Being a dog parent is a real blessing, though it doesn’t feel that way when you find the remnants of your dog’s dinner all over your couch and have to clean it up! Not to worry—you won’t have to kiss your couch goodbye any time soon.
In this post, we’ll share our top techniques for cleaning up dog vomit and getting your couch looking spotless again in no time at all.
The 5 Ideas & Tips on How to Clean Dog Vomit From a Couch
1. Use Baking Soda
The first thing you’ll want to do when you find vomit on your couch is act fast. Remove the vomit and dispose of it as quickly as possible. Dab the stained area with paper towels or a dry cloth to eliminate excess moisture. Spray a little water over the area, then sprinkle baking soda on top of the stain. Leave the baking soda to sit for a few hours, then vacuum it off. You may need to repeat the process if the stain or an odor still lingers.
2. Combine Vinegar and Baking Soda
For tougher stains, try combining the cleaning powers of white vinegar and baking soda. Dilute white vinegar with water in a spray bottle. After removing the vomit and blotting the area with a dry paper towel or cloth, spray the affected area lightly with the solution. Then, sprinkle baking soda on top of the area, leave to dry for a few hours, and vacuum it off.
3. Use an Enzyme Cleaner
Pet enzyme cleaners are sold commercially and are designed to remove all evidence of vomit, poop, or pee left behind by your pets. It may be a good idea to keep a bottle of enzyme cleaner on hand as a pet parent, as this stuff can really save the day in a crisis. Different brands come with different instructions, but it’s usually just a case of spraying the product on the stain and letting it dry.
If you are interested in an all-natural ezyme cleaner, our favorite is the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray. It does an excellent job of successfully lifting set-in stains and odors the first time without odor masking. It's available in 3 light scent options - Neutral, Citrus Splash, and Floral Fresh. Best of all, it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee - click here to learn more.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!
4. Mix Dish Soap With Water
Another common method of getting vomit stains out of a couch is to mix a few drops of dish soap with water. Remove the vomit and excess moisture as normal, spray the mixture on the stain, and then cover with baking soda. Vacuum up the baking soda when the area has dried.
5. Call in the Pros
If you don’t have any luck with the above methods, you might have to get professional cleaners in to take care of matters. Though the most expensive stain removal method, you can at least have peace of mind that your couch is in good hands.
How to Get Rid of Vomit Smell
A lot of the cleaning methods we’ve shared use ingredients that are good for odor control. White vinegar, baking soda, and enzyme cleaners are particularly powerful in this department. If the smell still lingers, repeat the process of whichever method you’ve chosen.
Sometimes, it might take a few hours or even days for the smell to completely go away in your home. You might want to try something like Febreze or another odor-eliminating spray while you wait it out.
Prevention Tips
- Invest in some couch covers, especially if your dog has vomited on your couch more than once.
- Avoid overfeeding—this might seem obvious but keeping an eye on how much your dog is eating and what they’re eating goes a long way in preventing accidents. Not all human foods are safe for dogs, either, so be careful with what you allow them to nibble on.
- Don’t let your dog on the couch. This way, at least, you’re sure that your couch won’t fall victim to vomit stains and smells if your dog does have an accident.
Conclusion
Though frustrating and unpleasant, vomit doesn’t signal an immediate death sentence for your couch. There are plenty of cheap and easy cleanup methods you can try and, worst case, there are always professional cleaners if all else fails. After the incident, monitor your dog to make sure the vomiting is just a one-off. If it persists or is happening way too often, it’s time to check in with your vet.
- You may also want to read: Why Does My Dog Throw Up in the Morning? 10 Potential Causes
Featured Image Credit: Ayla Verschueren, Unsplash
