h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"...treat the area with white vinegar. This will neutralise the acids in the vomit..."

Vinegar is itself an acid, and thus the least likely thing to neutralise acids in the vomit. At best it'll be diluting down the acid in the vomit, just not quite as well as plain water would. If you want to neutralise acids, you need an alkaline solution; I'd suggest a non-frothing ammonia solution for that purpose. White vinegar *does* however, neutralise the *smell* of the vomit; perhaps that's what the original correspondent meant to say...?

I was about to say that as well... But I found something else:

Mix 125ml (1 cup) of liquid dishwashing soap in 500ml (2 cups) of boiling water. Let it cool. Whip the jelly. Apply with a damp sponge or cloth to a small area and rub gently. To rinse use a clean cloth with a solution of 500ml (1 cup) white vinegar and 1 litre (4 cups) water. Wipe dry with another cloth. Repeat if necessary.

125/500 = 1/4, not 1/2! Same goes for 500ml/1l -> 500/1000 = 1/2, not 1/4. Did these perhaps get switched? Or are there different proportions for non-metric cleaners?

It's the 500ml (2 cups) that's wrong; 500ml is almost a pint, or about 4 "cups".

Well spotted.

(ditto, 1 litre is 8 cups... )