# What is that stuff that janitors throw over puke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-stuff-that-janitors-throw-over-puke/357831 "2006-05-22T22:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-stuff-that-janitors-throw-over-puke/357831/1 "2006-05-22T22:10:24Z")
And what does it do? ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-stuff-that-janitors-throw-over-puke/357831/2 "2006-05-22T22:26:50Z")
When I worked at an amusement park, we threw sawdust over puke. It soaked up the wet bits so that you could then sweep it up with a broom later without getting the broom soaking wet. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-stuff-that-janitors-throw-over-puke/357831/3 "2006-05-22T22:34:29Z")
I think the general term for this type of material (dry stuff used to soak up wet stuff) is _sorbents._ Cat litter is one. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-stuff-that-janitors-throw-over-puke/357831/4 "2006-05-22T22:36:05Z")
I have used both the above-mentioned substances (sawdust and cat litter-type clay) to absorb vomit for easier cleaning.