and carries the staining back to the surface, which is why a patch that looked clean reappears a day later. A proper extraction rinse removes the residue rather than pushing it deeper, so professionally cleaned stains are much less likely to resurface. Bear in mind that stomach acid and strong food dyes can occasionally leave a permanent mark, and we'll always tell you honestly if we think that's likely.
More stain guides
- ← Back to the full Stain Removal Guide
- How to remove pet urine
- How to remove blood
- How to remove faeces
Last updated July 2026