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How to get barf stains out of carpet?

post #1 of 28
5/24/07 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 
I don't know if this is the right forum, but I need something that I can use to clean barf stains from my carpet that won't be toxic to my cats. I'm really paranoid about using anything chemical, but I have 2 spots I just can't get out with my usual methods.
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post #2 of 28
5/24/07 at 8:09am
We use Nature's Miracle cleaner (from Foster&Smith). I've also used Resolve on stains if no NM was in the house. Both are safe (NM is very much pet safe); not sure about Resolve, but never had a cat get sick after using it on carpet.
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post #3 of 28
5/24/07 at 8:21am
I don't have any completely natural methods for that.

I had good luck with the Woolite non-aerosol type...it comes in a big squirt bottle...not the fancy double metal spray can, just the simple plastic sprayer. As a bonus, a bottle lasts me forever....it seems to go much further than aerosol stuff.

Not sure about "cat safe" but I follow with plain clean water and never had a problem.

Resolve is very good with stains, but Pixel is highly attracted to it. I mean smell, rub, and taste. She never got sick, but I got something else that wouldn't be so attractive to her...just to be safe.
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post #4 of 28
5/24/07 at 10:00am
Well I've used Resolve on KoolAid stains and it came out
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post #5 of 28
5/24/07 at 10:09am
Thread Starter 
Thanks all. I'll go look at Nature's Miracle. I don't really want to use Resolve. Not sure how I feel about the Woolite..
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post #6 of 28
5/24/07 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 
Okay, so I just looked at the Nature's Miracle. It claims to be non-toxic and non-flammable. I'm not a chemist, but I looked up the MSDS on one of the ingredients, isopropyl.

According to the MSDS:

1. Conditions contributing to instability: Heat, sparks, or flame.

2. Incompatibilities: Contact between isopropyl alcohol and air may result in the formation of dangerous peroxides. Isopropyl alcohol is incompatible with strong oxidizers, acetaldehyde, chlorine, ethylene oxide, acids, and isocyanates.

3. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide may be released in a fire involving isopropyl alcohol.

4. Special precautions: Isopropyl alcohol will attack some forms of plastic, rubber, and coatings.

* Flammability - The National Fire Protection Association has assigned a flammability rating of 3 (severe fire hazard) to isopropyl alcohol.

Doesn't sound all that safe to me .. but like I said, I'm no chemist. Can someone reassure me that this is all okay?
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post #7 of 28
5/24/07 at 11:08am
Well the NM is sold in all major pet supply companies. Foster & Smith tests their products as far as I know, so if it was not safe, they would not sell it!
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post #8 of 28
5/24/07 at 11:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45 View Post
Well the NM is sold in all major pet supply companies. Foster & Smith tests their products as far as I know, so if it was not safe, they would not sell it!
I'm not the most trusting person (anymore) when it comes to claims by companies wanting to sell me their products
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post #9 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:12pm
I don't know if it would work on barf stains, but I know that vodka (cheap works well) does clean pee stains very well. Apparently it also works on the odors in cat pee, and even skunk (a friend of mine got sprayed and washed her clothes with vodka and said it worked). So that may work. Should be low enough alcohol content not to be flammable, though I certainly wouldn't allow the cats to get into it while it's still wet. All the alcohol will evaporate, though, so it shouldn't leave any residual bad things in the carpet. (I got the tip from a cat book, so it's not just an old wives tale. )
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post #10 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misty8723 View Post
Okay, so I just looked at the Nature's Miracle. It claims to be non-toxic and non-flammable. I'm not a chemist, but I looked up the MSDS on one of the ingredients, isopropyl.

According to the MSDS:

1. Conditions contributing to instability: Heat, sparks, or flame.

2. Incompatibilities: Contact between isopropyl alcohol and air may result in the formation of dangerous peroxides. Isopropyl alcohol is incompatible with strong oxidizers, acetaldehyde, chlorine, ethylene oxide, acids, and isocyanates.

3. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide may be released in a fire involving isopropyl alcohol.

4. Special precautions: Isopropyl alcohol will attack some forms of plastic, rubber, and coatings.

* Flammability - The National Fire Protection Association has assigned a flammability rating of 3 (severe fire hazard) to isopropyl alcohol.

Doesn't sound all that safe to me .. but like I said, I'm no chemist. Can someone reassure me that this is all okay?
Well Im not a chemist but I have 3 upper year university courses in Organic Chemistry, and I missed a minor in biochemistry by only one credit. This is all okay, I reassure you. The hazard information on isopropyl alcohol would matter to the people manufacturing the product, as they actualy deal with sufficient quantities to be wary. That is why MSDS's are "ingredient" specific, and not generally necessary for the public (though, it is good to be informed when using a pure or dangerous chemical like bleach). Even when you buy 70% rubbing alcohol, theres very little danger. It is quite flammable at that level, but if you keep it away from an open flame, thats not going to be a problem. Anyways, Natures Miracle is nowhere near that concentrated, its almost entirely water. The small amount of isopropyl alcohol in this product (it comes AFTER enzymes which in a research lab are used in MICROLITRE (1/1000 mL) volumes) is nowhere near the amount that would need special concern.
Additionally, since Isopropyl alcohol is classified as a dangerous good, the regulations are very strict for consumer products. You wouldnt be able to buy it if it were "dangerous"....
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post #11 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:21pm
OH!
re: the barf stain thing....
If your "usual methods" ever involved hot or warm water, Id actually recomment giving up. Best thing for a protein stain (aside: once I worked at an amusement park, and learned the PC term for vomit is 'protein spill') is cold water and plain detergent (laundry soap eg)...Even at relatively low water temperatures, you will literally cook the protein into the fibres of the fabric.
Same reason why hot water never gets blood stains out, no matter how many times you try.
I think natures miracle would be your best bet for a product to try...good luck!
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post #12 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Februa View Post
Well Im not a chemist but I have 3 upper year university courses in Organic Chemistry, and I missed a minor in biochemistry by only one credit. This is all okay, I reassure you. The hazard information on isopropyl alcohol would matter to the people manufacturing the product, as they actualy deal with sufficient quantities to be wary. That is why MSDS's are "ingredient" specific, and not generally necessary for the public (though, it is good to be informed when using a pure or dangerous chemical like bleach). Even when you buy 70% rubbing alcohol, theres very little danger. It is quite flammable at that level, but if you keep it away from an open flame, thats not going to be a problem. Anyways, Natures Miracle is nowhere near that concentrated, its almost entirely water. The small amount of isopropyl alcohol in this product (it comes AFTER enzymes which in a research lab are used in MICROLITRE (1/1000 mL) volumes) is nowhere near the amount that would need special concern.
Additionally, since Isopropyl alcohol is classified as a dangerous good, the regulations are very strict for consumer products. You wouldnt be able to buy it if it were "dangerous"....
Thank you! I appreciate the detailed explanation, and definitely feel better about buying a bottle of Nature's Miracle to try.
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post #13 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Februa View Post
OH!
re: the barf stain thing....
If your "usual methods" ever involved hot or warm water, Id actually recomment giving up. Best thing for a protein stain (aside: once I worked at an amusement park, and learned the PC term for vomit is 'protein spill') is cold water and plain detergent (laundry soap eg)...Even at relatively low water temperatures, you will literally cook the protein into the fibres of the fabric.
Same reason why hot water never gets blood stains out, no matter how many times you try.
I think natures miracle would be your best bet for a product to try...good luck!
Oh boy. Well, it usually involves cool water and a bit of dawn detergent, but I can't say I never used warm water on it. I guess I'll get a bottle of nature's miracle and see what happens.
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post #14 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by valanhb View Post
I don't know if it would work on barf stains, but I know that vodka (cheap works well) does clean pee stains very well. Apparently it also works on the odors in cat pee, and even skunk (a friend of mine got sprayed and washed her clothes with vodka and said it worked). So that may work. Should be low enough alcohol content not to be flammable, though I certainly wouldn't allow the cats to get into it while it's still wet. All the alcohol will evaporate, though, so it shouldn't leave any residual bad things in the carpet. (I got the tip from a cat book, so it's not just an old wives tale. )
Interesting. I'll have to make a note of that.
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post #15 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:39pm
I use Oxy Clean. Only problem is the spot where the kitty barfed usually looks too clean when I'm done.
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post #16 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by valanhb View Post
I don't know if it would work on barf stains, but I know that vodka (cheap works well) does clean pee stains very well. Apparently it also works on the odors in cat pee, and even skunk (a friend of mine got sprayed and washed her clothes with vodka and said it worked). So that may work. Should be low enough alcohol content not to be flammable, though I certainly wouldn't allow the cats to get into it while it's still wet. All the alcohol will evaporate, though, so it shouldn't leave any residual bad things in the carpet. (I got the tip from a cat book, so it's not just an old wives tale. )
Drink the Vodka and then you won't notice the stains OR the smell!
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post #17 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:47pm
I think the greatest spot remover ever made is Spot Shot. It gets out anything, including bloody poop (3 cats with giardia) and makeup (me.) I just use water afterward and I've never had a problem with the cats. I have 2 CRF'ers also.
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post #18 of 28
5/24/07 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mzjazz2u View Post
Drink the Vodka and then you won't notice the stains OR the smell!
Best advice I've heard so far.
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post #19 of 28
5/24/07 at 4:52pm
I use Nature's Miracle. I have large dogs and when they get sick, they leave really big stains. Saturate the carpet and use a scrub brush to rub it through. Blot up the excess and let it dry. If it's not gone, repeat until it disappears.

Nature's Miracle works on anything organic in nature.
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post #20 of 28
5/24/07 at 6:59pm
Foster & Smith have been around a long time. I trust them - I've gotten lots of stuff and never have had a problem.
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post #21 of 28
5/24/07 at 7:08pm
I've used Nature's Miracle too - but my FAVORITE is Nature's Miracle 'Just for Cats' it is REALLY great.
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post #22 of 28
5/25/07 at 8:56am
IMHO the Nature's Miracle "Just for Cats" works for 95% of my kitty puke cleaning needs...for the other 5% I use the Woolite spray. The spots are not that big (luckily) and I'm not totally soaking it. So far no one has been poisoned, the biggest problem is that the spot I clean does look better than the rest of the carpet.
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post #23 of 28
5/25/07 at 1:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misty8723 View Post
Best advice I've heard so far.
Glad someone found the humor in it!
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post #24 of 28
5/28/07 at 5:41am
I've used Nature's Miracle for 5 years with no problems...seems to get every stain (even non-cat related) out of our carpets.
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post #25 of 28
5/28/07 at 6:45pm
we use our dirt devil spot scrubber, with water. usually we don't use the soap. we use the vacuum setting. spray the stain -- soak it thoroughly with water. vacuum with spot scrubber. repeat several times until stain is lifted. spray with nature's miracle. and that's it.

http://www.dirtdevil.com/Products/pr...l.aspx?id=5457
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post #26 of 28
5/28/07 at 10:44pm
I use Woolite Oxydeep. I love this stuff!

It is an "oxygen-activated stain remover", and says that it is "Safe for all colorfast carpets. Chlorine bleach free. No harsh chemicals. When used as directed, leaves carpet safe for children and pets. NON-CAUSTIC, NON-FLAMMABLE."

I get it at Walmart, and it comes in a blue bottle with a red sprayer top (last I checked- I had coupons for $1.50 off a while back, and bought a bunch of bottles-LOL ).
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post #27 of 28
5/29/07 at 6:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misty8723 View Post
I don't know if this is the right forum, but I need something that I can use to clean barf stains from my carpet that won't be toxic to my cats. I'm really paranoid about using anything chemical, but I have 2 spots I just can't get out with my usual methods.
Try this stuff:

Nature Clean Pet Stain & Odour Remover.

http://www.grassrootsstore.com/index...ROD&ProdID=255

This cleaner is the best I have come across. Works great on anything that is organic, we have used it on Pet stains (urin, feces, puke, blood (from clipping too far on the nail) etc...) also works great on red wine.

Also, it is made entirely from Hydrogen Peroxide and Water. So far we haven't had any issues with bleaching out colour.
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post #28 of 28
5/29/07 at 9:25am
simple green and a bissel spot remover machine are miracles.

and my cat vomits quite often as she has a very sensitive stomach and likes to eat dust balls. ewww.

plus my house has beige carpet - it came this way I didn't choose it.
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