Angelo S 
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We’ve all had our fair share of sticky situations when it comes to carpet stains with spilled syrup among the most common culprits. For our part, we’ve tried different ways to get rid of syrup or wax stains as soon as they occur.
Although sometimes, it’s also inevitable that we get to them late. But don’t worry just yet, because removing any spilled or hardened syrup stain is still something that you can do by yourself using inexpensive homemade solutions.
Outline
Removing freshly spilled syrup from carpet
If you can prevent the syrup from bonding with fabric, the better. If the stain is fresh, then it’s important to act fast. The good news is that household items are very effective in clearing syrup stains before they leave a mark.
Step 1: Clean as much as you can while the spill is fresh
Instead of rushing to wash away the stain, your first action should be to meticulously scoop as much syrup as you can from the carpet while the spill is fresh.
You don’t have to be picky with your scraper or scooper: a butter knife, a spoon or even your credit card will do enough to prevent the syrup from pushing further into the carpet fibers.
Step 2: Control the spread by blotting the area
For this step, we recommend using a paper towel to blot the area where the mess occurred. Instead of scrubbing, firmly press down the spill using a paper towel or clean cloth to absorb the excess syrup. You may repeat this step until you are certain that no more liquid can be absorbed using this method.
Step 3: Clear the remaining syrup using a cleaning solution
Afterward, you can clean the remainder of the spill using a sponge and warm water, or a cleaning solution (like a DIY soapy mixture with liquid soap or detergent).
Use warm water gently and only apply it on the stained area since some carpet fabric don’t fair well with hot liquid. Use a spray bottle if you can to limit and control the application. Otherwise, you can apply a dedicated carpet stain remover if you have one on the shelf.
Even when applying your preferred cleaning solution, we recommend blotting instead of scrubbing outright. If the solvent is able to break down the syrup, blotting should be able to safely and gently absorb it even without much force.
If some of the syrup is still retained, you can then start applying more pressure by scrubbing gently in order to separate the remaining syrup from the compromised fabric.
Step 4: Rinse and allow the carpet to dry
In general, and most especially after applying a cleaning solution, you should rinse the carpet with cold water to remove any remaining residue from the mixture.
Finally, you can pat the carpet dry with more paper towels or let it air dry with sufficient air flow. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to speed up this process and thoroughly exhaust any wet spots.
Getting rid of hardened syrup stain
In case you discovered the stain at a later time, you can then follow these steps when removing a hardened syrup stain from your carpet.
Step 1: Scrape dried syrup with blunt knife
This will require a bit more effort and precision since you are looking to scrape a dried stain. While you would want to scrape as much syrup off as possible, you should avoid aggressive strokes in order to not risk damaging the carpet.
After scraping, you can sweep or slightly vacuum the surface to get rid of the debris. Do this thoroughly since you will have to rehydrate the remaining dried syrup in order to fully clean the carpet.
Step 2: Rehydrate the stain and apply cleaning solution
Rehydrate the syrup stain by blotting it with a wet cloth. This time you can outright use a liquid detergent or other mixtures that will help dissolve the hardened stain more effectively. Some of the common homemade solutions you can use are:
Detergent – is stronger than soap solution and therefore, more ideal for getting rid of dried syrup. Simply mix the detergent with water and put it in a spray bottle.
Club soda – is an ingenious alternative if you somehow don’t have a more traditional cleaning agent on hand. You can pour a little bit of club soda on the affected area and repeatedly blot it until the remaining dried syrup is moist and can be absorbed. Club soda is safe for the fabric and should work to great effect if the stain isn’t severe.
Ammonia – is a stronger chemical solution that must be used sparingly. We only advise its use for synthetic fiber carpets if other solutions are not readily available.
White vinegar – another effective homemade solution can be made with white vinegar. Since this agent is too intense, there’s no scenario where it should be applied directly to your carpet. Instead, you should mix one part vinegar and three parts of warm water to dilute the vinegar. Use a spray bottle whenever possible.
Rubbing alcohol – you can also use rubbing alcohol for small traces of stains that remain after using a stronger solution like ammonia or vinegar. You can gently apply alcohol directly to the affected area or add it to the cloth you use for blotting. You may have to repeatedly blot the stain until all residue has been removed.
Hydrogen peroxide – a bleaching agent solution that should only be used in dark-colored carpets not made of wool. For precaution, we advise testing this solution to a hidden part of your carpet for reactions before using it as a stain remover. If you’re not familiar with this treatment, we have the recommended carpet cleaning solution here.
Alternatively, you can also use commercial cleaning solutions and strictly follow the instructions that come with the product. Just make sure that the cleaner is compatible with the materials used in your carpet to avoid damage or discoloration.
Step 3: Rinse with cold water to clear chemical residue
If you used any of the solutions above for the stain treatment, then it’s imperative that you use cold water when rinsing your carpet. Additionally, you should see through the process until the affected area is thoroughly dried and odor-free. Unwittingly leaving the carpet moist for a prolonged period can also lead to mold and infestation.
Can I safely get rid of syrup stains on my carpet?
Yes! It may appear very concerning at the time of the spill, but syrup is one of the stains that can be cleared with home remedies using non-toxic methods and cleaning treatments.
As a matter of fact, you can easily prevent staining with water and cloth (or paper towels) if you’ve caught the spill as it happened and were able to quickly take action as a result. Even if what you can do is limited to keeping the syrup moist for later treatment, it can already save you a lot of time since cleaning a hardened syrup stain requires more attention and preparation.
Meanwhile, whether you’re using a homemade or chemical solution, don’t forget to clean the affected area with cold water after applying any treatment. Then, finish the job by ensuring that the carpet has been thoroughly dried or vacuumed, if possible.
When is it necessary to get a professional to remove a syrup stain?
In most cases, you will not need professional service to remove syrup stains on carpet. But if you were already able to try a variety of homemade cleaning treatments to no avail, then you should definitely consider hiring a professional cleaning service to finish the job.
You may also consider paying or renting for a service even if you were able to clear the stains on your own, particularly in cases where more intensive cleaning is seemingly required due to the size of the affected area.
Summing up
Fortunately, many types of carpet stains can be completely removed using fast and reliable household solutions. In fact, even without prior DIY experience, you should be able to clear most syrup stains well before they crystallize. For a quick reference, feel free to bookmark our post and follow our blog for more practical home remedies and tips!
