Did someone get sick on your wood floors? You're in luck - cleaning vomit from a hardwood floor is significantly easier than tackling vomit on a carpet or Fabric.
But, you still need some proper know-how and the right cleaning equipment to clean vomit from your beloved wood floors.
Whether it is cat vomit or kid vomit, follow this step-by-step cleaning guide from Chore-ology to remove vomit stains and the vomit smell from your wooden floors.
Cleaning Vomit From Wood Floors: What You Need
Rubber gloves
Scoop (like dustpan, paper plate, or cardboard)
Sponge
Cloths
Paper towels
Cat litter or baking soda
Hard floor cleaner
White vinegar
Water
Vacuum cleaner or broom
Air freshener (optional)
Step-By-Step Guide To Cleaning Vomit From Wood Floors
You need to act fast, as vomit is acidic and can cause permanent damage to your hardwood floor.
Step 1: Scrape up most of the vomit
Make sure you wear rubber gloves for the duration of the cleaning process.
Start by scraping up as much of the vomit as you can. A dustpan, piece of cardboard, or paper plate should do the trick. Make sure to dispose of the vomit and scoop in a sealable plastic bag. Take the trash out immediately.
Step 2: Absorb the liquid
Blot the vomit area with a sponge, cloth, or paper towel to absorb most of the liquid. Again, throw away anything you use to clean up the vomit.
Sprinkle cat litter or baking soda over the area where the vomit stain is, and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. The kitty litter/baking soda will absorb any remaining liquid.
Use a broom to sweep up the kitty litter or a vacuum to clean up the baking soda. Toss the absorbent material in the trash, and immediately clean out your vacuum to prevent bacterial growth.
Step 3: Wash with vinegar
Vinegar can clean hard surfaces like wooden floors without damaging the affected area.
Combine 1 cup warm water with 1 cup white vinegar. You can either mix it in a bowl or a spray bottle.
Dip a cloth in the cleaning solution, wring it out so that it is damp, and blot the vomit area. Or, spray the area with the solution.
Blot up the excess moisture, and repeat the process as frequently as needed to get rid of the stain.
Use a dry cloth to wipe the vinegar solution from the floor.
Step 4: Rinse
Soak a clean rag in warm water, wring it out, and blot the area where the stain was (as it should no longer be visible).
Allow the area to air dry by opening windows or placing a fan so that it blows on the spot.
Step 5: Deodorize
Even if the stain is gone, there might still be a lingering smell of vomit.
Make sure to let plenty of fresh air into the room to waft out the smell. You can also sprinkle baking soda over the spot again, allow it to sit for about 5 hours, then vacuum the area. The baking soda will absorb the smell.
As a finishing touch, spray some air freshener in the room.
Cleaning Pet Vomit From Wood Floors
Cleaning animal vomit from your wood floor is not that much different than dealing with human vomit.
Here are some steps to cleaning fresh and dried pet vomit from your lovely hardwood floors.
How to clean fresh animal vomit from your floors
Act quickly to prevent the animal vomit from staining your floors.
Scoop as much of the vomit as you can onto a paper plate and toss the vomit and the scoop in the trash.
Place paper towels over the vomit to soak up the liquid.
Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the vomit spot to absorb more liquid.
Vacuum up the baking soda once it has dried.
Dilute hydrogen peroxide in water and blot the area gently to lift the stain.
Apply pet enzyme cleaner to the floor, following the instructions on the product label. This will get rid of lingering scents.
Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any cleaning residue.
Allow to air dry.
How to clean dried animal vomit from your floors
Have you ever had to deal with dried cat vomit? It is unpleasant, to say the least. Here's how you can get your wooden floors looking good as new again.
Use a plastic scraper or blunt knife to scratch off as much of the dried vomit without scratching the floors.
Sweep or vacuum the area.
Place a damp cloth over the vomit stain to soften it and wipe it clean with a damp rag.
Apply pet stain remover to the area, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Once dry, sprinkle baking soda on the area to get rid of lingering odors.
Vacuum the area once the baking soda is dry.
Calling Professional Cleaners To Clean Vomit
There's no shame in calling a professional biohazard decontamination company like Chore-ology to clean vomit from your wood flooring.
Here are some scenarios where you should call on the experts to clean the vomit for you:
Large volume of vomit: If there is a lot of vomit covering a significant portion of your floor, you'll need specialist equipment to deep clean and disinfect the floors.
Contamination concerns: Vomit is a biohazard as it contains bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. If you're concerned that the person has an infectious disease and you want to avoid contamination, you should call professional infectious disease cleaners.
OSHA regulations: Commercial and public spaces must adhere to Occupational Health and Safety regulations. You need to make use of a biohazard decontamination company to ensure the area is effectively cleaned.
Old vomit: If the vomit has been left for a long period and has soaked into (and damaged) the floors, you'll need the help of professionals to address the issue.