How to Clean Up Cat Vomit and Hairball Stains from Carpet
We love our cats. And to love cats is to learn how to deal with their hairballs and the mess that comes with them. Cats spend a lot of time grooming and most cats have hairballs at some point. At Rug Doctor® by BISSELL®, we recommend the following ways to clean up hairball stains and will show you how to remove hairballs from carpet.
Why does my cat puke on carpet?
The occasional hairball can be annoying to deal with, but do you know why cats choose to puke on the carpet? We promise it’s not for you to practice getting stains out of carpet. It’s because vomiting isn’t fun for cats and they want to be in a place that is cozy, or maybe has more traction than a hard floor. It may even be an instinctual behavior that goes back to wanting to bury or cover the vomit – carpet just looks like a better place to do that than the hard floor does.
What is the best carpet cleaning solution for cat hairball stains?
Our recommendation for the best carpet cleaner for pet stains like hairballs is the Professional Oxy Spot + Pretreat cleaner. The cleaner removes tough pet stains by quickly penetrating deep into the carpet fibers. It permanently removes stains in just 30 seconds.
How to remove hairball stains from carpet
So, how do you get hairball stains out of carpet? It’s best to clean up the cat puke when it’s fresh or as soon as you see it. To effectively remove cat hairballs from carpet, follow these steps:
- Pick up solid hairball and waste
- Blot excess liquid without pushing the liquid further into the carpet and carpet pad
- Apply Professional Oxy Spot + Pretreat to the stained and surrounding area. Spray in circular pattern, completely covering the cat puke stain and surrounding area. Allow cleaner to work for 5-10 minutes. The oxygen-active system will attack the color bodies which stain fibers and penetrate deep below carpet fibers.
How to remove old vomit stains from carpet
If you don’t catch the hairball when it’s fresh, don’t worry about it. It happens. Follow the same steps as above to clean your carpet, but add one more step at the end:
- Using a color-safe cloth, gently work the formula into the hairball-stained area using light strokes from the edges of the stain working your way towards the center. When you reach the center, lightly pinch the area in an upward motion to lift the stain out. Don’t scrub down into the carpet.
- Depending on how bad the stain is, and the length of time it has been left, you may have to repeat the steps.
Cleaning Cat Vomit from Couches and Furniture
We hate to say this, but cats can vomit on couches and furniture too. The process of cleaning remains the same. Just make sure that you leave plenty of time for the upholstery to dry. Before using any spot removal solutions or formulas always test a small, hidden area for colorfastness and examine when dry. If color is affected, do not use. For upholstery, look for manufacturer’s cleanability code tag. Use on fabric coded “WS” or “W”. If coded “X” or “S”, do not use. Not recommended for use on velvet, silk, vinyl or leather upholstery.
Rent a Carpet Cleaner
To make sure the cat vomit, hairballs, and stains are gone, rent a Rug Doctor® by BISSELL® carpet cleaner. You’ll get professional-grade cleaning results for a fraction of the price. You can find our carpet cleaner rentals at a local store near you. Not sure how to use a rental carpet deep cleaner? We have step-by-step instructions right here.
