How to remove vomit from a wool rug

Material context

natural, hand-tufted, Persian, berber, kilim, cotton flatweave – anything with lanolin or natural dye. That drives what you can and cannot apply – see the warning above.

The protocol, step by step

1. Put on gloves, lift the solids with a spoon or the edge of a dustpan working from the outside of the spill inwards, then blot the liquid with white kitchen roll; never rub.
2. Blot with cold water applied to a white cloth rather than poured onto the rug; hot water sets the proteins in vomit and makes the stain harder to remove.
3. Apply WoolSafe's first-choice treatment for vomit, a diluted WoolSafe-approved carpet shampoo, to a cloth and work it from the edge of the stain inwards; its second choice is an approved spot remover for water-based stains.
4. Rinse the area with clean water on a cloth, blot firmly and dry the spot with a hair dryer.
5. Check the label before reaching for an enzyme spray: Simple Solution Extreme's directions say not to use it on wool, so only use an odour remover on wool if the bottle carries the WoolSafe mark, and leave a lingering smell to a WoolSafe Approved cleaner's deodoriser treatment.

Products needed

• Cold water and white cloths
• WoolSafe-approved carpet shampoo (diluted)
• WoolSafe-approved spot remover
• Hair dryer

Realistic verdict

Lifting the solids fast and blotting with cold water gives wool its best chance. WoolSafe classes vomit among the more difficult stains, so a set-in mark or a smell that survives the shampoo step is a job for a WoolSafe Approved Service Provider.

Frequently asked questions

How fast do I need to act?

Very high urgency – within 30 minutes. On wool specifically, the vomit window is the same but the response differs – see the protocol above.

What must I never do to wool?

Never use hot water or household washing-up liquid on wool: heat sets the vomit proteins, and WoolSafe warns household detergents cause colour bleeding and rapid re-soiling.

What is the realistic recovery rate?

Lifting the solids fast and blotting with cold water gives wool its best chance. WoolSafe classes vomit among the more difficult stains, so a set-in mark or a smell that survives the shampoo step is a job for a WoolSafe Approved Service Provider.

When to stop and call a pro

Any vomit spot on wool larger than 30 × 30 cm; any second incident on the same spot (pigment or odour compound); any wool rug already treated with the wrong product (hot water, or the "never" listed above). Professional wet cleaning cost for wool: £3–£6 per m²; a 200 × 290 wool rug is £20–£35.