How To Clean Dog Vomit From Hardwood In 5 Easy Steps

While pets are certainly cute, nobody likes to deal with their messes. From urine to poop, and of course, the occasional vomit, owning a dog comes with a fairly large amount of cleaning.

Luckily, cleaning these messes doesn’t need to be difficult. If your pooch has vomited on your hardwood floors and you’re wondering how to properly clean the mess, you’ve come to the right place!

Let’s start by looking at the materials you’ll need to get the job done.

These are the basics that we’ll need. We’re honestly not too concerned about the type of cleaning products you decide to choose, as long as they don’t damage the hardwood floor or have the potential to compromise your kid’s or your dog’s health.

Step-By-Step Guide To Cleaning Up Dog Vomit From Hardwood Floors

1. Remove the solids

Dog vomit usually has solid and liquid parts. You should start by picking up all the solids because those cannot be wiped.

Handling it with your bare hands is not advisable, and that’s why we added gloves to our list of important items. Also, we made sure you knew that they have to be disposable. If you’re a bit grossed out and feel the need to use a disposable spoon, we say go for it. Do whatever you have to do to get the task done.

2. Wipe the liquids

Once you’re done with the solids, you’ll be left with only the liquids. So, you’ll need paper towels to take care of those. Not just a small quantity, but lots and lots of paper towels.

Put the towels over the liquid and give them a few seconds to soak up everything. If at any given point you feel nauseous, inhale the lemon essential oil. If you don’t have any, cut a lemon, and inhale it instead—it’s normal to feel nauseous while cleaning vomit, and the scent of lemon can help.

Pick up the paper towels, put them into a trash bag, seal it, and then toss it into the bin outside.

Pro tip: If some of the vomit has seeped into the hardwood joints, you should use a sponge to soak up it. Dab it around that area until you see no liquid.

3. Remove the stain

Staining is normal. You’ll find a stain—or at least a shadow of it—even if you acted fast. But don’t fret. It’s actually that’s the reason why we remembered to mention hydrogen peroxide on our list. Be sure to test it on some nondescript floor space, though, before applying it to the affected area. Taking precautions is necessary, seeing as some of these cleaning products have the ability to damage floor finishes or discolor wood.

If the results of the test are satisfactory, place the rag on top of that affected area, and then pour some of your peroxide solution onto it. Give it a couple of minutes to settle, and then clean it up.

4. Apply enzyme floor cleaner

We’re done cleaning, but still, have one more problem to deal with. Thing is, even if your eyesight is 20/20, you won’t be able to see the traces of the vomit left on the floor.

That’s where the enzyme floor cleaner comes in. It will break down any solids left and sanitize that whole area. Mix some of it with water, or whatever cleaning product you have in mind, and start scrubbing. Scrub for a couple of minutes, and then wipe it up.

Are you looking for an enzyme cleaner that can keep your house clean and your pet happy? We recommend the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray, which permanently gets rid of the most stubborn stains and smells. There’s even a 100% satisfaction guarantee so you can try this cleaner risk-free! Click here to order your first bottle.

At House Grail, 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 cat company!

5. Use a clean cloth to dry the floor

Use paper towels if you cannot find a clean cloth, to dry the affected area. Should you notice a stain, go back to the 3rd and 4th steps, and re-do everything we mentioned. If it’s still not coming out, pick up your phone and dial a professional cleaner. They’ll know what to do.

Getting Rid of The Smell of Vomit

The smell of vomit is just as irritating as any other bad odor. More often than not, you’ll find a smell still lingering after you’re done cleaning. We like to use baking soda to deal with that problem, since it has chemical compounds that are effective when it comes to eliminating unpleasant odor. In addition, it’s safe to use around kids and pets.

Related Read: 10 Best Trash Cans for Dog Poop: Reviews & Top Picks

Final Words

We hope these instructions will make your work easier any time your dog vomits. All the items we listed are easily accessible, and some of them even have substitutes—hydrogen peroxide for example. If you cannot find any, you could always use white vinegar. Just mix it with a little warm water, and it will get the job done.

Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

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Featured Image Credit: Yekatseryna Netuk, Shutterstock