Name: judi lieberman
Message: Hi. You really seem to be an expert on dyes. My cat threw up on my white wool oriental carpet. Red #40 seems to be the ingredient which has stained the carpet. I wonder if you know a solvent which would take this out, or "un-dye" the fibers. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Isn't it annoying how pet food manufacturers add huge quantities of dye to their foods? Pets don't care about the color, but it can really damage a carpet. You may wish to change brands of pet food to prevent a repeat of this experience.

There is a product sold specifically for removing red food dye from carpets, called Red Relief. I have never used it and cannot comment on how safe or effective it may be, but the name alone suggests that it might be worth a try. It is possible that this product will also remove the original color, as well, though, so be careful.

It might be wisest to consult a local carpet-cleaning company.