Vivienne said, “My cat was sick on my wooden sideboard. I cleaned it, but it has left a stain like it has taken the colour out of it. Would you know how I can get it back to normal please?”
Table of Contents:
Pets often go somewhere secluded when they’re feeling sick, which on the one hand is a sanitary trait, but on the other hand can lead to stains. Whether the vomit you find is fresh or old, the tips below can help you to remove it with ease, along with any potential stain or odor. Follow the steps below until the problem is resolved.
Removing the Vomit
You Will Need:
- Kitty litter
- Paper towels
- A dustpan
- A cloth
- Hard surface pet enzyme cleaner
- A bowl
- White vinegar
Steps to Remove the Vomit:
- If the vomit is fresh, cover it with a generous amount of kitty litter¹ or baking soda.² Let the powder absorb the moisture for several minutes, then scoop it all up with paper towels¹ and a dustpan.³
- If the vomit is dry and thick, scrape it up with a plastic scraper, such as a dustpan, or a vacuum cleaner hose.³ Thin dry vomit can be wiped (scrubbed) up with a damp cloth.
- Wipe the area with a damp cloth to rinse off any remaining residue.⁴
- Spray the area where the vomit was located with a pet enzyme cleaner for hard surfaces, such as Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner, to clean the area and prevent any stains. Follow the directions on the label of your selected cleaner.⁴
- If there is a stain, use a pet stain remover for hard surfaces. Follow the directions on the label of your selected cleaner.⁴
- If there is a lingering odor, set a bowl with white vinegar in it nearby and leave the bowl there overnight. Ensure that your pet will not be able to drink or knock over the bowl.⁵
Additional Tips and Advice
- Wearing rubber gloves while cleaning can help a squeamish person to feel more comfortable. If no gloves are available, put your hands in plastic grocery bags.
- Brushing your cat regularly can remove excess hair, which will help to prevent your cat from needing to vomit up hairballs.⁴
- Another hairball prevention technique is to mix half a teaspoon of olive oil into your cat’s wet or dry food one day per week.⁶
Sources
- Clean it Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
- Natural Stain Removal Secrets by Deborah L. Martin
- Haley’s Cleaning Hints by Graham and Rosemary Haley
- Pet Clean-Up Made Easy by Don Aslett
- Practical Household Uses of Vinegar by Margaret Briggs
- Joey Green’s Cleaning Magic by Joey Green
How do I get DRIED cat vomit (appears to have been just liquid – stomach acid???) up?
He threw it up & I didn’t notice it until days and days after the fact.
I can’t seem to find help anywhere re: this!
Thanks.
Beth
Beth,
Use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water to clean up the residue, then you can continue on with the remaining steps (step 2 onward) to treat any stain on the wood or disinfect the area. If you are have trouble dissolving the residue so it can be wiped up, moisten a paper towel with the 50/50 mix, wring it out so it’s only damp, not dripping, then lay the paper towel over it for 5-10 minutes; that should work to re-saturate the vomit so it can be wiped up. Just don’t leave the paper towel on for much more than 10 minutes – moisture is not good for wood.
OK this is all good advice, but how do you repair the wood that the finish has been removed?
Paula,
If the finish has been removed, then it will need to be replaced (refinished). That doesn’t mean you have to completely refinish the whole floor/table though, you can just spot treat that one spot. First, determine what type of finish you have. Here is a guide to determinig the finish.
Once you have determined what type of finish you have, then you can look for guides to repair it. For example, here is a YouTube video that shows the process for repairing a spot of polyurethane finish very quick and easily: tape around the area with painter’s tape or masking tape, lightly sand the area with 400 grit sandpaper, wipe off the sanding debris with a dry cloth, then wipe on some polyurethane and let dry.
Good luck!