If you're on Twitter much, you'll have seen some of the wild advances in AI with the research release of ChatGPT by OpenAI. I wanted to get in on the fun so I asked it... "how do you clean vomit from a couch," and you know what? It gave me a pretty good answer. Here it is:
To clean throw up off of your couch, you will need to remove as much of the solid material as possible using a spoon or spatula. Then, blot the area with a clean, damp cloth to remove any remaining vomit. Be sure to use a gentle cleaning solution, such as diluted dish soap or a 50-50 mixture of water and white vinegar, to avoid damaging the fabric.
Once you have removed the vomit, you can use a carpet cleaner or upholstery shampoo to deep clean the area. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product label and test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the couch before using it on the affected area. You may also want to consider using a deodorizer to help remove any lingering smells.
If the vomit has soaked into the couch cushions, you may need to remove the cushions and wash them separately. Be sure to use a gentle detergent and cold water, and allow the cushions to air dry completely before putting them back on the couch.
It is also important to thoroughly clean any surfaces that may have come into contact with the vomit, such as the floor or nearby furniture, to prevent the spread of bacteria and germs.
In general, it is best to clean up vomit as soon as possible to avoid staining and to prevent the spread of bacteria and germs. If the vomit has been left for a long time or if the stain is particularly stubborn, you may need to call a professional cleaner to handle the job.
Well, that's pretty thorough, isn't it? And wild? 2022, man. Anyway! Next I asked it what you could put over a couch to protect it from vomit. This is what it said:
There are several products that you can use to protect your couch from vomit. One option is to use a protective cover or slipcover, which can be placed over the couch to protect it from spills and stains. These covers are typically made of durable, water-resistant materials and are easy to clean.
Another option is to use a stain-resistant spray or upholstery protector. These products can be applied to the fabric of your couch to create a barrier that repels liquids and stains. Many of these products are also water-resistant, which can help to prevent the vomit from soaking into the fabric.
In addition to using protective products, you can also take steps to prevent vomit from coming into contact with your couch in the first place. For example, you can encourage your child to use a vomit bag or bucket if they feel sick, or you can place a towel or blanket over the couch to catch any vomit that may be expelled.
Overall, the best way to protect your couch from vomit is to be prepared and to act quickly if vomit does occur. By removing the vomit as soon as possible and using protective products, you can help to keep your couch clean and free from stains.
Another good answer, right? Except for one obvious and notable exception: Vommats! So I next asked ChatGPT how I could teach it about something new. Turns out, "As a language model trained by OpenAI, I am not capable of learning new information in the same way that a human can. I am only able to provide information on topics that I have been trained on, which is based on a large dataset of text that was compiled prior to my creation. Because I do not have the ability to browse the internet or interact with the world in the same way that a human can, I am unable to learn new information or update my knowledge on a particular topic."
So I'll need to be sure that Vommat makes it into the next large dataset so that ChatGPT and others - who knows what comes next - will be truly informed on the best way to protect a couch from vomit!
Then I got to thinking... I wonder what AI thinks a mom cleaning vomit from a couch might look like. I had some fun with this; there's one at the top of this post and here are some of my favs. I'll also put a little gallery on Instagram here.
Pretty weird stuff but also pretty cool!