Owning a dog means that occasionally you have to deal with dog sick. My dog likes to eat grass (I have no idea why) and if we don’t get her outside quick enough she will vomit wherever she happens to be at the time.
I hate to get graphic, but my dog does bright yellow sick which stains horribly. Fortunately, the sofa she chose to puke up on had a washable cover, but if yours isn’t washable I have a solution for you too.
Yes, it’s yucky, but if you act quickly you can reduce long-term damage to your precious sofa from dog sick.
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1. Clean up the mess immediately with a damp sponge or cloth
Try not to spread the vomit around as you clean it up. If the vomit has bits in it, scoop it up with a piece of card or towel. Then you will want to remove as much of the moisture as possible to prevent it from seeping further into the fabric of the couch.
Dab it with a dry microfibre cloth using a clean section each time.
Another way to remove the moisture without much effort is to liberally apply baking soda to the area, then let it sit for an hour or so before vacuuming it up.
2. Remove the cover if you can
If your sofa has a removable cover take it off as soon as possible and apply a stain remover. A stain remover with enzymes in it is best because they are designed to digest protein-based stains at lower temperatures.
Vanish stain remover bar is the best stain remover I have found. It contains no bleaching agents, so it can’t fade the fabric, and it also has enzymes. Simply rub the bar on the stain and then launder the item according to the care label.
Another thing that will work is some diluted laundry liquid. Add a few tablespoons to a spray bottle and then top up with water. Then spray over the stain.
How to remove dog vomit stains from your sofa without removing the cover

If you can’t launder your couch cover you will need to remove the stain in place or have your sofa professionally cleaned.
Here are some steps to try at home:
- Remove as much of the dog sick as you can immediately.
- Dab the stain with a dry cloth to remove the moisture. The aim is to prevent liquid from seeping into the cushion fabric below.
- Pour a generous amount of baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) onto the stain and leave it to sit for a few hours.
- Vacuum up the baking soda and repeat with another application if necessary.
- Apply an upholstery cleaner such as Vanish Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner to the stain and gently rub it in.
I thoroughly recommend Vanish. When my dog puked on our carpet, it worked brilliantly on removing the bright yellow staining from our beige carpet.
- Allow the area to air.
- Spray with Odoban or Febreze to neutralise the odor.
Here are some more tips for removing stains on non-removal sofa cushions:
- Avoid bleach. Using bleach will damage the fabric.
- Avoid using too much water. Don’t pour water onto the stain because it will cause the vomit odor to seep into the inner cushion pad and will be harder to remove.
- Use an upholstery cleaner such as Vanish Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner.
How to get rid of the smell of dog vomit
The key to reducing the smell of dog vomit is to get it cleaned up quickly. But what if that isn’t possible? Maybe you arrived home from work only to be greeted with some pongy sick to clean up?
Here are some things to try:
Baking soda
Baking soda has a unique ability to absorb moisture and odors. Liberally apply baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) to the area and let it sit for several hours before vacuuming it up.
Vinegar spray
Vinegar makes for a brilliant natural deodorizing and antibacterial cleaner.
Make up a spray bottle of distilled white vinegar and spray it on the area. It will smell strongly for a while, but will eventually dissipate along with the original odor.

Febreze or Odoban
If you are in the US choose Odoban or Febreze if you are in the UK. These sprays are fantastic at removing smells permanently rather than just masking the odor.
If you have successfully removed the vomit smell, but your couch still has a doggy odor, here is some advice to get your couch smelling gorgeous again β How To Remove Dog Smell From A Leather Couch.