Cat vomit is going to happen from time-to-time. I know, it’s one of the least desirable tasks of being a cat owner. But whether it’s a hairball they want rid of or something they ate, your cat is going to vomit on occasion.
You can almost guarantee they are going to do it on your best carpet and in a spot that can’t be hidden if it leaves a stain too. So, you need the best carpet cleaner for cat vomit that leaves absolutely no trace that there was ever a stain there.
Simple, right?
It is if you use the right cleaning product. It’s not worth cutting corners or trying to make do with some homemade mix of baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils (although these can work sometimes).
In this article, I’ve covered everything you need to know from what I looked for in the best cleaning products, how I choose them, and 5 of the best on the market that are affordable, and very effective at cleaning vomit without damaging your carpet.
What Is the Best Way to Clean Cat Vomit from Carpet?
I’ve listed 5 of the best carpet cleaning products below that’ll make cleaning up cat vomit about as easy as it gets. While each comes with their own instructions for use that you should read carefully, typically you’ll need to follow these basic steps:
Step 1 – Pick up as much of the solid mess as you can from the vomit
Step 2 – Dab the area with paper towels to soak up any excess fluid if applicable
Step 3 – Spray your cleaning product over the stain
Step 4 – Leave to work as directed
Step 5 – Dry the area with paper towels or cloths and repeat if necessary
What to Look for in a Cleaning Products to Clean Cat Vomit
When looking for the best carpet cleaner for cat vomit there are a few things to look for to avoid ending up being disappointed when you’re left with a permeant stain on your carpet, these are:
Customer feedback – There is no better validation than seeing people saying that they used the product, and it worked. I made sure there was a good deal of positive feedback for the products listed below.
Environmentally-friendly – It’s important to me that products I use aren’t harming the environment. Sure, the main priority is removing the stain. But you can do that just fine while using eco products as I’ll show you.
Enzyme-based – Enzyme cleaners contain bacteria that actually works by breaking down the stain and digesting parts of it. They are the most effective types of cleaning products for pet stains so I always look for enzyme-based products.
Safe for pets – As cat owners using products that are safe for our pets should always be remembered. Even though I’m sure your cat is smart enough to avoid the product, and you’ll keep it out of harm’s way, it’s a consideration.
The good news is that I’ve done all the hard work for you. Below is 5 awesome carpet cleaning sprays that will clean up even the worst piles of cat vomit easily, quickly, and effectively.
I’ve chosen a few different types. There are different scents, fragrance-free, enzyme and non-enzyme options. So, plenty of variety to help you find the type of cleaner best for you, your carpets, and hopefully will remove the vomit and any trace it was ever there!
5 of the Best Carpet Cleaners for Cat Vomit
Sunny and Honey Enzyme Pet Stain and Odor Miracle
This enzyme cleaning product from Sunny and Honey is made by pet lovers, for pet lovers. So much so that Sunny and Honey donate 10% of their profits to animal rescue organizations and shelters.
It works wonders on cat vomit, drool, urine, and any other stains your kitty manages to leave behind on your carpets, hardwood floors, and other items of furniture.
Being an enzyme-based cleaning product it contains biological compounds that speed up the chemical reactions and give a more thorough clean for the area you’re treating.
The directions of use are straightforward and the product does all the work for you, just follow these steps:
- Remove any surface solids
- Soak up as much of the stain as you can with paper towels
- Spray a generous amount of Pet Stain and Odor Miracle over the area you’re cleaning
- Allow it to work for around 10 minutes before drying the area with paper towels
- Repeat if the vomit stain or odor hasn’t been fully removed
Simple Solution Enzyme Extreme Stain and Odor Remover
Any cleaning product with ‘Extreme’ in the name better live up to it, and this product from Simple Solution certainly does.
It will shift some seriously stubborn stains, and that includes cat vomit which can become particularly problematic if not attended to while it’s still damp.
It has a Pro-Bacteria and enzyme formula which is perfect for pet stains of all types in particular as it breaks down the bacteria in the stain and makes it easier to remove.
The 3-in-1 nozzle, and scented or non-scented options are nice to have too.
The directions for use are as follows:
- Switch the nozzle to mist and close the foaming door for a nice even spray over the urine stain
- Soak up excess moisture with paper towels
- Spray a generous amount over the whole area
- Leave for 5 or so minutes to work into the stain
- Dab dry with paper towels and leave for a further 24+ hours to air naturally
Odor Universe Pet Stain and Odor Remover
With so many cleaning products doing similarly well, the thing that sets this one apart from the pack is the lovely fresh minty scent it leaves behind.
It’s a subtle scent, but combined with removing the urine odor leaves your home smelling fresh.
It’s environmentally friendly, doesn’t have any harsh chemicals that can potentially damage carpets or furniture, and leaves no residue behind.
Here’s how you use this carpet cleaner to deal with cat vomit:
- Clean up any surface mess and dab the stain with paper towels
- Spray some Odor Universe over the stain
- Leave it for 5 or so minutes to get work on the stain
- Dab and wipe clean with paper towels
- Repeat if necessary
Capture Pet Stain and Odor Neutralizer
What this means in practical terms is a powerful cleaning product that’ll break down and remove cat/pet vomit, urine, feces, and other yucky stains they leave behind.
You can use this before or after other cleaners, on any types of material (check a small area first to be sure), in a nutshell, it’s just a powerful, effective, pet stain remover and well worth trying out.
Directions for using this Capture Pet Stain Remover:
- Pick up any mess and dab the area with paper towels to soak up any excess fluid
- Use a sponge and warm water to move or break up any stubborn chunks
- Spray Capture generously over the whole area you’re cleaning
- Leave it to work into the vomit stain for 10 minutes or so
- Use paper towels to soak up all the cleaner along with removing the stain
- Repeat if necessary for particularly stubborn stains
Woolite INSTAclean Pet Stain Remover
It’s worth noting that it’s not recommended for use on velvet, silk, vinyl, or leather. It’s a good idea to always check it’s not going to damage the surface you’re using it on by checking on a small area out of sight.
It’s a great multi-purpose cleaner that can tackle a lot more than just cat vomit. You can remove all kinds of pet stains, mud, blood, food, wine, grease, and other unexpected spillages that happen around the home.
How to use INSTAclean:
- Remove any solids and residue
- Dab the vomit with paper towels and absorb what you can
- If you using on a colored surface test a small area somewhere out of sight first
- Spray over the vomit stain
- Give it a minute before wiping up with paper towels or absorbent cloths
- Repeat if necessary
