The holidays are right around the corner, which means many of us will be hosting parties with lots of food and drinks. Unfortunately, although this is a festive time for most people, it can wreak havoc on your carpet if you aren’t careful.
One of the most common mishaps that occur during these times is when guests accidentally spill their drinks on your floor while walking to the table or mingling in different areas of your home.
If one person spills something, then no big deal, but if multiple people drip some syrup onto your floor, then you may need to remove it quickly before it sets into the fibers of your carpet. So, this article is for you. You will learn how to remove dried syrup from carpet with just one simple trick!
8 Steps to Follow on How to Remove Dried Syrup From Carpet
Step One: Determine
First, you need to determine what kind of carpeting it is! It would help if you did this before attempting to get your dried syrup up. If the syrup was sugary, then chances are you have a tightly interwoven fiber called olefin carpet. The process would be the same except for one step listed below if the syrup got on polyester or nylon.
If the syrup is dry, you will need to perform a second test. Use your fingernail or butter knife and try to lift an edge of the dried syrup. If it scrapes off, then it is nylon or polyester. If the syrup fiber is similar to yours, then proceed with the same steps.
Step Two: Mark
It would help if you always marked where you see dried syrup stains on your carpet. This way, you are more likely to remove the right amount of dried syrup during removal. Try using a marker or pen so that it won’t get rubbed into your carpeting but still be visible enough to find easily.
If your dried syrup is on a prominent part of your carpet, you may want to try laying down paper towels over the area before marking it. This way, if you accidentally remove too much of the dried syrup with your method, at least the paper towels will catch any excess liquid that would have leaked through your carpet.
Now, if your dried syrup is on the part of the carpet that is nearly impossible to see, such as under a table or couch, you should take a picture of the syrup spot before you try removing it. This way, if the picture comes out looking nothing like what is currently on your carpet, you can see where precisely the dried syrup lies and be better prepared to remove as much as possible from that area.
Step Three: Using Acetone
Acetone is by far the most effective method to use in removing dried syrup stains. This is because acetone can dissolve many substances, making it an excellent adhesive remover. In addition, it easily breaks down sugars and allows the carpet fibers to be more receptive to absorbing other removal methods that will quickly lift the syrup stains.
First, make sure that the syrup has been blotted up as much as possible to use this method. Then douse a clean rag with acetone and continually blot at the area until you have removed as much of the stain as possible. Make sure to test on an inconspicuous part of your carpet before proceeding because acetone might fade colors over time.
If your dried syrup stain is on a nylon or polyester fiber, then the acetone residue could potentially damage it by making it sticky. These steps should help you in learning how to remove dried syrup from carpet.
Step Four: Using Laundry Detergent
If acetone did not remove all the dried syrup stains, then try using laundry detergent. This is also a very effective removal method because it removes dirt and oils left behind due to the dried syrup. All you need to do is mix some laundry detergent with warm water in a bowl, dip the clean rag in the solution, and blot at the dried syrup stain until it is all gone.
Ensure that you do not rub too hard because even though laundry detergent won’t damage your carpet like acetone would, it can still make your carpet more prone to dirt build-up. If you are concerned with this happening, you should test the stain before blotting at it with the detergent and water solution on your carpeting.
This way, if any color fades on your carpet due to an excess amount of wiping, then you will know to use another method of removing the dried syrup. This way, you never put your carpet in a potentially harmful situation to begin with.
Step Five: Using Abrasive Cleaners
This method is very similar to using laundry detergent. It would help to mix some dish soap with warm water and then dip a clean rag into the solution. Blot at the dried syrup stain like you did if using laundry detergent, and rinse out your rag frequently as you work.
If this does not remove all of the dried syrup, then try using an abrasive cleaner. This can be any household cleaning product that contains some powdery substance. You want to mix up the powder with warm water just like you did before and then dip your rag into it.
Blot at the stain until it is all gone, remembering to rinse out your rag often so that it does not become clogged with the dried syrup. This can be a bit messier to do so. If you have any excess liquid sitting on top of the dried syrup, then blot it first before going into this method. This will help in how to remove dried syrup from carpet.
Step Six: Using Ammonia
If all of the methods above have failed, then try using ammonia. It is an effective way to get out tough stains because it can easily dissolve oils and sugars left behind by dried syrup. However, you must take precautions when using this approach, as ammonia can be extremely harmful if ingested or inhaled.
A respirator mask should always be worn when using ammonia, as well as gloves and safety goggles. This way, if any substance happens to get on your skin or in your eyes, you won’t suffer from any damage. Mix a few drops of ammonia with warm water and soak a clean rag into the solution before blotting at the stained area.
If it doesn’t work right away, keep working until the dried syrup is gone. If ammonia does not work, you should try using a commercial cleaner to get rid of all absorbed oils and sugars because ammonia does not have any cleaning properties, to begin with.
Step Seven: Using a Steam Cleaner
Like ammonia, a steam cleaner is not something you should use if you don’t want to get it everywhere. You need to make sure that you read your cleaner’s instructions and follow them exactly to prevent any damage from occurring.
However, it can be very effective in getting rid of dried syrup and the stains that it leaves behind. Next, you should use a powder or liquid steam cleaner and then follow that up with a commercial carpet cleaning product. After you’ve done all this, let it sit for an hour, allowing the carpet to dry before walking on it.
You want to make sure that you test a small area of your carpeting first because this method may cause damage to some types of carpeting due to high heat or chemicals used during its cleaning process. These instructions will teach you how to remove dried syrup from carpet.
You Can Check It Out to Use a Shop Vac on Wet Carpet
Step Eight: Maintain Your Carpeting
After cleaning the dried syrup stain from your carpeting, you may find that it isn’t as protected as it should be. This will leave your carpet susceptible to fading and dirt build-up. You need to purchase a few commercial cleaners and mix them up with warm water to create a cleaning solution to remedy this situation.
Using a clean rag, make sure to blot the mixture onto the stained area to protect it further from fading away. Then, when you are done cleaning, let your carpeting air dry or dab with a clean rag if time is an issue. This way, your carpet will remain protected for up to 6 months which should be enough time for the stain to fade away on its own.
You Can Check It Out to Vacuum Berber Carpet
Conclusion
The best way to remove the dried syrup from the carpet is with a vacuum cleaner. This will suck up the residue that’s left behind, and it may even help loosen the ground-in sugars if you’re lucky.
If your rug or carpet has been chemically treated for stain protection, vinegar might not be an option because it could discredit the fibers in these types of carpets. For this reason, you should always test any cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area before proceeding to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
Remember that this strategy won’t work if what made your carpet sticky was chocolate milk instead! However, the conclusion paragraph is informative and provides information on how to remove dried syrup from carpet.
